Halloween is the season of chills and thrills, making it the perfect time to explore haunted houses.
Visiting famous haunted locations offers an adventure and a paranormal flare for a one-of-a-kind experience. Most haunted houses come with rich backstories, tales of mystery, and unexplained phenomena that have captured the imaginations of generations. Cities such as New Orleans and Savannah, Georgia, are rich in history and offer tourists a unique opportunity to step into the past and feel the presumed lingering presence of its mysterious inhabitants. Ghost tours of local plantations and houses are popular go-tos.
Visitors report experiencing sudden cold drafts, flickering lights, or even hearing disembodied whispers. There’s nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of wondering if the strange noise you just heard is more than your imagination. Lastly, haunted houses provide a thrilling escape from everyday life. This Halloween, explore one of the following famous haunted houses for an unforgettable adventure and possibly an unexplainable sighting.
Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters – This Savannah, Georgia property welcomes guests, who are met with the somber reminder of slavery and its horrific effects. The home was completed in 1819, with the ceiling of the slave quarters painted haint blue, which was reportedly used as a means to deter ghosts or other malevolent spirits.
Sweetwater Mansion – Located in Florence, Alabama, this historical landmark plantation home. The property once held many slaves. However, its primary ghost story centers around a Confederate soldier, a shadowy woman in 1800s garb, and remote echoes of invisible children’s innocent laughs.
Whaley House – The Whaley House is a two-story brick house built by Thomas Whaley between 1856 and 1857. The property was built in Old Town San Diego. Several deaths have led to a string of rumors of hauntings. One notable is that of James “Yankee Jim” Robinson, who was lynched on the property for allegedly stealing a boat. Echoes and ghostly apparitions have been reported in this location.
Riddle House – This Palm Beach County home was once a funeral parlor and was transformed into a home by Karl Riddle. For years, a ghostly presence has been reported in the attic. Paranormal investigators even toured the home in 2008 for the television series “Ghost Adventures” on the Travel Channel.
Atlanta’s Rhodes Hall – Much of Atlanta’s Rhodes Hall remains untouched. However, this has helped fuel its title as one of the most haunted buildings in Atlanta. The 120-year-old building has held fun Halloween events for over a decade now, telling the story of the supposed ghouls and goblins that reportedly inhabit the location.
Hermann-Grima House – Built in 1831 for wealthy Creoles, this New Orleans house also held slaves. Visitors to the property are met with stories of how slavery in urban areas differed from that in rural regions. The Christian Woman’s Exchange, now known as The Woman’s Exchange, purchased the home in the 1920s and transformed it into a boarding house for single women until 1975. It was then restored as a museum that same year. There have been several reports of friendly spirits from years past attracting guests.
