Savannah
Whether Savannah is actually America’s most haunted city or it just looks like the epitome of a ghost-infested Southern town, there is no denying the all-encompassing creepiness that permeates every brick road and Gothic mansion. Replete with canopies of drearily beautiful Spanish moss and antebellum architecture that managed to stand the travails of the Civil War, Savannah has done well in preserving its tumultuous history–and with it a substantial chunk of the spirit world. Haunted sites sprawl across the historic downtown area, and numerous ghost tours are available on a nightly basis. Be sure to check out both the very haunted Colonial Park Cemetery and the always gorgeous Bonaventure Cemetery. Grab a meal at the Pirate’s House–a restaurant with underground tunnels and a history of pirate patrons thought to be an inspirational source for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. In addition to the many historic homes and hotels scattered throughout downtown, Fort Pulaski stands not too far off and harbors its own collection of ghastly tales. And, of course, don’t forget to visit Chippewa Square for a chance to see the ghost of Forrest Gump.
New Orleans
Another Southern port town, New Orleans gives Savannah a run for its money as America’s most haunted city. Built on sacred Indian burial grounds (always a good start), the city’s history is fraught with tales of pirates, voodoo and murder. A couple infamous historical figures form the crux of the New Orleans paranormal scene. Marie Laveau, a 19th century Creole woman, is at the center of the city’s voodoo folklore. She amassed a sizable following during her time and earned the moniker “Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.” Her life has become irrevocably intertwined with myth, and a good many people have claimed to have seen her ghost wandering the French Quarter. By far, the city’s most horrific tale is that of Louis and Delphine LaLaurie. The affluent socialites owned an elegant mansion in the French Quarter. Not long after Delphine allegedly instigated the death of a 12-year-old slave girl, a fire, likely set by slaves in a desperate plea for attention, erupted in the mansion’s kitchen. Firefighters arrived to quell the flames. They kicked down the door to the slave quarters and were met by a horrifying site. Several slaves were chained to the walls, dungeon-style. Local legend purports the slaves had been subjected to crude medical experimentation, but those claims are unverified. The LaLauries disappeared soon after the appalling discovery. You can still visit the mansion to this day.
Salem
Welcome to “Witch City,” USA. The infamous Salem witch trials of the late 17th century forever cast a macabre shade over the city. The mass hysteria began when 9-year-old Betty Parris and her 12-year-old cousin Abigail began to have fit characterized by screaming, throwing objects, crawling under furniture, uttering strange sounds and contorting their bodies into unnatural positions. When other girls in the town began exhibiting similar symptoms, accusations of witchcraft began to fly. Over 150 people were arrested, and 19 were publicly hanged. Today, Salem witchcraft practitioners guide visitors through the city’s many haunted locations, including Gallows Hill and the Joshua Ward House. Salem also hosts one of the nation’s best Halloween celebrations. A series of events called “The Festival of the Dead” takes place every October and includes everything from ghost hunting lessons to a psychic fair and witchcraft expo.
Athens
A small town in Ohio, Athens is home to Ohio State University–the world’s most haunted college campus. Athens is a patchwork collection of ghostly tales, spanning the gamut from headless train conductors to occult practices. The town’s paranormal history can be traced back to the Koons family in the mid 19th century. Their home, sitting atop Mt. Nebo, was built on ground the Shawnee considered too sacred for hunting or camping. The Koonses found their home a veritable spirit magnet. They began holding highly successful seances, during which attendees reported feeling cold hands and hearing disembodied voices. These “spirit parties” grew to such popularity that the Koonses built a separate cabin just for communion with the dead. Eventually, the locals got spooked and burned down the Koons homestead. If you make it out to Athens, be sure to spend some time at the Moonville Tunnel, the old Athens Lunatic Asylum and the town’s five cemeteries that were supposedly placed to form the shape of a pentagram. If you know anyone at Ohio State, see if they can get you into some of the haunted college buildings, especially Wilson Hall.
Gettysburg
Gettysburg, as the site of America’s bloodiest battle, has more than a few ghost stories to tell. In July of 1963, 50,000 American soldiers were killed, wounded or went missing. Ghost tours take visitors along battlefields, cemeteries and miscellaneous sites of carnage and woe. Make stop at the Farnsworth House, a bed and breakfast with over 100 bullet holes in the walls. Union soldiers used the attic to shoot Confederates over on Cemetery Hill, and guests experience apparitions and unexplained footsteps. The Jenny Wade house is also a popular haunted destination. Jenny Wade was a civilian killed by a stray bullet during the Battle of Gettysburg. Spectral residents include Jenny, children from an orphanage down the street and a cigar-smoking man. And of course, be sure to check out Devil’s Den. Supposedly haunted by both Indian warriors and Civil War soldiers, Devil’s Den was a rocky outcropping that provided excellent coverage for sharpshooters during the battle. Today, people experience apparitions malfunctioning cameras, drum rolls and gun shots.
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