It’s safe to say that the most haunted places in the west have reached the attention of people across the world. And it’s strange to think that a place with such a vivid and tangled past can haunt the dreams of someone who has never even set foot on the same continent.
The Stanley Hotel, Colorado
Nestled in the scenic Rocky Mountains, the Stanley Hotel’s stately architecture has been a silent witness to unexplained phenomena since it opened in 1909. This hotel became the eerie muse for Stephen King’s “The Shining.” And guests often report spectral figures and disembodied voices, particularly in rooms 217, 401, and 418. The hotel embraces its phantasmal fame, offering ghost tours that delve into its paranormal legacy and the echoes of its past.
Alcatraz Island, California
Once a fortress of isolation for America’s most infamous criminals, Alcatraz Island harbors a dark history within its decaying walls. The island, where a lighthouse and military prison stood from the mid-19th century, became a federal penitentiary in 1934, housing notorious figures like Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. Visitors recount chilling encounters with the island’s former inhabitants, from spectral screams to the jarring sound of cell doors slamming shut in the dead of night. A few daring ghost hunters have explored the sight, took videos and enticed the ghosts to come out to play. And this place has featured in a number of movies and series. But the real stories might just be the most interesting.
Winchester Mystery House, California
The Winchester Mystery House is an architectural anomaly built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of rifle magnate William Wirt Winchester. Plagued by the spirits of those fallen by her husband’s invention, she had a bewildering mansion with stairways to nowhere and doors opening into walls built. To confuse the spirits. It’s said that Sarah’s spirit, along with those she sought to appease, still roams the labyrinthine corridors of this Victorian-Gothic mansion. In 2018, they released a film about Sarah Winchester and her house, starring Helen Mirren.
Bodie, California
In the desolate beauty of the Sierra Nevada, the ghost town of Bodie stands as a frozen tableau of the Wild West. Once a bustling gold mining town, its streets are now silent, save for the whispers of the past. Bodie is a preserved state park, and visitors often report sightings of phantom miners and the spectral laughter of children—a haunting reminder of a once-vibrant community. Ghost Town Living’s Brent Underwood visited the town of Bodie, during daylight hours, of course, if you fancy a bit of a virtual tour.
The Whaley House, California
The Whaley House in San Diego, built on the grounds of public gallows, is a monument to the tragic history of the Whaley family. Thomas Whaley constructed this Greek Revival residence in 1857, which later witnessed the sorrow of his family, from untimely deaths to the despair of his daughter Violet5. It’s believed that the spirits of the Whaleys, and those who met their end on the gallows, linger in this historic home, now a museum open to those who dare to explore its haunted heritage. And this is another historic and haunted property that has had a movie made about it. You can check out my review here.
Have you visited any of these places, and did you experience anything?
Horror and Fantasy Author – Also writing as K.T. McQueen. Love Western Horror, cowboy boots, my cactus Collin, & my Demon Cat.
Moths – I hate moths, the way they flutter at your face!
