When most people plan a quick getaway, they tend to gravitate toward things like foliage tours, beach weekends, spa trips, and other mainstream vacation ideas. But what about people who aren’t interested in a “normal” vacation destination? Maybe they are the type of people who are obsessed with Halloween and would rather be exploring spooky graveyards than looking at foliage or sitting on a beach. Where do those people go when they are looking for a getaway?
A haunted house, that’s where. Fortunately, it’s really not that hard to find a haunted house, and as a bonus, you don’t have to sleep on a cold, dusty floor to get your overnight haunted house fix. Let us take you on a journey to some vacation rentals that are just perfect for your next haunted vacation.
Featherbed Railroad Bed and Breakfast Resort
Nice, California
Guests of California’s Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast Resort overnight in one of nine former railroad cabooses. Two of the cabooses, known as “Casablanca” and “Wine Country” are the ones where many report ongoing supernatural activity. In fact, in 2011 it was named one of the top 10 places in America to sleep with a ghost by USA Today. Over the years, innkeepers have heard claims of a man in old-timey striped pajamas wandering around the caboose or even sitting on the bed. The ghost, believed to be a former railroad worker, has scared some guests so much that they’ve asked to switch rooms.
Belle Femme Townhouse
Salem, Massachusetts
Many of New England’s historical homes can be seen as either charming or creepy. Belle Femme Townhouse is one such home. By day, it’s easy to appreciate its 18th-century charm; by night, it’s even easier to imagine it taking on a more sinister feel. While the house itself may or may not be haunted, thanks to its connection to the infamous witch trials of the 1600s, the surrounding town of Salem has long been considered one of the most cursed places in America. The vacation rental is an ideal base to explore the nearby House of Seven Gables, the Salem Witch Museum, and The Witch House, or to take a witch-related tour around the city’s Historic District.
Lizzie Borden House
Fall River, Massachusetts
Let’s stay in Massachusetts and check out the house whose claim to fame has been immortalized in a famous rhyme.
Lizzie Borden took an axe,
And gave her mother 40 whacks;
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father 41.
The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts isn’t a mere spooky-themed bed-and-breakfast — it is the actual house where Lizzie Borden’s parents were killed in a brutal unsolved axe murder in 1892. Lizzie was accused of the murders, but she was acquitted at trial. The house has been restored to appear as it did on the day of the murders, with many of the original fixtures. Artifacts and crime scene photos from the murder case are on display, and if you’re looking for a super spooky experience, you can even stay in the room where Lizzie’s mother, Abby, was killed. Countless guests have reported supernatural experiences in the house, and this website chronicles some of their stories, complete with pictures and videos.
Fleur de Lis Mansion
New Orleans, Louisiana
Thanks to its long, sordid past, New Orleans has been a popular haunt (pun intended) for those interested in ghosts, the supernatural, and the occult for centuries. The owners of the city’s historical Fleur de Lis Mansion claim three of the property’s suites are haunted. With help from paranormal investigators Michael Bill and Mario Pinheiro of New Orleans Ghost City Tours, they gathered evidence of a spirit named Billy, who is believed to live in the house. However, he appears to be more mischievous than malevolent and is known to play pranks on guests like pulling down their bedding in the night or sliding a chair out from under them in the dining room.
Shamrock House
Sunset, South Carolina
There’s something both charming and “off” about Shamrock House. It feels like either the perfect setting for a quaint, family-friendly wilderness getaway or a “cabin in the woods” slasher flick. Built in South Carolina’s Heritage Corridor, the entire compound dates back to at least 1925. Like many old homes, this one has plenty of stories — ghost stories, in particular. Guests report hearing the sounds of a woman the owners call Nancy. While they don’t confirm or deny her presence, they suspect she’s friendly, and her “weeping” is likely just the house’s creaky old floorboards. Guests can decide for themselves.
The Aberdeen Inn
Valparaiso, Indiana
Guests at The Aberdeen Inn in Indiana report late-night sightings of a little girl ghost on the master staircase. After a thorough investigation, Indiana Ghost Trackers found that the inn’s original inhabitant, Sarah Ritter, and her two children died inside the home. The paranormal group recorded evidence of a door repeatedly opening and closing behind them during their stay. Other guests claim the little girl “messed with their stuff” and turned their fireplace on and off in the middle of the night.
And if you’re looking for more ideas for spooky, haunted road trips, check out our roundup of the most haunted places in America.
