Halloween is less than a week away, that means it’s time to get your adrenaline pumping with some spooky, spine-tingling festivities. Whether you prefer to sit back with a bowl of popcorn and enjoy the cinematic journey of horror films, or you are brave enough to embark on a ghost hunting adventure, here are a few infamously haunted places in the United States.
Gettysburg Battlefield
Gettysburg Battlefield in Pennsylvania is the location of one of the most gruesome and bloodiest battles in American history. Although this battle occurred nearly 100 years ago, to this day shrieks of agony and sounds of cannon fire in the distance have been reported. Ghosts of soldiers allegedly still roam the battlefield and several witnesses claim some even pose for the camera. If simply visiting this paranormal hotspot is not spine-chilling enough for you, ghost tours are offered every evening.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum had its beginning as a sanctuary for people with mental illnesses throughout the mid-1800s. Despite its 250 patient capacity, the institution facilitated about 2400 patients, forcing them to live in crowded areas and poor conditions. The asylum was notorious for experimenting on patients, practicing procedures such as lobotomies using ice picks as well as imprisoning patients in cage. Now the asylum is recognized for its supernatural occurrences with the souls of many patients still lingering throughout the building. Want to experience it for yourself? Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum has opened their doors to anyone brave enough to spend the night, so enter if you dare.
Stanley Hotel
Located in Colorado, the Stanley Hotel is far from a relaxing weekend getaway. Even though the original owners have passed away, it is rumored that they still entertain guests. Guests often can hear the piano being played from the ballroom and, if they are careful enough, will see the keys moving . This hotel has a plethora of stories to accommodate its spooky reputation including children laughing as well as belongings being packed and unpacked. Want to spend the night? Request room 418 where Stephen King once stayed and found inspiration while writing The Shining.
Clinton Road
Northern New Jersey has its fair share of long country roads, but Clinton Road, a 10-mile stretch of road in West Milford, NJ is the most notorious. Surrounded by dense forests and a plethora of myths, this haunted venue is home to some nefarious historical sites including ruins of a Druid Temple,”Cross Castle” which was an edifice for satanic worship, and old KKK meeting grounds. The most popular site along the road is Dead Boy Bridge, a location in which the ghost of a boy who drown in the river haunts. Rumor has it that if your throw a penny into the river red-eyes will glare back at you. Anyone who travels after dark is bound to witness skeptical teenagers huddling near the edge of the bridge trying to see if the legends are true.The most exhilarating time to take a drive through Clinton Road is when the sun goes down, but tread carefully, this isn’t a drive for the faint-hearted.
Mansfield Training School
If you can’t wait to put on your ghost-hunting gear and explore for yourself, look no further. UConn’s very own Depot Campus is home to Mansfield Training School, an abandoned Mental Hospital formerly known as “Connecticut School for Imbeciles” and later “Connecticut Training School for Feebleminded”. Several reports disclose of poor conditions and mistreatment of patients. Consequently, stories now exist of troubled spirits that still haunt the building. Shouts and voices spirits now haunt the building, and many report of orbs as well phantom-like figures roaming the location. Better keep the Ghostbusters on speed dial!