Whether you believe in ghosts or not, America’s towns are full of scary tales that have been passed down through the generations. We’ve compiled a list of some of the spookiest places in the United States, from haunted castles to gory tales of agony and death. Unknown to many, India has a whole host of ghostbusters who trawl the streets at night, enter haunted buildings and follow the spirits around. What would scare most of us, those paranormal activities act as magnets for this eclectic bunch that chases supernatural beings as a hobby, or for some – as a profession.
1. Moundsville Penitentiary
Prison is where the worst of humanity is imprisoned. We put thieves, murderers, and rapists in jail or send them to the gallows. In our culture, places like the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville are an unavoidable evil.
Moundsville’s prison was the last place for nearly 1,000 prisoners. Hundreds of people were hanged, dozens were electrocuted, and many more were killed by their own kind. Then there were those who couldn’t stand the prospect of life in prison and committed suicide in order to get out.
The West Virginia Penitentiary’s stone walls have seen hard men broken, aspirations destroyed, and evil punished. Death and destruction have left an indelible mark that will never be erased. According to numerous reports, some of the tortured souls who served time within these walls are still lurking in the shadows.
The Haunted Prison’s History
The history of the penitentiary in Moundsville begins in 1863, when West Virginia seceded from Virginia to support the Union in the Civil War. The newly established state required a prison, and the tiny community of Moundsville was the ideal option due to its proximity to the state capital, Wheeling.
The community of Moundsville, which is located on the banks of the Ohio River, gets its name from the numerous Adena Indian burial mounds that date back over a millennium. Even before the penitentiary soared above the West Virginia skyline, it appears that this area was a destination for death.
Inside the West Virginia Penitentiary, life was difficult. During its 119-year history, Moundsville has the dubious honour of being named to the US Department of Justice’s Top Ten Most Violent Correctional Facilities list.
2. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Starting in 1864, this institution, formerly known as the Weston State Hospital, housed thousands of mentally ill people. Before the institution closed in 1994, hundreds of individuals died here. The spirits that are claimed to haunt the asylum now date back to the time when the premises were used as a military garrison during the Civil War. The facility’s paranormal excursions include 2-hour trips to the asylum’s four primary hot zones. The Ghost Hunt is a more intense nighttime paranormal tour with experienced ghost-hunting guides that lasts 8 hours.
3. Bhangarh Fort, Alwar
It is said to be one of India’s most haunted locations. One of the most common of the fort’s folklores is that a wizard fell in love with a princess and concocted a potion to capture her. She saw right through his scheme and hurled the potion towards a boulder, crushing the magician. He cursed Bhangarh as he died, and it was decimated in a conflict soon after. “All of these are misconceptions, the fort is not haunted,” explains BR Singh, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist, Jaipur Circle, despite the fact that many people visit here because of the legend. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Himanshu Yogi)
4. Villisca Axe Murder House
The old white frame house at 508 E Second St became a horrific crime scene on June 10, 1912. The assassination of Josiah B. Moore, his wife, their four children, and two young girls who were overnight guests devastated the small community of Villisca, Iowa, and the killer was never found. Residents of the house have claimed visions of a man wielding an axe, children wailing, and unexplained paranormal activity over the years. The house was restored in 1994 to its original state, which had no indoor plumbing or electricity. These details add to the eerie atmosphere of a lamplight tour, which is available from April to November, or an overnight adventure for groups by reservation.
5. Jatinga, Assam
It’s known as the Bird Valley of Death because it’s home to a bizarrely enormous population of birds who commit mass suicide every autumn. Birds that migrate to this location from all over the world are said to die abruptly between the hours of 7 and 10 p.m. Nobody has been able to figure out why.
6. Cuban Club
The Cuban Club, commonly known as the Circulo Cubano de Tampa, is located in the Ybor City area of Tampa. The ballroom, outdoor band shell, and cantina with a stage and dance floor were all popular hangouts for Cuban immigrants in 1917. The National Historic Register-protected compound now accommodates concerts and other events, as well as being the location for many ghost stories about spirits playing the piano and riding the elevators.
7. Fort Mifflin
Fort Mifflin, which was built in 1771, is the country’s sole preserved Revolutionary War battleground. The grounds on the Delaware River have 14 renovated structures and are said to be haunted by ghosts from the past. A wailing woman is one of the spirits alleged to haunt the fort, whose cries are so loud that the Philadelphia police have been called to investigate, only to find no one present. A faceless guy strolling around the fort, a tour guide dressed in revolutionary clothing, and a slew of children and dogs are among the other characters in local ghost legends.
8. Moon River Brewery
The Moon River Brewery first opened its doors in Savannah in 1999, but the structure itself is one of the city’s oldest, dating back to 1821. It was originally known as the City Hotel, a high-end hotel with a violent past during the Civil War. During fierce confrontations, men were slain in the hotel, including a Yankee who was beaten to death by locals in 1860. Today, several bar-goers claim to have witnessed bottles strangely flying through the air and guests being pushed, touched, and even slapped by unseen entities. Toby, a resident apparition, is supposed to lurk in the billiards area, waiting for the next big bar brawl.
9. Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
The ghosts that apparently haunt this 14th-century fort are foodies with a sweet tooth. They are also supposedly very helpful. According to local folk lore, people can write their problems to the djinns, who would happily try and help you out.
10. The Sultan’s Palace
716 Dauphine Street is a traditional French Quarter beauty with wrought-iron balconies and a huge courtyard. However, for the Sultan, a wealthy man with a filthy lifestyle, several wives and children, and a harem of women and young boys held against their will in the 1800s, this mansion was a house of horrors. Neighbours complained about this man’s strange behaviours, which included partying, opium use, and torture. The Sultan’s death, when he was buried alive in the courtyard after his family and harem were chopped to pieces in a slaughter by an unknown attacker, was the house’s greatest mystery.