Haunted American Towns:
Small Towns with Big Ghost Energy
Beyond the Grave and Off the Grid: Discover The Spookiest and Most Haunted American Towns You’ve Never Heard Of
Just because a town can boast a healthy population doesn’t mean it lays claim to more hauntings than most. America is filled with small towns that contain big scares within their quaint homes and charming inns. From cities with dark histories to those home to one of the world’s most haunted objects, here are six Haunted American towns with some seriously spooky vibes.
Outer Banks, North Carolina
The haunted Manteo Cemetery – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
A chain of islands off the coast of North Carolina, the Outer Banks still hold a small-town vibe despite their chilling energy. With town and village names like Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head, it’s no wonder it’s haunted. But this isn’t the only reason the Outer Banks possess such a spooky atmosphere.
They’re situated right next to Roanoke Island, where more than 100 early American Colonists mysteriously vanished in 1590. Strangely, this isn’t the only disappearing act to occur in this area. In 1921, the crew of the Carroll A. Deering vanished, with the ghost ship washing up completely unoccupied.
The Outer Banks are filled with maritime legends and seafaring spirits, each with their own tale of woe. In Kitty Hawk, the spirit of a murdered man haunts The Black Pelican Restaurant—an eatery that was once a lifesaving station that rescued those lost at sea.
Around the Bodie Island Lighthouse, several spirits are said to lurk, including a grey man who shows up before storms, along with a knocking phantom within the nearby gatekeeper’s cottage. Not too far off, a former owner dwells within the Roanoke Island Inn. Guests have spied the phantom figure on the property, along with creaking floorboards and shifting window blinds.
If you’re visiting the Outer Banks, you can’t miss out on an Outer Banks ghost tour!
Deadwood, South Dakota
Haunted Deadwood – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
A gold rush town that rapidly earned a name for gambling, gun fighting, and other Wild West pursuits, Deadwood is a small town that harbours a deeply haunted soul. With a modest population of 1,300, it’s quite likely its undead population rivals the living.
Deadwood’s Main Street is chock-full of haunted structures, like The Bullock Hotel. Roamed by the spirit of a former owner and sheriff, he liked to pester his employees every now and then to ensure they’re meeting his standards.
Likewise, The Fairmont Hotel stands as a hotbed of haunted activity, likely linked to its past as a brothel and speakeasy. You’ll find no shortage of haunted drinkeries here as well, such as the Saloon #10, haunted by a piano-playing phantom, and the Wild Bill Bar, still visited by Wild Bill himself.
Yet most haunted of all might be The Adams House, where reports of ghostly activity within this Queen-Anne home stretch back nearly a century. As the story goes, Mary Adams abruptly moved following her husband’s passing in 1934, claiming his spirit remained in the home. She left sheet music on the piano, china in the pantry, and cookies in the cookie jar, seeming quite eager to leave one of Deadwood’s most beautiful dwellings.
Make sure to hop on a local Deadwood ghost tour to get a true taste of haunted Deadwood!
St. Augustine, Florida
Haunted St. Augustine – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
While St. Augustine might be a small town, it’s one with a storied past. The oldest continuously occupied city in the US, it conceals a history as dark as it is layered. With more than 450 years of souls living and dying in this Florida community, the spectres within are plentiful.
A walkable city due to its founding long before cars were the norm, you’ll find numerous haunted destinations on nearly every street. One of its most widely known is the St. Augustine Lighthouse, home to the spirits of three children who died by drowning in the ocean.
Other notable haunts include the more than 230-year-old St. Francis Inn, which appears to be plagued by an assortment of otherworldly happenings. Whispers, moans, icy touches, and apparitions have all been spotted in this storied structure, making for a truly spooky stay.
In addition, you’ll find two very haunted cemeteries: the Huguenot Cemetery and Tolomato Cemetery, the latter of which holds a phantom priest and ghostly bishop. One more chilling stop is the Old Jail, where executed spectres remain imprisoned despite being long dead.
Annapolis, Maryland
Middleton Tavern – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
Another small town with a rich heritage, Annapolis’ history is steeped in legends and death. A lengthy maritime history has soaked this Maryland town with spectres, from those that haunt its public places to those who linger in its homes and taverns.
In Annapolis, even the government buildings are haunted. Within the Maryland State House, the spirit of a former plasterer who fell to his death while working on the dome continues to be spotted, along with a few other phantoms.
Both Reynolds Tavern and Middleton Tavern remain frequented by colonial ghosts. Reynolds Tavern harbours many unusual happenings, from cold drafts to encounters with a colonial-era woman. Meanwhile, it’s a cigar-smoking spectre who lingers at the Middleton Tavern, although his identity remains a mystery.
Most strange of all might be the headless ghost of Cornhill Street. A spirit murdered by his brother and decapitated in an effort to dispose of the body, he continues to wander the streets looking for his lost skull.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
The Brickhouse Inn and Welty House – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
While Gettysburg might be a town with a monumental history, it still carries a quaint community vibe. The brutal 1863 Battle of Gettysburg left a town riddled with bullets and drenched in spectres. Many of whom have no intention of leaving.
While the Gettysburg Battlefield houses a great deal of spirits, it’s far from the only haunted destination in town. Almost every shop, hotel, and museum within the historic downtown bears a haunting tale, from the battle-scarred Brickhouse Inn to the childhood home of Jennie Wade, the only civilian to die in the battle of Gettysburg.
Some spectacularly chilling haunts include the Farnsworth House Inn. Home to a whopping 16 ghosts, including a cook, a midwife, a Confederate sniper, and a child spirit.
Likewise, many have seen strange beings at Gettysburg College. Be they wandering soldiers in the halls or the shadowy figure who guards the tower. Some have even come across the distressing scene of exhausted surgeons at work on their patients in the basement of Pennsylvania Hall. It was once a field hospital where many spent their last moments – a common theme in Haunted America.
Key West, Florida
Captain Tony’s Saloon – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
Despite being draped in sunshine and warm breezes, Key West remains a town rooted in shadow. And one of the great haunted American towns. Home to shipwrecks, yellow-fever epidemics, and piracy, this small town holds more hauntings than most large cities in America.
Well-known ghostly hangouts include Captain Tony’s Saloon, built atop Key West’s first morgue. Home to several ghosts, including a Lady In Blue, it’s the perfect place for some spirited activity.
Those who prefer friendly ghosts will be drawn to the Ernest Hemingway Home. The famous American author lingers around his writing studio. According to many, his presence is sensed by Hemingway’s beloved six-toed cats, who wander the premises still.
Last but not least, don’t forget that this Florida town is home to Robert the Doll, a notoriously haunted object. Claimed by his former owner to have been alive, strange events followed this doll for years. Now found at the Fort East Martello Museum, many have suffered Robert’s curse after ignoring his rules.
What rules? Just be sure to be polite. Bid him farewell and ask for permission before taking his photo if you visit this eerie object. OR you may provoke his wrath.
Visiting Small Towns With Big Scares
Despite these towns being small, the hauntings they contain are vast. With histories as compelling as these, size matters not in these humble communities. Next time you’re on the hunt for haunted American towns for a travel destination, consider opting for a town less visited than most. The ghosts within are sure to appreciate a new face.
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