13 REAL Haunted Places That Will Make You Cry for Mommy

by Seth Plattner

Continuing this month's apropos theme of all things haunted, I bring a list of 13 of the most haunted places in the world. Paranormal activity is an international affair, and ghosts and apparitions toy with the living everywhere from California to Mumbai. This list will have some familiar names, and some places you never expected to be haunted (The White House?!), but each one comes with tale after tale of weird and terrifying experiences with the phantom world.

13. Ballygally Castle - Ballygally Bay, Ireland

Though now a newly renovated hotel, Ballygally Castle was built in 1625 by James Shaw. True to most castles in Europe, it is, of course, haunted. The most notable ghost in Ballygally is that of Lady Isobel Shaw, who was locked in a room by her husband James and starved to death. Said to be friendly, she amuses herself by knocking on doors and then disappearing. Another apparition is Madame Nixon who can be seen and heard walking around in her silk dress. When Ballygally was actually a castle it came under attack several times and many soldiers lost their lives. Consequently, their restless souls frequent the castle grounds in military uniform toying with guests, and perhaps searching for their enemies.

12. The Crescent Hotel - Eureka Springs, Arkansas, US

I admit to a guiltless plug here because I am from Arkansas and have actually stayed in this hotel. Nonetheless, this place is renowned for its possession and I have friends who can attest to its haunts. This 78-year old hotel is haunted by a number of ghosts, including Michael, an Irish stones man who worked in the hotel and took a fatal fall off the roof into an area that is now room 218. His ghost is said to still roam the halls surrounding the room. Also roaming the grounds is a gentleman in Victorian clothing who haunts the lobby, the confused ghost of Doctor Baker (who ran the facility in the 1930s when it was a hospital/health spa), and the ghost of a nurse dressed in white who wanders the entire hotel. A good friend of mine, who claims he has a knack for getting into trouble with the paranormal, swears that while he was staying in room 202 (a notably haunted room in the hotel) he saw the nurse ghost briefly when he entered his room. He also said that the nurse ghost played with the lights, touched his arm and shook the antique mirror that hung above his bed. When my mother remarried in Eureka Springs, I tried to talk her out of having the family stay in this hotel. She didn't listen but, luckily, we had a ghoul free weekend. Click here to read more history about the Crescent.

11. The Rose Hall Great House - Montego Bay, Jamaica

The Rose Hall Great House is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Jamaica due in no small part to the legend of its mistress, Annie Palmer. Palmer came to Rose Hall in 1820 and was known for her gruesome treatment of slaves. Considered a Black Witch by locals, she brutally tortured slaves and killed many of them simply because she was bored by them. She is also said to have murdered three of her husbands: the first by poison, the second my stabbing and then pouring boiling oil in his ears, and the third my strangling. All of Annie's victims are said to haunt the grounds and tourists come armed with instant cameras in hopes of snapping a picture of ghosts such as the ones in the picture. There is also rumored to be secret underground tunnels on the grounds and visitors have spoke of bloodstains smeared in numerous places. It should also be noted that the included picture was taken without a flash or sun exposed windows. Find out more about the history, hauntings and personal experiences here.

10. Singapore

Ok, I know Singapore is an entire country, but I was reading about some pretty disturbing stuff that goes on around there. Considered Asia's most haunted city, Singapore is home to many locations that register high numbers in paranormal activity. Strange lights glitter through Hougang School near East Coast Beach and one ghost actually goes around slapping people at the Changi Beach House. Near the coast at Lor Halus, ghosts of the poor beg for food and money along the streets. Many years ago at the Bedok Tenant House, a ghost apparently killed a resident and now the woman is herself a screaming ghost who disturbs the residents at the Hou Gang Tenements. In the Fort Sentosa district, the Punggol White House is haunted by a whole family who committed suicide together, while headless apparitions terrorize passengers as they pass through certain MRT mass transit stations in the city. As you can see Singapore has a slew of hauntings that are ceaseless in their disturbance to the living.

9. The Catacombs Museum - Paris, France

If you know about Haussmannization, the grand remodeling of Paris in the 1860s, you may or may not know that the Catacombs of Paris were reconstructed in order to support the sprawling housing developments and massive boulevards that would come to define the city. Underneath the beautiful façade of Paris is a structural support system built of human bones. In order to strengthen his structure and alleviate the sanitation issues that were being caused by past improper burial, Haussmann had his team of workers dig up the remains of many of Paris' graveyards and use them as building materials for his project. And what, if anything, do we know about disturbing graves? Right, it pisses the dead off. Though only a small part of the catacombs are open to the public, there are many secret entrances and tourists and trespassers alike have attested to its haunting with stories and sightings of run-ins with ghosts of a bygone Paris. Expect to see apparitions ranging from the ancients to the revolutionaries and don't forget your flashlight if you go hunting. It's dark down there. Here is a nice history of the catacombs and a personal ghost hunting story.

8. The Tower of London - London, England

The Tower of London is known historically as the prison for the crown of England. Its ghostly presence is due no doubt to the mass amounts of executions, tortures and murders that occurred within its walls. Hundreds of ghost sightings are reported there every year by tourists and Londoners alike, and, on a misty night, many hope to catch a glimpse of one of its dead prisoners. A story goes that one night a guardsman was standing watch when he heard a banging noise on his guardhouse. He went out to investigate and he saw a shapeless white figure that very well could have been the ghost of Lady Jane Grey, who was beheaded that very same date, February 12th, in 1554. Others have reported seeing the spirit of Ann Boleyn, a wife of Henry VI, who was also beheaded in 1536. Ann is a frequent visitor to the Tower and she is sometimes seen carrying her own head. Other ghosts include Henry VI, Thomas Beckett, Sir Walter Raleigh and the Countess of Salisbury, whose gruesome execution is sometimes seen being re-enacted by ghosts. Click here to find out more about the hauntings in the Tower of London.

7. The White House - Washington D.C., USA

Even though the White House is an American institution at the center of our political climate, it is also a hot spot for ghosts. Several former presidents are said to frequent many of the rooms in the house. President Harrison has been seen and heard rummaging around in the White House attic, who knows for what. Andrew Jackson frequently joins guests in what was his bedroom during his presidency, and Abigail Adams has been spotted roaming hallways apparently carrying something. The most spotted president ghost, however, is Abraham Lincoln. Eleanor Roosevelt was said to have felt the presence of Honest Abe while she worked in the Lincoln bedroom. Also, during the Roosevelt administration, a young clerk saw Lincoln's ghost sitting on a bed removing his boots. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, during an overnight stay, was awakened by a knock at her door and, upon answering, saw the ghost of President Lincoln facing her in the hallway. Calvin Coolidge's wife reported on several occasions seeing President Lincoln standing at a window in the oval office with his hands clasped behind his back, appearing to be in a deep contemplative mood. Check out the official White House webpage for more about its many ghosts.

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Comments

Singapore isn't part of

Submitted on October 25th, 2006 by waN (not verified)

Singapore isn't part of malaysia. its a whole country by itself/

Thanks

Submitted on October 25th, 2006 by Michelle

You're right, thanks for pointing out the type...we fixed it.

Michelle

I think Marblehead

Submitted on October 27th, 2006 by Anonymous (not verified)

I think Marblehead Massachussetts and Salem Massachussetss need to be on your list. I could swear that on cold wet nights, I see figures walking on the beach when there are none. It's happened twice and it totally freaked me out.

It may not be ghosts, but it wasn't normal humans either

More real haunted houses...

Submitted on October 27th, 2006 by Anonymous (not verified)

This Old House Online has a great photo gallery of more real haunted houses all over the country:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/exteriors/gallery/0,25895,1551301,00.htm...

Whomever compiled the list should have done simple research

Submitted on October 31st, 2006 by Anonymous (not verified)

If they had, they would have known that the Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana is one of the only haunted locations officially recognized by the US government.

http://www.myrtlesplantation.com/

@Anonymous

Submitted on October 31st, 2006 by Matt Wood

Is there a way to find all the haunted locations officially recognized by the US government? I think it would be interesting to see what houses the government says is actually haunted.

Matt Wood

mattsbomb40@yahoo.com

AmericanInventorSpot.com Writing Team

The Crescent is Without Doubt....Haunted

Submitted on October 31st, 2006 by Anonymous (not verified)

Although I no longer live in AR, I return there and every visit must include a stay at the Crescent. The entire town is incredible. I myself have had experiences in the hotel and have several photos with orbs. I also knew someone that spent their honeymoon evening there....they checked out by 1 AM because they couldn't take it any longer. You can definitely sense something there and even friends who do not believe in spirits said they could feel something. I live in San Diego but have not yet made it to the Whaley House...but I will soon!

More than half of these came from the book: The World's Most...

Submitted on November 1st, 2006 by Frank Smither (not verified)

More than half of this list came from Jeff Belanger's book, The World's Most Haunted Places: From the Secret Files of Ghostvillage.com. You'd think these folks would have at least mentioned the book!

Crediting Policy

Submitted on November 1st, 2006 by Michelle

Well, actually, if you do a bunch of research in this topic, many of these places come up again and again and again from multiple sources. In that case, we don't feel it appropriate to mention one source unless we got it from that source...or we think their expression or content is particularly noteworthy.

Thanks for your comment.

Michelle
AmericanInventorSpot.com Team

Crediting Policy continued

Submitted on November 1st, 2006 by Seth Plattner

If I could also chime in about the sources for my list. Yes, many of the places on my list were featured in that book, and I will admit I looked into that book. But, as Michelle pointed out, many of the places featured Belganger's book were also quick to pop up when I was researching. I consulted many different sources for my list, researched them all and decided which ones I thought were appropriate.

I don't mean to discredit anyone, but I agree with Michelle that it would be inappropriate to give one person credit. Thanks and keep reading.

Seth

my house is haunted

Submitted on December 20th, 2006 by Anonymous (not verified)

i know for a fact i have atleast 4 ghost in my house because everyone in my house has seen them. we've known this for a while but they had never spoken to us before.i was recording myself singing on my phone just as i have done aton of times. except the wierd thing is. is when i played it back it was not me. it was about 17 seconds of waiting then in a faint blurred voice you can hear."who is sing" and then a couple of seconds later"who is singing" and it says it 2 more times and it was very strange.please email me back if you have a number i can call to help us figure this out.
thanks

Ever think about putting a

Submitted on December 31st, 2006 by Debbie (not verified)

Ever think about putting a cam in your house for others to watch and see what they might be able to catch? If interested please let me know.

this place sucks. put more

Submitted on February 12th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

this place sucks. put more REAL things on it

dude. this stuff isnt

Submitted on February 12th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

dude.
this stuff isnt real.
i have seen a lot better.

They are not ghosts but JINNS.

Submitted on February 23rd, 2007 by THUNDERBOLTZ (not verified)

This is the best hanted

Submitted on February 26th, 2007 by Anonymous

This is the best hanted thing I ever seen.I bet the people hoo died there is hanting the place still.Oneday I might even go there someday.well to the people hoo craetid googel will get googles of money from the PRESIDINT OF THE U.S.A.beacase you my friends have somthing very speicial KINDNESS. YOURSTRULY PRISCILLA.

it was really scary, about

Submitted on May 14th, 2007 by karla valladares (not verified)

it was really scary, about all does houses that ya gottan to show us and my family

The Myrtles Plantation,St.Franciville, LA

Submitted on June 21st, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

My husband and 11 year old son went there tonight. They had strange experiences on the bridge. The first time they walked over my son felt "really bad vibes", once they were on the small island, the quiet night turned in to a loud, overwhelming screeching sound of frogs. They crossed back over and the frogs seemed to settle awhile after the were away. They decided to cross the bridge again and everything was peaceful, they felt "normal" and the frogs were calm.

They then went to "CLOE'S HOUSE" and my son went up to the fence and touched it. He looked up and saw a woman that was in the window. The lady had black eye shadow, black mascara, red lipstick, and pale white skin. once they saw that, they "high-tailed " it out of there and drove home. This was written by myself and a little help from my son, the expert ghost sighter! Real stuff. If you don't believe it you should get your butt over there and find out yourself!!! - Bob, Freida and huloiu, and hannah

cool

Submitted on July 17th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

i stayed at the crescent hotel and nearly died it was even on scifi=ghost hunters

your house.

Submitted on September 14th, 2007 by Lauren (not verified)

can you send me the file from your phone?

re: Ghost stories

Submitted on September 22nd, 2007 by Yves Marie Danie Baptiste (not verified)

I absolutely LOVE ghost stories and watching

the movies. I think halloween is a fun holiday

and enjoy watching the festivities.

Yves Marie Danie Baptiste

www.MLMOnlineMagazine.com

Singapore Ghosts

Submitted on October 5th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

Hey I am from Singapore. Your segment on my country contains a number of inaccuracies. For example, Sentosa is an island at the southern most tip of Singapore, while Ponggol is at the north, so what you read about the family that committed suicide cannot be placed. Also MRT passengers are not terrorised by headless ghosts. We are more worried at missing the last train of the day and having to take taxis at 50% above the normal rates.

I know it's fun to add colour to stories but you need to get your facts right. Although you are right about the part about Singapore being haunted. You just have to get the right stories. For a sampling of our ghost stories and urban legengs, check out youtube with the entry "Incredible Tales". You'll have a better idea about what goes bump in the night on this little island in Asia.

No Flash ? Wait that can't be right

Submitted on October 10th, 2007 by Jim (not verified)

In photo number 11, there is bright reflection on the laquered headboard that is supposedly a ghost, as it's claimed that there are no exposed windows and no flash equipment was used.

But the curtain behind the headboard is completely illuminated. There has to be some sort of light source directly behind the photographer, otherwise that curtain would be in shadows.

That's not a ghost, it's a reflection of the bright light source that's illuminating the bed.

r u from TAPS??????????????????

Submitted on October 26th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

I dislike when people start to debunk everything. Was you there to know if there was a flash?

Crescent Hotel

Submitted on October 27th, 2007 by Janice (not verified)

You state that the Crescent Hotel is 76 years old. It was build in 1886 so that would make it 121 years old. Just wanted to clarify that.

Thank you.

haunted places in Arkansas

Submitted on October 27th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

Where in Arkansas do you know that are haunted near Malvern, Benton and Little Rock any old abandones hospitals??

my view after readin this whole article about he haunted places.

Submitted on October 31st, 2007 by Justin Mc Carter (not verified)

hello,
my name is justin and i am a cusrious n a crazy fellow about readin n viewin such stuff that revolves around the places and the people bieng haunted on this planet.I am really fond of viewin these paranormal activities in real although i didn't had a chance to view such so far.But,if i'll get a chance to to take a look of them i wont mind goin for it.After,readin about these places i am eager to see them how they look in real especially the edinburgh castle n the tower of London.The intresting part is knowin that even my country's white house is also haunted.I had herad about it a long time before as well in one of the haunted series televised by Discovery Channel n i was amazed to know this fact about white house.
I really like watching the programmes based on ghosts n haunted places.My favourite series are ''MYSTERY HUNTERS & A HAUNTING'' that airs on discovery channel.I wish i get a chance to view any of the ghosts around me.Once i n ma friend dave felt a presence of some supernatural happenings around us when we both of were readin a novel about the death mystery of a woman.We used to spend a long time at the library readin that spooky,thrillin n mysterious novel n one day there were only three persons in the library i,dave n the librarian.While,we read that novel,we felt like someone always seated with us or used to disturb us and that very day,i felt the presence of a lady at my home in my bedroom while i was continuin that novel.But,that would have been a myth or some sort of fear phycosis that i developed by mistake or also there might have been a possibility that it happened in real.That time i was just 14yrs old,so i couldn't make out for such a happening but now i realize i missed a great chance of getting close to the supernatural world.I have an urge to adopt the ghost hunter profession but my mom won't let me get into it as i m her only loving son.But,my keen intrest about the haunted things won't end up easily.

so,what's next??

Submitted on November 3rd, 2007 by Justin Mc Carter (not verified)

hello,
This is Justin again.Except these 13places i would like to know about some other haunted places,i request the concerned team of inventor spot to kindly update me with some information about such places at the other corners of the world.
Thanking you.

About Singapore

Submitted on November 5th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

hey i'm from Singapore, and I would like to say that I am more disturbed by your inaccuracies about my country than your ghost stories. As far as I am concerned, there had been NO claims of headless apparitions in our MRTs. If you find Singapore a terribly haunted placein Asia, then you probably have'nt heard of Bangkok's (Thailand's capital) ghost stories.

Please get your facts right before posting non-factual statements =P.

DO U THINK GHOSTS ARE REAL??

Submitted on November 15th, 2007 by Natural Disaster! (not verified)

DO U THINK GHOSTS ARE REAL?? ARE THEY REALLY REAL?! MAN! THAT'D B DA BOMB IF U SAW ONE, WOO!

ghosts

Submitted on November 16th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

i have seen a ghost and it was haedless and ghostly!
it scared the crap out off me!
He and or She was watching me over my bed while i sleep!

yes

Submitted on November 16th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

yes

i want to the very scary

Submitted on November 19th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

i want to the very scary places that have ghost footage

wow

Submitted on November 28th, 2007 by nacho (not verified)

They are real but i don't expect to see one ever.
its probably not so good to see one. but than its good to have experiences with it. so you know how to calm yourself down.

Submitted on November 28th, 2007 by Sike (not verified)

I think that it would be so cool but scary at the same time

DO U LIKE SCARY?

Submitted on November 28th, 2007 by MADDY (not verified)

i HAVE A FRIEND THAT LIVES IN A HOUSE THAT MAKES WIED NOICES THROUGH THE NIGHT AND SUME HOW THE BATH WATER TURNS ON BY ITS SELF.

hello Maddy,

Submitted on December 7th, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

hey Maddy ,
wzz up?how ya doin?Well,niether ya know me n nor i know ya..but the circumstances your friend faces at his/her home is quite known to me..cuz once i felt such a ghostly presence during the rehersals of our play in an old theatre that caught the fire few years back and many of the students practicin their play in that theatre were burnt alive..Since,then that place is haunted..most of the theatre officials say that accident wasn't an accident in real,as the theatre was set on fire by one of the officials intentionally..God knows the reason..Now,comin to the point i have experienced such weird noises n the paranormal activties..like when we used to practice the lights used to get switched off their own n once i n one of ma friend made a plan to discover the truth behind such happenings that were takin place everyday in the theatre..one day,when everyone left the theatre i n my friend stayed overthere even after bieng scolded by the theatre guard,just to check whether those strange things were real or fague and you won't believe we both almost weted our pants as we heard the children crying and also we heard the footsteps in that theatre that followed us where ever we went..i experienced such paranormal activities..n i want to experience them more in ma life..cuz i am crazy fellow who keeps readin bout the scary stuff everytime..ma room is full of all scary,spooky n murder thrilling novels..Also,i forgot to mention if your friend is scared of such things takin place at her home then kindly ask her to have complete faith in GOD n ask her to wear a cross everytime,that would always protect her..:).
your friend -
Justin Mc Carter .

trip

Submitted on December 19th, 2007 by davidnick (not verified)

i am looking to take a road trip in april and the reason for this trip is to vistit and document my experiences in haunted places. to any one that reads this: any information on hot spots or certain cities or anything of that nature would be much appreciated.
thanks
david
dav1600@aol.com

it might be your mom (if

Submitted on December 24th, 2007 by stiven (not verified)

it might be your mom (if youn live with your perents) otherwise it can be ghost if u want i may can solve that problem to you .

stiven

Haunting

Submitted on December 29th, 2007 by Kurt (not verified)

Have you watched the show on Discovery Channel called "A Haunting"?

i have a friend where in her

Submitted on January 9th, 2008 by Anonymous (not verified)

i have a friend where in her grandmas house all the lights flicker and half the ime tv's switch on by themselfs when there is no-one else in the house!

school

Submitted on January 11th, 2008 by Daniel (not verified)

in my school their is gosts in the base mants there is a burried priest in the church and you lift up the thing and there is stairs to go more down. i was going to go down but knowone wants to go with me i'ts scary isn't it and a janitor died in the boys bathroom my school is 5 place of the most scariest haunted house. and trust me in this school you will defenetly cry MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMA MAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

school

Submitted on January 11th, 2008 by Daniel (not verified)

weird

Submitted on February 9th, 2008 by Anonymous (not verified)

thats scary but cool and i would listen to the nosises.

New Ghost place in Singapore

Submitted on March 4th, 2008 by Anonymous

I have received an email. There is a new haunted place in Singapore. Unity Centre at 51 Bukit Batok Crescent. Before I read the story I really have seen white smoke in the toilet. Is very very scary. I need to ask a friend to accompany me to the toilet. Even one of my neighbors also seen a small little girl sitting at the staircase. When he tries to walk near her she suddenly varnish. I have resigned because the place is too scary too work.

The White House

Submitted on March 8th, 2008 by Anonymous

NThe White House is not really so haunted anymore. The whole interior was gutted to the bare outer walls and only very minimally restored in the 1950’s. For security and stability reasons the original building materials, framework, floors, plaster, glass, etc. were not reused. The majority of today’s White House is a 20th Century replica. After the renovation work most of the historical hauntings stopped. --Armand

regarding singapore

Submitted on March 8th, 2008 by Anonymous

hi, i am from singapore, if u are saying of headless ghosts along mrt tracks. it could be the legend of headless nuns at novena station where if taking last train at the first cabin, the nuns will appear and scare people. u forgot to include old changi hospital one of our top ten haunted places, barred from public but recently it is bought over to become a resort for tourists.

Submitted on March 16th, 2008 by Anonymous

that is very wierd i get strange feelings in my house

wow

Submitted on March 16th, 2008 by Anonymous

that is very wierd i get srange feelings in my house

Crescent Hotel

Submitted on March 21st, 2008 by Anonymous

I can say that as a bit of a skeptic myself, I truly believe the Crescent Hotel is haunted. I've stayed there a couple times, and have taken the ghost tours so many times I could probably give them myself. Unfortunately, I've never seen anything paranormal with my own eyes, but the whole place definately has the aura of something surreal. Once, I did go there to look around, and on the fourth floor where the bar is, I found on the balcony table a small drinking glass. So I thought, 'Hey, I'll take it home as a suvinear' I stuck it in my coat pocket and left. That same night as soon as we were out of the parking lot, my car (with which I had never had a bit of trouble) started doing wierd things. First, the spedometer quit altogether, then my gas needle started going up and down, then it wouldn't start at all. I finally got it started and we got back to the hotel we were staying at. The next morning when we tried to leave to go home, I found that my car wouldn't start again. We tried and tried, but it wouldn't stay started without someone holding the key forward. We had to call a mechanic and max out my boyfriends credit card to get it fixed. I took the glass back before we left and I never had any more trouble out of that car. I think the ghosts were pissed at me for stealing it.