Have you ever watched a ghost hunting show and wished you could try it for yourself? Many destinations around the U.S. have a unique history, and with that often comes ghosts. If you’re feeling adventurous, we discovered some ghost hunting opportunities you can try around the country—as well as a few themed mazes.
R.M.S. Queen Mary, California
For those of you hunting ghosts in the SoCal area, you might want to start on the R.M.S. Queen Mary, which is moored in the Long Beach Harbor. Starting in 1937, this retired ocean liner once transported passengers from Southampton to New York, and later served as a troopship for the Allies during World War II. As air travel became increasingly popular and more cost effective, the Queen Mary was retired in 1967. It has since become a tourist attraction, complete with a hotel, restaurants, museums, and of course, ghosts. The ship is known for being haunted—reportedly, a sailor died in the engine room, a little girl drowned in one of the indoor swimming pools, and there’s a mysterious lady in white. To find these ghosts, the Queen Mary offers an hour-long Haunted Encounters tour during the day and a Twilight Historical Tour at night. If you visit during the month of October, the Halloween event Dark Harbor dedicates a maze to each of the ghosts—and even includes an introduction that is based on the legends of how each ghost died. Tickets for the R.M.S. Queen Mary Dark Harbor event start at $20.
Haunted Hocking Hills, Ohio
In Southeast Ohio’s picturesque Hocking Hills State Park, it is said that you may see more than cascading waterfalls, jutting cliffs, caves, and forests on your visit. Native Americans once inhabited the park before settlers moved into the area in the mid 1800s. Ever since it became a state park in 1924, there have been sightings of apparitions and other unexplainable events that make Hocking Hills as spooky as it is naturally beautiful. Leading up to Halloween, there are numerous informal ghost hikes through the park’s forests and caves. You can also jump on the Haunted Hocking Ghost Express train, which features the stories of 13 famous local ghosts as you pass their haunted areas. The train ride ($17 per rider) lasts one and a half hours and is only offered September 12, October 10, and October 17. On Halloween, visitors can take part in a full moon canoe trip ($49 per canoe), or team up with the Hocking Hills “HHIT Team” as they explore the park’s more haunted caves (free). If group tours aren’t your thing, feel free to encounter the ghosts on your own—just remember it’s harder to convince others of your encounters with no other witnesses.
Boston Haunted Tours, Massachusetts
Boston might be known for its sports fanatics, colleges, clam chowder (“chowda”), and colonial history stretching back to the 1600s. But as one of America’s oldest and most historic cities, there are bound to be a few ghosts among the Irish pubs and cobblestone streets. If you’re interested in a guided walking ghost tour, there are a number to choose from. There is also a trolley tour that makes frequent stops around Boston’s spookiest sections. The Haunted Boston Ghost Walking Tour is $18 per ticket, the Boston Ghost and Legends Lantern Walking Tour is $25 per ticket, and The Ghost and Gravestone Frightseeing Tour is $39.90 per ticket.
Gettysburg Haunted Tours, Pennsylvania
The Battle of Gettysburg was said to be the turning point of the American Civil War. Soldiers from the Union and Confederate armies clashed in this small Pennsylvania town 165 years ago, leading to the casualties of nearly 51,000 men. There are a number of guided ghost tours year-round that highlight some of the more famous ghost stories, as well as educate visitors on the history of the battle. Look out for the restless ghosts of the soldiers, who are said to still be roaming the battlefield, unaware that the conflict is over. Gettysburg Ghost Tours offer a wide variety of options for ghost hunting, and tickets run from $9 to $55.
French Quarter New Orleans, Louisiana
Pirates, slaves, soldiers, witch doctors, fortune tellers, and countless other characters have graced New Orleans’ French Quarter at some point in its 200 year history, and as many locals will tell you, many of them never left. There are many points in the city that are famous for their spirits that you can visit, including the Lalaurie House, St. Louis Cemetery, and Le Pavilion Hotel. There are also a number of guided tours and ghost hunts that provide information on the dark history of New Orleans and the stories behind the hauntings. New Orleans Ghost Tour provide a variety of those tours, including voodoo and vampire tours. Tickets are $25.
Missouri State Penitentiary
Nicknamed “The Bloodiest 47 Acres in America,” the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City was once the largest prison in America—housing 5,200 violent inmates at its peak. The prison closed operations in 2004, and is currently open to visitors who come from all over America to experience the famous apparitions. The Prison claims to have had over 100 paranormal investigations in recent years, including Syfy Channel’s Ghost Hunters and Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures. There are a number of paranormal tours you can take while visiting, including a history tour ($12), two-hour ghost tour ($25), and for those of you crazy enough—an eight-hour private overnight investigation, which is undoubtedly as scary as it sounds ($95).
St. Augustine Lighthouse, Florida
Founded by the Spanish in 1565, Saint Augustine is technically the oldest European-established city in the continental United States. The focal point of the old seaside town is the historic lighthouse. Erected in 1874, the Lighthouse is actually one of the newer towers in the area. It is also said to be the most haunted. Having been featured on various ghost-hunting specials, the lighthouse and its surroundings are a popular destination for those looking for some evidence of ghosts, or just a reason to be scared. The guided Dark of the Moon walking tour takes you inside the lighthouse and the surrounding areas, where you’ll learn about some of the storied history structure. Then you’ll have the opportunity to investigate on your own, just after they give you a glow stick and turn off all the lights—maybe that makes the ghosts less shy? The Dark Of the Moon tour is operated by Saint Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum and is the only one that lets you inside the Lighthouse. Tickets start at $25.
Paranormal Inc. at Knott’s Scary Farm, California
If dealing with actual ghosts isn’t quite your thing, check out the maze Paranormal Inc. at Knott’s Scary Farm. Each Halloween, the theme park Knott’s Berry Farm transforms to include mazes and characters that fit within different themes of the park. This year, Knott’s created the new maze Paranormal Inc., which is a simulation of a ghost hunt inside a former hospital. While the characters who jump out at you may look like ghosts, they’re real people. If you get scared, they’ll back off and creep you out from a distance. Tickets start around $40.
Want to discover more Halloween events and activities? Check out:
- Catacombs & Ghosts: The Dark Side of Paris
- Beyond the Maze: Halloween Events at Historic & Haunted Places
- Tombstone Tourism: Cemeteries You Can Visit Around the World
- Spooky Museum Exhibits You Can Visit for Halloween
By Randall Nye for PeterGreenberg.com
