America's haunted hotels are portals to the past, where flickering lights, phantom footsteps, and spectral guests whisper tales of tragedy, triumph, and timeless unrest. From Stephen King's chilling inspiration to fraudulent cancer cures gone wrong, these 2025 standouts—curated from Historic Hotels of America's annual list, USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, and U.S. News & World Report rankings—top the charts for verified hauntings and guest encounters. Ranked by paranormal potency (based on 4.6+/5 Tripadvisor scores and expert lore), they promise spine-tingling stays amid historic splendor. Rates range $250–$800/night; opt for "boo" packages with ghost tours for maximum chills.
Perched at the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park, this 1909 Georgian Revival icon birthed Stephen King's The Shining after his eerie overnight in Room 217. Ghosts include playful children on the second floor, a spectral housekeeper in 217, and the original owners, F.O. and Flora Stanley, whose piano tinkles unattended. Post-2025 renovations, its hedge maze echoes Kubrick's film. Rates from $400/night—book Room 217 for the full fright.
Dubbed "America's Most Haunted Hotel," this Ozark perch masqueraded as a cancer "cure" hospital in the 1930s under charlatan Norman Baker, leaving spirits of patients and staff. Michael the stonemason fell to his death during construction, Theodora the housekeeper tidies eternally, and Irish stonemasons party in the basement. Ghost tours reveal the morgue; 2025's spa uses "healing" waters. From $300/night, Room 218 for max activity.
This retired 1936 ocean liner, once a WWII troopship, claims over 150 spirits—drowned swimmers in the empty pool, a crushed engineer in the engine room, and a "lady in white" in the bridal suite. Door 13 slams shut mysteriously; 2025's Art Deco restorations amplify creaks. Dockside stays from $250/night—request Stateroom B340 for whispers.
A French Quarter fixture since 1886, it's haunted by a fever-stricken boy's ghost on the 10th floor (now 3rd) and a spectral bartender at the Carousel Bar. Elevator 13 rides alone; literary shades like Hemingway linger. 2025's jazz brunches draw more orbs. Rates from $350/night—Room 321 for the child's laughter.
Tinseltown's 1927 hotspot hosts Marilyn Monroe's mirror apparition in Suite 1200, Montgomery Clift's trumpet blasts from 928, and Carole Lombard's perfume wafts. Poolside blooms from a 1950s suicide; 2025's TCM Classic Film Festival amps the glamour-ghost vibe. From $400/night—Suite 1200 for star-studded spooks.
This 1922 adobe adobe palace on the historic Plaza saw a judge's 1867 lobby shooting and a salesman's well plunge. Spanish conquistador shadows roam; Julia's Suite whispers of a betrayed bride. 2025's adobe restorations echo chants. Rates from $280/night—Room 505 for the judge's paces.
Since 1893, founder Charles Pfister's ghost oversees the "Grand Hotel of the West," with flickering lights and moving elevators. Celebrities like Mike Tyson report chills; 2025's art collection hides apparitions. From $300/night—top floors for the founder's gaze.
A 1911 pioneer-era tower haunted by Effie the maid, locked away after her boss's affair—her cries echo on the 10th floor. Baskets swing, shadows lurk; NBA stars flee mid-stay. 2025's frontier suites revive the lore. Rates from $250/night—10th floor for Effie's wails.
In Witch Trial central, this 1925 gem sees faucets dancing and apparitions in Room 612—perhaps Bridget Bishop's shade. Pirate ghosts from nearby wharfs; 2025's Halloween haunts peak with trials reenactments. From $300/night—Room 612 for coven chills.
A 1893 spa resort frequented by presidents and Teddy Roosevelt, it's stalked by a "camptender" ghost, a murdered bride in white, and hotel cat's nine lives. Teddy's bear haunts the lobby; 2025's hot springs bubble with ectoplasm. Rates from $220/night—Room 320 for the bride's veil.
Sourced from Historic Hotels of America's 2025 Most Haunted List , USA TODAY 10Best's reader-voted rankings , and U.S. News' expert picks , these icons boast documented EVPs, EMF spikes, and guest sightings (e.g., Ghost Hunters episodes). They embrace eco-haunts with solar-lit tours and zero-waste "boo" bars, blending thrill with sustainability—proving America's ghosts are as enduring as its landmarks.