Check out our list of the top haunted hotels and places to visit in the Midwest!

Looking for a spooky place to visit or a haunted hotel? These cities are filled with them! From eerie graveyards to unique establishments that are known for paranormal activity, each of these locations carries its own set of mysterious stories to entertain visitors and locals. Check out the following haunted hotspots, along with the top places to stay for ghost hunting.

Victor, Colorado

Tucked away from the city, the gold rush town of Victor is a beautiful mountain town setting to get off the beaten path and enjoy the outdoors. The town also has a rich history with tales of hauntings, wild west gunfights, fires, and more. The Black Monarch Hotel is a prime destination for exploring the town’s haunted past.

The Bela Lugosi Room at The Black Monarch Hotel. [Image courtesy of Cait Falc/The Black Monarch Hotel]

The Black Monarch is an allegedly haunted former brothel, casino, and saloon from the gold rush era. The hotel is famous for its Victorian gothic aesthetic and serial-killer themed rooms. The building's gorgeous character from 1899 was preserved while also painted black and gold to reflect an immersive stay in a decadent opium den. The rooms are themed after serial killers like H.H. Holmes and Elizabeth Bathory, and are brimming with taxidermy, naughty Victorian pop-up books, tomes on Satanism, and other oddities and curiosities. The hotel also worked with the Lugosi Estate to highlight Bela Lugosi’s legacy with a room inspired by Dracula.

Estes Park, Colorado

Not only is Estes Park a gorgeous destination at the base of the Rocky Mountain National Park, perfect for exploring nature, it’s also a great destination to explore the supernatural at The Stanley Hotel.

While the legendary Stanley Hotel is famous for its charm and history, it is perhaps best known as the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining. The hotel offers tours where guests can learn about the unique folklore and pop culture behind the hotel. The Historic Stanley Night Tour is a fun way to explore a few darkened spaces and learn about the “active” phenomena and spirit stories surrounding the 100+ year-old hotel.

Nevada City, California

Nevada City is rich with history as it was a mining ghost town until its restoration in 1945 and 1978. It’s a great place to enjoy walking tours, dining, hiking, mountain biking, and fall colors—all just a short walk from the haunted National Exchange Hotel.

The National Exchange Hotel first opened in Nevada City, California in 1856 and has since survived fires, floods, outlaws, and icons. The hotel, which once hosted gold rush miners, is said to be populated by a mischievous cast of ghosts. In 2021the hotel reopened after a full-scale renovation and restoration that pays respect to the heart of the original building, while revitalizing and refreshing it. You can keep up The National Exchange Hotel on Instagram: @thenationalexchangehotel.

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is often considered one of the most haunted cities in the United States and is home to several supposedly haunted hotels. Because the city is considered to be so haunted, there are many haunted city tours to help visitors learn about the city’s rich history, including several options from Haunted History Tours.

One of the city’s famous haunted hotels is the 18th-century European-style Andrew Jackson Hotel, which is located in the French Quarter and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Originally home to a boarding school and orphanage for boys who lost their parents during the Yellow Fever epidemic, the property saw many misfortunes. In 1774, the house was victim to a fire that destroyed many buildings in the French Quarter, including the orphanage with five young boys inside. To this day, many say the building is haunted and report seeing the ghost of a lone boy who wakes up guests with laughter and pushes them out of bed. There are also sightings of the caretaker of the orphan boys roaming the hallways and even sightings of Andrew Jackson himself.

Virginia City, Nevada

Virginia City is a a historic mining town, located just 25 minutes from Reno. It was once a booming metropolis, responsible for millions of dollars in silver and gold ore and the largest city between Denver and San Francisco. Tales of hauntings and paranormal experiences in this town have been plentiful and there are plenty of haunted hotels to choose from in Virginia City, Nevada.

Gold Hill Hotel is Nevada’s oldest operating hotel with abounding stories of the ghosts of children running the halls and the scent of roses that appears randomly when a spirit is said to be present.

Silver Queen Hotel is allegedly haunted by one or more of the working women who did business in the hotel. This establishment was built in 1876 and is considered one of the most haunted locations in town. The hotel offers paranormal investigations for an additional fee.

St. Mary’s Art Center, originally built in 1875 as Virginia City’s hospital, is a majestic building that offers 16 guest rooms for artists retreats, or anyone looking to stay in Virginia City. Paranormal investigations are offered monthly or can be booked as a private tour and the building is reported to have very active paranormal spirits.

Tahoe House Hotel dates back to 1859 and this property offers plenty of tales of paranormal encounters from guests over the years. Renovated in 2020, it features five rooms with balconies overlooking C Street, along with a lobby bar, great room, and courtyard.

Don’t have the guts to stay at a haunted hotel? Here are some non-haunted hotels that are nearby haunted hotspots, but far enough away to get a good night’s sleep:

Chicago, Illinois

With a rich history as one of the most haunted cities in the Midwest, Chicago has many a spooky story or place to visit. Those looking to check out Graceland Cemetery for the chance to see the disappearing statue of Inez Clarke, a six-year-old girl who haunts the grounds, can stay at the Hotel Zachary, an Autograph Collection, which is a 10-minute walk from this haunted location.

Westin Chicago River North, W Lakeshore, Sheraton Grand Chicago, and The Westin Michigan Avenue are all located within walking distance of Water Tower, where the silhouette of a man is said to be seen in the tower’s upper windows. Reports of faint cries, apparitions, and feelings of being touched by invisible entities have been reported at the Nederlander Theatre, just two blocks away from the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel.

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, commonly known as “Motor City” or “Motown,” is also recognized as a paranormal playground. Aloft Detroit at the David Whitney serves as the perfect property to stay at for those daring enough to a pay a visit to The Whitney, an estate-turned-restaurant where witnesses claim to see the apparition of David Whitney, the wealthiest man in Detroit, roaming the halls.

The ghost of Harry Houdini is said to haunt The Majestic Theatre, which is a quick drive from The Henry, Autograph Collection. Rumor has it that if you park on the bridge of Belle Isle, which is 15 minutes by car from The Westin Book Cadillac, and honk three times—a woman in white will appear.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Since the city’s inception in 1856, Minneapolis has earned notoriety with its landmarks and establishments for being haunted. Extreme areas of cold have been detected at the Minnesota Institute of the Arts, located 10 minutes away from Le Meridien Chambers Minneapolis. Paranormal-loving visitors looking to make a trip to First Avenue, a music venue that is said to house the ghost of a woman in a green army jacket, can stay at Elliot Park, Autograph Collection. Less than a block away from Emery, Autograph Collection is Minneapolis City Hall, where the spirit of John Moshik is said to roam the halls of the building’s 5th floor.

Columbus, Ohio

Filled with many haunted houses and spooky legends, Ohio’s capital provides has a creepy history to explore. Rumor has it that someone will knock back if one knocks on the Hayden Mausoleum door in Green Lawn Cemetery, just 10 minutes away from Le Meridien Columbus, the Joseph. A quick walk from Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel is The Central Ohio Fire Museum, where the spirit of the famous Captain George Dukeman is said to reside.

Thurber House, a quick drive from Residence Inn Columbus Downtown, serves as the sight of paranormal activity with the sounds of phantom footsteps gracing the halls. As the oldest hotel in the city, The Westin Great Southern Columbus is often featured on the many ghost tours throughout Columbus.

Cincinnati, Ohio

From ghostly apparitions to mysterious sounds heard in the halls of an old building, the Queen City is filled with spooky places. A quick drive from the Courtyard Cincinnati Covington is Cincinnati Music Hall, which plays host to the ghosts of children that used to live in the orphanage the hall is built on. Visitors in the area looking to pay a paranormal visit to The Dent Schoolhouse, the scariest haunted house in the city that reportedly houses the spirits of children, can stay at Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown.

Haunted Hotels and Hotspots for Ghost Hunting and Thrill-Seeking