HAUNTED PLACES
Written by Lisa Stardust
There are many haunted homes, hotels, and castles that span the globe. No matter where you are in the world, there will always be a haunted space or place nearby that is awaiting your visit. These are a few that have been noted as extra spooky, which will bring thrills and chills to your spine. Of course, the list is constantly growing.
Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff National Park, Canada
Ever since this hotel was built in 1888, there has been a lot of noted paranormal activity. One ghost who’s gotten a lot of fame is the “Ghost Bride.” She still greets diners and drinkers at the bar in the ballroom, while awaiting her pending nuptials in a wedding dress.
Bhangarh Fort, India
After being rejected by a princess for marriage, a sorcerer cast a spell on the area that haunts people till this day. The negative energy or presence of evil can be felt when on the grounds of the area. So, be careful when crossing over to the fort because it’s under a mysterious spell.
Lizzie Borden House, Fall River, Massachusetts
The house where Lizzie Borden took an ax/ And gave her mother forty whacks/ And when she saw what she had done/ She gave her father forty-one is now a B&B and is haunted. Her father, Andrew Borden, is said to currently be the most active spirit on the premises.
The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado
The question still remains about whether this one-time peaceful hotel was haunted before Stephen King’s The Shining was written or if people began to question the ghostly hotel afterward. The hotel does seem to have a lot of paranormal activity and gives ghost tours—so maybe they’ve always been present.
Corvin Castle, Hunedoara, Romania
As the inspiration for Castle Dracula in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, this gothic palace is known as one of the Seven Wonders of Romania. Due to its rich history, people wonder if the bloodthirsty Count still roams the hallways of this Renaissance-era home which was built in the 1400s.
Aokigahara Forest, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan
Visitors of the forest say that evil spirits reside there and urge them to take their own lives. Many people have gotten lost in the woods when innocently hiking here. According to Japanese mythology, the yūrei reside here, which is how it gained its name as “Demon” and “Suicide” Forest.
Castillo San Cristobal, Puerto Rico
Legend has it that in true Shakespearean style, two star crossed lovers met their unfortunate destiny when María Dolores’s father killed the notorious thief, Betancourt, with whom his daughter was in love with. María Dolores retaliated by taking her own life. These two ghosts rendezvous together where the fortress stands.
Colegio Salvatierra, Santa Rosalía, México
This school is said to echo with laughter and sounds of children playing. The story behind the haunting is about a young boy who mysteriously choked on a marble when playing with them in the bathroom. To this day, people can hear the moments leading up to his untimely death.