9 Spooky Airbnbs to Rent If You Dare to be Scared
Lesley Chen is a California native who writes about travel, health/fitness, and other lifestyle topics. She has a serious case of RBF and exercises mainly to balance out an aggressive candy addiction.
For some people, it's not enough to just celebrate Halloween, they want to live Halloween, ghosts and all. What better way to embrace the spirit of the season than rooming with some actual spirits? Even if you don't believe in paranormal activity, these nine Airbnbs definitely feel haunted, and some previous guests have reported spine-tingling experiences. Go ahead and book a stay and sleep tight — if you dare.
Cisco Post Office, Cisco, UT: The city of Cisco, in eastern Utah, was founded in the 1880s but has all but been abandoned and now is a ghost town. You can stay in the original post office (closed in the 1990s), which has WiFi but no running water, and few (at least living) neighbors — as of the late 2010s, there is only one self-declared resident in Cisco.
The Haunted House, Penetanguishene, Canada: This stately Victorian dates back to 1885, when it was inhabited by lumber baron Charles Beck. As lore goes, when Beck died, his inheritance was split evenly among his nine children but his eldest daughter only received $1. Strange spiritual occurrences have been reported since.
The Stroud House, Wake Forest, NC: Built in the 1940s, the Stroud House has some interesting features like sinks in every bedroom, shiplapped ceilings, and... possible ghosts. Family, friends, and guests of the hosts have reported lights turning on and off, shadowy figures, glowing orbs in the living room, and a music box that plays itself. But don't worry, there have been no reported incidents in the guest bedroom — yet.
Inspiration House, Oberlin, OH: Inspiration House is used as an art and learning retreat and meditation space, and if you are looking for a spiritual experience, this is your place. The house is suspected to be haunted, and the first floor display room, which is filled with paranormal phenomena, is only open by request because many guests found it too "creepy" (two words: porcelain dolls).
The Enslin Mansion, Troy, NY: Ghouls just wanna have fun at this historic mansion, which has been used for both filming and paranormal investigations. According to the hosts, you will probably not see any spirits, but they do like to pull pranks like hiding keys from unsuspecting guests.
Gettysburg Historic Lookout House, Aspers, PA: Gettysburg is a town well-documented in history books, and soldiers on their way to the infamous battle there stayed in the attic of this house. Guests have reportedly seen a uniformed man standing in the corner of one bedroom and heard footsteps down the attic stairs. The hosts are paranormal investigators and can regale you with stories of residents who may have never left.
Rensow Manor Retreat, Rensow, Germany: Head two hours outside of Berlin to find this 17-century manor in a remote part of Germany. The house is decorated with 17th-century decor with many rooms only lit by candlelight. Many people believe the manor is haunted by the ghosts of Slavic gods that were worshipped in the area.
The Manor Master Chamber, Saint Paul, MN: The only thing scarier than a ghost is a child ghost, and this house may have one: It's speculated that a young girl named Rosalia Fihn died of typhoid fever in the house in the early 1900s and her spirit still roams the halls. The house is filled with "oddities and antiques," but a resident doberman named Scorch is also around to provide a little extra protection.
Elegantly Decayed Creole Mansion, New Orleans, LA: New Orleans is considered to be one of the most haunted cities in the US, and you can stay right in the heart of it in a Creole mansion. Built in 1885 and owned by a free woman of color (and featured in American Horror Story: Coven), this mansion is walking distance to the French Quarter and has 14-foot ceilings, original fireplaces, and a mahogany staircase. To up your chances of something paranormal, book a cemetery tour and see the tomb of NOLA's Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau.
(Photos via Airbnb)
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Lesley Chen is a California native who writes about travel, health/fitness, and other lifestyle topics. She has a serious case of RBF and exercises mainly to balance out an aggressive candy addiction.