A Guide to Haunted Inns in the U.S.

Explore our featured haunted inns as you plan out your next spooky adventure! We have narrowed down three famous haunted inns in the U.S. that are rumored to have a haunting history!

How would you like to be a guest at a haunted inn that has the little rhyme below as the slogan? Are you ready for the possibility of getting a too-close experience of the haunting history that goes along with it?

“Lizzie Borden took an axeAnd gave her mother forty whacks
And when she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one” – unknown author

Lizzie Borden House in Massachusetts

Located in Fall River, Massachusetts, Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast is one of the most well known haunted bed and breakfasts in the US. For those of you not familiar with the story of Lizzie Borden, I’ll fill you in. Lizzie Borden, a 32 year old woman who still lived at home with her sister and parents at 92 Second Street, was believed to have murdered her father and her stepmother on August 4, 1892. An axe was discovered but could not be determined as the weapon. Eventually, Lizzie was tried and found not guilty due to lack of evidence.

There are numerous books and movies about Lizzie Borden.

The Lizzie Borden house remained empty for many years and then was a private residence before becoming the supposedly haunted bed and breakfast it is today. Of course, many guests claim to have seen paranormal activities while staying at this haunted bed and breakfast in Massachusetts. They claim everything from strange sounds, footsteps, a woman crying, and impressions of a body laying or sitting on a bed. The most prominent ghost is believe to be Lizzie’s step-mother, Abby, she is seen dusting and making beds, which is what they say she was doing at the time of her murder.

There are eight rooms in the Lizzie Borden House including Lizzie’s and those of her family members – Emma’s (Lizzie’s sister), Andrew (her father), Abby (her stepmother), and John (her uncle). All of the rooms are tastefully decorated in accordance to the original Victorian time period.

Thornewood Castle Inn in Washington

Located in Lakewood, Washington, Thornewood is one of the few castles left in the United States. It’s haunted history is 400 years old. Thornewood is beyond beautiful.

Many of you may already know what Thornewood Castle looks like without even knowing it. The castle has been used in four movies. The most famous movie for this castle is Stephen King’s “Rose Red.” Aside from being the Rose Red castle, the castle has also been featured in the prequel to the Rose Red movie, “The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer.”

The exterior of the castle has also been featured in the Oscar-winning movie, “There Will Be Blood,” and an old silent movie called “The Eyes of the Totem” with shots of Thornewood Castle from 1927!

Another claim to fame is the book “The Secret Garden.” The garden in the book is actually at Thornewood and is called the Sunken English Garden. There are also two other gardens just as magnificent on the property.

Thornewood is thought to be a portal between Earth and the Spirit world according to Henry Bailey, the lead investigator and president of the Washington State Ghost Society. He also claims it is a place of healing. The energy is all positive and there are no evil or mischief spirits present.

Thornewood has been investigated by several ghost hunters, there are numerous newspaper and magazine articles written about it. Although it is rumored to be a haunted castle, the website for the castle says Thornewood is haunted only in the movies.

Guests have reported seeing larger than life angels. Most often, it is thought that the ghost of Anna Chester, the owner’s wife, is seen. She likes to stare back at visitors who are looking in a mirror, according to reports. Strange noises, missing objects, voices, men, women, and children have all been seen and vanished before the guest’s very eyes.

Thornewood Castle has nine guest suites all with a king size bed, fireplace, mini bar, refrigerator, coffee pot, and microwave as well as a sitting area and private bathroom.

The Kehoe House in Georgia

The Kehoe House is a two-story, thirteen-guest room Victorian inn in Savannah, Georgia. Despite its reputation as a romantic inn in the heart of quaint Savannah, the Kehoe House is said to be haunted by two children (twins) who were playing in one of the many chimneys in the house and were both killed. They are said to haunt the B&B with laughter, talking, apparitions, and childhood pranks. The most active rooms in the house are 201 and 203. The original owner is also said to haunt the Kehoe house, with most believing he is just watching over it. Oddly, while taking a virtual tour of the rooms you can see all of the fireplaces “appear” to be inoperable and there is no mention of fireplaces in the guest rooms.

Most bed and breakfasts or inns in the U.S. are old and were someone’s home at one time or another. Where you have history, you have a chance of a haunting as well! There are hundreds, if not thousands, of historic inns that claim the haunted title. It’s possible you have already stayed at one of the haunted inns in the U.S. and did not even know it!