SPOOKY SEASON EXPEDITIONS
The Most Haunted Destinations in the Northeast
by Amille Bottom
It’s no secret that the Northeast does Halloween better than practically anywhere else on the planet. The rich history, old buildings and spookily quaint towns lend themselves immensely to cultivating an atmosphere of ghosts and ghouls (not to mention the weather, which can be scary in and of itself). While travel this year isn’t particularly feasible, there are still some particularly frightful spots to visit—although it is recommended that people add them to next year’s fall bucket-list, instead of visiting them right away.
This formerly active warship is the host for some of the most frequent paranormal sightings in the United States. Located in Quincy, MA, and once featured on the Travel Channel’s “Most Terrifying Places,” paranormal investigators of any experience level can spend a five-hour night on the ship for $45 per person. There aren’t many experiences spookier than walking around an echoing, looming navy ship in the middle of the night … and you never know just who (or what) you’ll find there.
Originally opened in 1864, this asylum was originally designed to house 250 patients. As time went on, the asylum was eventually overcrowded with 2,400 patients at once. The conditions were dark, grim and cruel. Not only is this haunted spot (located in Weston, West Virginia) home to the souls of deceased psychiatric patients, it’s also the location of an important military outpost for the Civil War. Whoever you encounter here, it’s bound to be someone with a story to tell.
Perhaps one of the most famous prisons in the world, and the first true penitentiary, the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is a hotspot for paranormal investigations. Featured on “Ghost Hunters,” “Ghost Adventures” and “Buzzfeed Unsolved,” ESP is well known for the hundreds of terrifying experiences that have occurred over the years. The penitentiary does not currently allow just anyone to conduct paranormal investigations, but visitors can take tours of the establishment (and, newly introduced in 2020, visitors can now traverse the prison at night!).
This haunted spot is infamous for being the site of one of Ed and Lorraine Warren’s paranormal investigations. The famous demonologist couple officially declared the house possessed; while there are many disputes about the validity of the couple’s claims, the home in Southington, CT is still a spooky, scary and eerie spot.
Want to get up close and personal with the ghosts and ghouls? Then the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast Museum is the spot for you. Yhe Lizzie Borden B&B is the most terrifying spot on this list, as it is the site of the horrific murders of 1892. The house has been painstakingly preserved and recreated … while some artifacts have left, the spirits trapped inside never did. Book a room here (or the whole house), and let your mind flow into the realm of the spiritual.
Have a happy (and safe) Halloween this year, and be sure to check off some of these spooky spots during next year’s festivities.