As if you couldn't tell by the decorations, spooky TVs and movies being shown, and fallen leaves, Halloween is upon us.
A few weeks ago I wrote about “10 Great Halloween RV Destinations,” mostly geared at family fun.
But for the more adventurous, and the true fans of fright, there are ways to get your scare on all year long.
One option might be the former Traverse City State Hospital I wrote about recently. There are plenty of other options in northern Michigan, too, should you be in the neighborhood.
Other options can be found all across the country, as the folks at TravelTrivia.com recently wrote in their piece about the “5 Scariest Places in the United States.”
To make it easiest for you to read, I'm posting the list below:
5. Mutter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Science lovers will feel right at home at Mütter Museum. However, the average visitor will most likely be creeped out. Why? Because it's the home of human skulls, preserved bodies, cross-sections of Albert Einstein's brain, and so much more. That's because the mission of the Mütter Museum is to “help the public appreciate the mysteries and beauty of the human body while understanding the history of diagnosis and treatment of disease.” It should be noted that the museum is not for the faint of heart. The collection of 139 human skulls? All belonged to one dude. He was a Viennese anatomist named Joseph Hyrtl, who lived in the 1800s.
4. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum – Westin, West Virginia
For $100, you can stay overnight in this asylum that operated in Westin, West Virginia, from 1864–1994. Of course, the origins of the shelter were altruistic, providing a safe, comfortable home for those not able to function in normal society. But over the years, conditions reportedly became more and more horrific. At one point during the 1950s, over 2,400 people lived in this facility built to house only 250. Sadly, hundreds of people died here over the years. And staff, guests, and hosts from paranormal reality TV shows say they've seen apparitions, heard bizarre noises, and experienced strange things. The asylum's website says they'll leave it to you to decide if the place is haunted.
3. Villisca Ax Murder House – Villisca, Iowa
There's no other way around it: The Villisca Ax Murder House is the site of a brutal murder scene. The horrible event happened in 1912, but the murder remains unsolved. Of course, after they found bodies, this small Iowa town reportedly was in chaos and just wanted to be able to go to sleep without worrying for their lives. But despite private detectives, police investigations, and several suspects, the case was never solved. There are reported ghost sightings and other hauntings at the Villisca Ax Murder House. If you really want to go check it out yourself, you sure can. You can even stay there overnight.
2. The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado
If you've seen the movie The Shining, you know this one. That's because a stay at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, inspired Stephen King to write the hit book. And though the movie wasn't filmed at The Stanley, guests, staff, and visitors often report paranormal experiences, including feeling the ghosts of past travelers. They do lean into their reputation, offering night tours that emphasize the paranormal. And around Halloween, they have lots of extra-creepy events such as a murder mystery dinner and a masquerade party in the ballroom that is supposedly the most haunted space in the whole venue.
- Clinton Road – West Milford, New Jersey
One of the many, many myths of Clinton Road is that the ghost of a little boy haunts a particular bridge. Supposedly, if you throw him a coin, he will throw it back to you. Legend has it that a boy was hit by a car while he was walking on the bridge when he bent over to pick up a quarter. If you go there, see a coin on the ground, and try to pick it up, he will push you into the water to save you from being hit by a car, too. You know, if you believe in that kind of thing.
As always, we'd love to hear from you about scary and/or creepy places you've been to in the comments below!
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