Are You Brave Enough To Spend The Night In The Spookiest Airbnbs In The US?

Spirited stays

With tens of thousands of properties listed on Airbnb, it can be overwhelming choosing where to stay, but only some listings have hair-raising backstories like these and the added bonus of... being haunted. Whether you believe in spirits that mess with the living or not, these Airbnbs have welcomed plenty of guests who've experienced paranormal activity. From a spooky stint in a haunted mansion to creepy bedrooms in New Orleans, these are some of the scariest Airbnb stays in America.

The Manor Master Chamber, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Book a stay in this private room in a Minnesota mansion and you'll most likely be greeted by a ghost-ess with the mostest. Built in 1883, the house was once voted the most mysterious in the state and even today it is often visited by paranormal investigators. Guests say there's an especially strong energy in the manor chamber (pictured) and around the closet that once belonged to a young woman, Rosalia Fihn, who passed away here due to typhoid fever. Many still wonder whether it's her spirit that roams around the house.

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Historic Civil War Farm House, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Many historic places like Gettysburg are hotspots for paranormal activity, but the background of this Airbnb makes it even scarier. Used as a Civil War field hospital, the farmhouse is haunted. Host Stephanie says she will be your "only living host" and that there are several ghosts who reside in the house. Having lived in the farmhouse for 36 years, Stephanie is happy to share many hair-raising stories about her ghostly encounters. Guests report hearing strange laughter, footsteps and mysterious flashes of light.

Salem guest suite, Salem, Massachusetts

Brilliantly furnished, this guest suite is ideal for getting into the Salem spirit. Featuring dark Gothic decor and Victorian details, it's spooky enough to imagine a different world where witches exist. Although guests don't report any hauntings or supernatural encounters, almost all note how the mood of the suite matches that of Salem.

The Haunted Bedroom, New Orleans, Louisiana

There are actually three bedrooms in this charming 130-year-old Garden District house known as the Parks-Bowman Mansion, but only one of them is haunted and therefore perfect for the spooky season. The guests of the appropriately named Haunted Bedroom share it with the ghost of a young girl in a yellow dress who lived in the 1890s. Host Adrienne says the ghost is actually very shy and guests aren't that likely to encounter her. 

Henry Derby House, Salem, Massachusetts

It might look completely ordinary from the outside, but this home in Salem is notorious for its haunted history. Although the listing doesn't confirm whether it's haunted or not, host Phil teasingly says he has "plenty of stories". It's also one of the stops on a local ghost tour, so chances are you're more than likely to encounter spirits here. 

Earth house, Fairfield, Virginia

Allow yourself to be transported to a land of mystery and magic as you check in at this unique Earth house. Perfect for a one-of-a-kind experience, especially around Halloween, there's an option to add a workshop to your stay. You can choose from wizard pipe and staff carving workshops to blacksmith or vintage broom workshops. It's bound to be a stay you won't forget in a hurry.

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Inspiration House, Oberlin, Ohio

A nice house from the outside, beautifully decorated on the inside, this unassuming abode in Oberlin hides a spooky secret. Host Elyria is a psychic and an occult researcher and the ground floor includes a room normally closed off to visitors. The display room is part museum, part training ground for people to refine and understand their own psychic abilities. Some guests report hearing slow pacing upstairs while others say the musical toys in the display room play by themselves. Whatever it is, the listing does say the house is haunted...

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Terlingua Ghost Town Ruin, Terlingua, Texas

For a truly creepy experience, head straight for this miner's casita in an abandoned ghost town. Once a prosperous mining town, Terlingua today is deserted and this Airbnb is located bang in the middle of the empty area. If almost total isolation and abandoned buildings don't spook you, there's the scenic landscape around you to enjoy, as well as the star-covered sky at night. Although no hauntings have been reported here, it will certainly bring an unsettling night's sleep for some.

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Laura's Cottage, Savannah, Georgia

Another city considered among America's most spooky, it's little surprise there's a haunted home you can stay at in Savannah. Built in 1799, this cottage is a favorite with local ghost tours due to Laura, the spirit that haunts the cottage. She's reportedly responsible for flicking the lights and opening windows and gets especially mischievous if guests pick any flowers in the cottage grounds. The house was also featured in Robert Redford's film The Conspirator. 

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The Black Monarch Haunted Brothel, Victor, Colorado

There’s often something eerie about America’s gold rush towns and this one in the Rocky Mountains has its own haunted Airbnb to boot. It’s said that the ghost of a miner who was killed in a gunfight lurks within the building, which is a wonderfully preserved slice of the late-19th century, with attractive tin ceilings and original fixtures. In its former life, the property was a brothel and saloon and now the owners milk the creepy atmosphere with taxidermied animals and curious objets d’art. 

Gingerbread House, Bisbee, Arizona

This dinky bungalow in the mountain bolthole of Bisbee looks like it could be plucked straight from a fairytale. It’s fittingly described by the owner as a “gingerbread house” and comes complete with a charming porch swing and a vintage phonograph player. It’s also purportedly home to a ghost or two – but in keeping with the cottage’s convivial character, they’re of the friendly kind. The owner tells of “repeated episodes of odd unexplained mischief”, but nothing “scary or malevolent”. 

Victorian Gothic Castle Mansion, Ellicott City, Maryland

There are few things more creepy than a Victorian mansion and this Gothic-style pile looks more like a castle than a house. You can get lost in a tangle of rooms, including a library and ballroom, in a property that’s got more than 160 years of history. But that long history has likely left behind a ghost or two – watch out for things that go bump in the night. If you need an escape route, both Baltimore and Washington DC are an easy drive away. 

The Manor Master Chamber, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Particularly when night falls, this historic mansion would not look out of place in a creepy movie. It was built back in 1883 and has long been a source of fascination with locals, even being dubbed "the most mysterious house in Saint Paul" by the Pioneer Press some years ago. The sprawling house is now a popular spot for paranormal investigations (who knows what spirits drift between these walls?) and murder mystery events. 

Maryland’s Hidden Manor, Upper Marlboro, Maryland

With its graceful square columns, bottle green shutters and echoing hallways, this 19th-century mansion is a real head turner, set out on four tree-dotted acres. Tucked into the home are four sumptuous bedrooms, a library and a ballroom, decked out chintzy rugs, patterned wallpaper and heavy drapes. It’s also purportedly haunted – stories of specters and spirits swirl around the house and the host offers ghost hunting activities.

Asian Room in the Cemetery Schoolhouse, Hudson, New York

Few Airbnb settings are more creepy than a cemetery and this swish loft in an old schoolhouse is set in the midst of one. Owners say the location is "removed from any living soul", but doesn't mention if those departed tend to linger within the walls. Whether you're a ghost hound or not, the plush Asian-inspired interiors – with an ornate four-poster bed, shaggy mustard rug and chandelier – are reason enough to book a stay. 

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