Are you ready to explore the spine-tingling, ghostly corners of North America’s most haunted hotels? From historic streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter to the misty peaks of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, just about every hotel with any past has ghost stories to share. Here are 13 of the continent’s most haunted hotels where guests report whispers from the beyond, spectral sightings and chilling encounters.

The Crescent Hotel (Eureka Springs, Arkansas)

In the Ozark Mountains resort town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas sits The Crescent Hotel, known as America’s Most Haunted Hotel. It is a Victorian masterpiece that holds countless stories within its walls. This historic hotel, established in 1886, has been a beacon for those seeking the supernatural. Guests and staff alike have reported numerous encounters with the otherworldly, from the ghost of Michael, a stonemason who met his demise during construction, to the spirits of patients from its time as a fraudulent cancer hospital run by Norman Baker. The most notorious of these spectral inhabitants is said to reside in Room 218, where Michael’s spirit is particularly active, making it a hotspot for paranormal enthusiasts. The hotel embraces its haunted heritage, offering nightly ghost tours that delve into its eerie past as a fraudulent cancer sanatarium run by a huckster and the many souls that are said to linger there.

The Fairmont Banff Springs (Banff, Alberta)

Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, the Fairmont Banff Springs is a majestic castle that harbours more than just luxury. Guests report sightings of a bride who fell down the staircase and a bellman who still offers his services long after his last shift. The ethereal bride is often seen in her wedding gown, dancing alone in the ballroom or weeping on the staircase where she met her untimely end. The friendly bellman, Sam, is known to assist guests with their bags and then vanish before they can tip him. The hotel’s storied past and grandiose architecture provide the perfect backdrop for these ghostly encounters.

The Mokara Hotel (San Antonio, Texas)

In San Antonio, the Mokara Hotel’s history as a saddlery is alive with the sound of phantom footsteps and unseen hands that brush against the living. Visitors often feel a presence that harks back to the days of the Wild West. The hotel’s corridors and guest rooms are filled with the echoes of its former life, with guests reporting the sounds of horses and the jingle of spurs. The spirit of a former saddler is said to roam the hotel, still plying his trade in the afterlife, and occasionally interacting with unsuspecting guests.

The Stanley Hotel (Estes Park, Colorado)

Colorado’s Stanley Hotel inspired Stephen King’s ‘The Shining,’ and it’s no wonder why. Echoes of past guests and long-gone employees linger in its halls, particularly the infamous Room 217, where many have checked in but not all have checked out. The hotel’s original owner, F.O. Stanley, is said to be seen in the lobby and the billiard room, while his wife, Flora, plays the piano in the music room. Guests have reported their belongings being unpacked, lights turning on and off and laughter echoing through empty corridors.

The Hotel Provincial (New Orleans, Louisiana)

In the French Quarter of New Orleans, the Hotel Provincial is a patchwork of historic buildings where the past refuses to be forgotten. Guests report encounters with soldiers from the Civil War, still tending to their wounds in the afterlife. The hotel’s complex history as a Confederate hospital contributes to its hauntings, with guests witnessing apparitions of soldiers and surgeons, hearing the sounds of moaning and crying and experiencing sudden drops in temperature. The most active spots are said to be the hotel’s courtyards and room 211.

The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth (Montreal, Quebec)

Montreal’s Fairmont Queen Elizabeth is not just known for John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s ‘Bed-In for Peace’—it’s also home to several spirits. Guests have heard strange noises and felt the touch of unseen hands during their stay. The hotel’s most famous ghost is a man in a black suit seen wandering the halls and disappearing through walls. Guests also report hearing phantom parties from the era of the hotel’s grand openings, complete with music and laughter that fades into silence when approached.

The Chelsea Hotel (New York City, New York)

The Chelsea Hotel in New York City is not merely a hotel; it’s a cultural landmark, a bohemian enclave that has been a muse to the many artists, writers and musicians who have resided within its storied walls. The spirits of some of these creative souls seem to have never left, with guests reporting sightings of ethereal figures and hearing the faint strains of music and poetry from decades past. The hotel’s atmosphere is thick with the presence of its former inhabitants, leaving an indelible mark on the living, who walk the same halls as the legends of yesteryear.

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport (Vancouver, British Columbia)

The Fairmont Vancouver Airport is a modern haven for travellers, yet it is also home to a timeless spectre known as the ‘Lady in Red.’ She is often seen gliding through the hallways, her crimson attire a stark contrast to the contemporary surroundings. Her presence is accompanied by a sense of nostalgia, a reminder of the hotel’s glamourous past when it was a hub of high society. Guests report encounters with her benevolent spirit, often feeling a comforting presence and sometimes even catching the scent of her floral perfume.

The Winchester Mystery House (San Jose, California)

The Winchester Mystery House stands as a monument to the eccentric and the unexplained. Built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the rifle magnate, the house is an architectural anomaly with staircases that lead to nowhere and doors that open into walls. It is said that Sarah built the house to appease the spirits of those affected by the Winchester rifles, and many believe these spirits still wander its halls. Visitors report strange occurrences, such as cold spots, disembodied voices and the feeling of being watched by unseen eyes.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (Lake Louise, Alberta)

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, with its picturesque setting by the emerald waters of Lake Louise, holds within its walls a spectral presence that is as haunting as it is heartbreaking. The ghost of a Victorian-era woman, known as the ‘Lady of the Lake,’ is said to roam the corridors and the shores, her apparition often enveloped in a soft, otherworldly glow. She is believed to be the spirit of a young bride who, after her tragic death on her wedding day, continues to search for her lost love. Guests have reported feeling a profound sadness in her presence, a testament to the enduring power of love beyond the grave.

The Haunted Hotel at 623 Ursulines (New Orleans, Louisiana)

The Haunted Hotel at 623 Ursulines in New Orleans is a place where the veil between the living and the dead seems particularly thin. The hotel embraces its haunted heritage, with each room telling a different story of the city’s rich and often dark history. Guests have reported encounters with full-bodied apparitions, objects moving on their own, and the sensation of being touched by invisible hands. The hotel’s connection to the mystical practices of voodoo and the occult only adds to the allure for those seeking a brush with the supernatural.

Concord’s Colonial Inn (Concord, Massachusetts)

Concord’s Colonial Inn, a fixture in Massachusetts since 1716, whispers tales of its Revolutionary War days when it served as a hospital. Guests and staff report eerie sensations and sightings of soldiers from the 18th century, their spirits seemingly tethered to the inn. The most active areas are said to be the rooms that once housed these wounded souls, where visitors have felt unseen presences and heard the faint sounds of agony and hope from a time long passed.

Hotel Monte Vista (Flagstaff, Arizona)

The Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff, Arizona, has been a beacon for the supernatural since its opening in the 1920s. Guests have encountered the phantom bellboy, who knocks on doors only to vanish, and the sounds of an infant’s cries that lead to no source. The hotel’s storied past includes tales of bank robbers and movie stars, but it’s the unexplained occurrences that have truly made the Monte Vista a destination for those seeking the paranormal.