25 Haunted Places in New England That are Wicked Creepy

*This site uses affiliate links; if you make a purchase through these, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

As one of the oldest parts of the United States, it’s no surprise that New England has its fair share of ghost stories and haunted spots. History abounds in this region, and legends and tales of ghosts have sprung up from Connecticut to Vermont. 

I scoured the web (as well as asked some fellow New Englanders) to find the most haunted places in New England. Many creepy tales and legends came my way.

Whether or not these tales are true….well that’s something you might have to decide for yourself. And if you’re brave enough (I am not), consider visiting these spooky haunted places in New England, whether at night or in the safety of daylight…

Haunted Places in New Hampshire

The Live Free or Die State certainly has its share of New England hauntings, legends, ghost stories, and paranormal activity. Many of these often spooky tales have been passed down from generation to generation, but where does the truth lie in all of these stories?

I don’t know, but I know that if you’re looking for haunted places in New Hampshire, you’re certainly sure to find them. Tales of intrigue at the sea that ended in tragedy and despair, children who suffered cruel lives that remain shackled to their homes even in death… these are certainly the kinds of things that might leave some residual spirit energy behind!

There are ghost towns, abandoned places, historic homes that have witnessed all facets of life and death in their many years standing. These New Hampshire haunted places are located all around the state, so chances are that if you’re ghost hunting in NH, you’ll be able to find somewhere to explore near you.

Madame Sherri’s Castle –  Chesterfield, NH

Grey stone spiral staircase
Photo by Frank Parrott; how about a visit to haunted woods in New England?

In the woods of Chesterfield, NH stands a ghost from a by-gone era.  There, eccentric socialite Madame Antoinette Sherri built a mansion (her “Castle”) where she hosted grand parties during the 1920s.  This magnificent structure featured old-world stonework throughout.

Sadly, after years of neglect Madame Sherri’s castle was destroyed by a fire set by vandals.  All that remains today is the stone foundation and the elegant stone spiral staircase Madam Sherri would descent to greet her visitors.

Approaching the skeleton of the castle, you can’t help feeling the eeriness of the surroundings.  The still standing staircase dubbed “Stairway to Heaven” draws you in.  Many people who have climbed the staircase recall feelings of dread and there have been reports of seeing misty-human figures around the grounds of the castle.  Even skeptics like ourselves immediately felt that feeling of dread.  Only the bravest venture here after sundown.

Check out more haunted New Hampshire hikes!

-Contributed by Frank Parrott, NothingButNewEngland

A decaying hall in an abandoned place in Maine
Something about abandoned hospitals just add to the creepy factor of an abandoned place.

New Hampshire State Hospital, Concord NH

Known as the New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane when it was built back in 1842, the original building was intended to look like a stately mansion, a welcoming place for families to bring their mentally unstable loved ones. 

While it might have been comforting to the family members to imagine their loved ones might find some care on these grounds, the truth was not as pleasant.

The New Hampshire Asylum was more human warehouse than hospital in the sense that we know the word now. It suffered the same fates that many other such institutions did at the time: overcrowded and underfunded, the aim of many such hospitals was essentially to keep the mentally ill away from those who were not, as opposed to any meaningful hopes towards rehabilitation.

Tales stretching all the way to the mid 1900s tell of patients kept  confined in metal cages, for lack of a better word, “for their own good,” and schizophrenic delusions that were essentially laughed at and ridiculed as opposed to understood. 

Today, much of the hospital is abandoned, too far gone to be salvaged, but in its decay, there is said to remain haunted memories of the thousands who languished here. Sounds of former patients are said to still be heard, but in its current state, who is there to hear it?

Likely no more than were there to hear them when they existed in the physical, only to be tucked away and largely ignored by the institution that made no real efforts to treat them.

The Chase House – Portsmouth, NH

The Chase House in Portsmouth, NH is one of the most haunted places in New Hampshire, and has a very creepy story. Tales state that a young girl hung herself years ago in this building, which was a former children’s home. It is said that she may appear late at night in the hallway.

Other times, blood-chilling screams are heard coming from the room where she killed herself. This is definitely one of the spookier haunted places in New England.

Colby Sawyer College – New London, NH

A house covered in snow
Photo by Sarah Pelletier; haunted happenings in New England are spooky enough, but haunted happenings where you live? Yikes.

I went to Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH which is known for having some haunted places around campus – Susan’s Swamp, the library, the cupola on Colgate Hall, etc.  

One in particular was McKean Hall which was my dorm for three years.  In McKean there was a dumb-waiter elevator for the cleaning lady to send supplies, vacuum, etc from floor to floor when she was cleaning.  It only ran with a key and when she wasn’t using it, it was always locked and off.  However, it would still run randomly in the middle of the night on it’s own.  One year my room was right next to it and it was always spooky to hear it run when no else in the building was awake.  

–Contributed by Sarah Pelletier from Birch Landing Home

Haunted Places in Massachusetts

There are so many spooky places in New England that have experienced paranormal activity, and many of those are haunted places in Massachusetts. 

In fact, Massachusetts haunted places include many haunted hotels and inns, too, so if you’re really feeling brave…

We’ve got tales of abandoned placesghost towns, paranormal activity, and more. If you’re ready to learn more about the spookier side of Massachusetts history, here it is!

Danvers State Hospital – Danvers, MA

New England church with steeple
Photo by Jessica Taylor; haunted New England buildings never look quite as haunted during the day as they do at night, do they?

When you think of scary places to visit in New England, right away everyone thinks of Salem, MA. However one of the scariest places I have come across is in the neighboring town of Danvers: the Danvers State Hospital, which is also known as the Danvers State Insane Asylum. The hospital opened in 1878 with impressive Gothic architecture which is also chilling and eerie. From an aerial view the building is shaped like a bat with expanded wings. It was made up of more than one building which all were connected by creepy underground tunnels.

The hospital housed more patients than they should have causing poor treatment and overcrowding. The patients were not treated kindly – unfortunately they were exposed to inhumane treatments such as shock therapies, lobotomies, drugs and straitjackets. In fact experts call Danvers State Hospital the birthplace of the prefrontal lobotomy.

The hospital closed in 1985 and was left completely abandoned. People interested in the paranormal would try to enter the building but with no success. According to one ghost expert, “you may not see a patient’s ghost, but the building could manifest your inner fears, doubts and agony.”

Now you can live on this property if you are brave! In 2005 they renovated and tore down some of the dilapidated buildings constructing beautiful apartments and condos. That being said there are still graveyards for patients that passed away with no family or forgotten. If you walk down a hill you will come across many markers, and sadly, most of them remain nameless.

Huge building with many stories and a tower
Photo by Jessica Taylor; it’s hard to say if a spot in New England is haunted from a distance… best to visit for yourself and find out!

Danvers State Hospital is an interesting place to visit and read about. I for one don’t know if could walk around there at night not feeling scared by so much haunting history.

-Contributed by Jessica Taylor, Your Dating Stylist

Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast – Fall River, MA

Drawing of the Lizzie Borden house
That creepy song is definitely going in your head right now, right?

Lizzie Borden took an ax
And gave her mother forty whacks,
And when she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.

Growing up south of Boston in southeastern Massachusetts I heard this rhyme a lot. This was what Lizzie Borden, a young women who was accused of killing both her parents with an ax in 1892, was taunted with her entire life.

The house where Lizzie may or may not have killed her parents (she was never convicted) is in Fall River, Massachusetts. Now a Bed & Breakfast and Museum, it is said the house is haunted. 

Can’t get an overnight reservation? No worries, they offer 50 minute tours to non-guests as well. When your tour is over decide for yourself if Lizzie was guilty or not.

-Contributed by Retha Charette, The Roaming Nanny

Judge Corwin House – Salem, MA

Witch house in Salem
When talking haunted New England, Salem will always come up!

You can’t have a list of haunted spots in New England without including at least one from the dark town of Salem. While many spots might qualify, including many purportedly haunted hotels, one of the creepiest is the Judge Corwin House.

Also known as The Witch House, this spot, home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, is the only structure still standing in Salem that has direct ties to the Witchcraft Trials of 1692. It’s age may be one of the reasons it is so chilling, but it’s also likely because of Corwin’s role in the trials themselves: he oversaw the execution of 19 accused victims.

Aside from that connection, other tragedy occurred in this house. Corwin and his wife had 5 children, all of which died young. 

Paranormal experiences include visitors feeling cold spots in the house, ghostly touches on the skin, and even the occasional disembodied voice, including one which sounds like a little girl. Salem is said to be a very haunted New England town.

See this and other haunted places in Salem on one of these many Salem ghost tours, or book a haunted Salem hotel to stay in… if you dare!

Houghton Mansion – North Adams MA

Nestled in the Berkshires is the Houghton Mansion, originally built in 1890 by a man named A.C. Houghton. One day, he had his driver take himself, friends of the family, and his beloved daughter for a ride, only to have tragedy befall them when they hit a soft shoulder that sent the car down an embankment, throwing everyone from the vehicle except young Mary.

Mary died just a few hours later from injuries sustained during the fateful car accident, and her father followed her ten days later, with many saying he died of a broken heart. The driver of the car, a faithful servant of the family, committed suicide in the basement of the Houghton Mansion, completely distraught at his role in the tragedy.

Years later, the home was sold to a local order of Freemasons. In its new iteration as a Masonic Temple, whispers of paranormal activity have been passed down from person to person. Papers have rustled by themselves, doors have opened and shut, and there was even one evening when two masons heard the door open and shut, someone enter, but when they went out to look, no one was there and there were no footprints in the freshly fallen snow.

Does the Houghton Mansion remain home to the spirits of the family members and their faithful servant? There have been several Masons who believe so!

Joshua Ward House – Salem MA

The brick historic Joshua Ward House is seen surrounded by fall foliage
Haunted or not? Book a room and see for yourself!

The Joshua Ward House is named after the wealthy sea merchant who took up residence in this historic home, but it was also once inhabited by none other than the dastardly George Corwin, the High Sheriff responsible for many of the atrocities inflicted on the accused in the Salem Witch Trials.

In fact, it was George Corwin who is said to have despicably used his walking stick to shove Giles Corey’s tongue back in his mouth as he was being pressed to death. 

There has been notable paranormal activity recorded at this Salem site, like cold pockets, candles mysteriously melted down despite never having been lit, books and pictures that fall from shelves randomly, feelings of being watched, and even unsettling physical sensations such as feelings of being strangled.

There was even an unexpected appearance of a woman ghost with pale skin and dark curly hair in a photograph that was taken at a Christmas party in 1981!

Today, this haunted place has been given quite the refresh as a boutique hotel called The Merchant. Certainly makes it easier to do some paranormal investigations when you can just book a room and stay overnight!

Click Here to Check Prices & Book!

Haunted Places in Connecticut

Many of New England’s most haunted places are in the Nutmeg State

There are haunted inns, abandoned villages, shuttered sanitoriums, eerie ghost towns, and more that have earned quite the reputation for paranormal activity over the years, and that’s not even mentioning the lore and legends that accompany many of these haunted places in Connecticut.

Union Cemetery – Easton, CT

Gloomy cemetery at nearly dark
Karl Thomas Moore / CC BY-SA; of course there are New England haunted graveyards, but this one is very, very scary.

Cemeteries have always held a certain eerie fascination for many. This one, in Connecticut, may be creepier than most. It is frequently named one of the most haunted graveyards in America. 

A ghost known as the White Lady is the most often-reported spectral sighting. She may be wearing a wedding dress or white nightgown as she wanders between the gravestones. 

Other visitors have talked about a sensation of “being watched” with some seeing a pair of glowing red eyes gazing at them from a distance. 

There are many other paranormal goings-on in this cemetery. There has even been a book written about the graveyard by well-known demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Stratford Shoal (Middle Ground) Lighthouse – Bridgeport, CT

Black and white photo of a lighthouse on an island surrounded by water
A haunted lighthouse in New England? I believe it!

You knew there was bound to be at least one haunted lighthouse in New England. Turns out there are several, but this one is especially creepy

Known as Middle Ground lighthouse or Middleground Light, this 60-foot granite structure is set on a shoal in Long Island Sound. There are at least two creepy tales attached to this place. The first involves multiple suicide attempts by an assistant lighthouse keeper. The isolation of such a job took its toll on Julius Koster in 1905. After his attempts, he was taken to a sanitarium in New York, where he finally succeeded in killing himself just a few days later.

Reports of chaos such as loud grinding and crashing noises, mysteriously slamming doors, and even pots of hot water being tossed onto the floor from the stove make some think that Koster’s spirit is still hanging around Middleground Light. 

The 2nd haunted tale connected with the lighthouse is about the wreck of the ship Trustful, which struck the shoal and sank, killing all onboard. Interestingly, this ship’s cargo was a load of church bells. Today, it is said that you can sometimes hear the sound of muffled church bells in the area when a storm is nigh.

Seaside Tuberculosis Sanitorium – Waterford CT

Seen through a chain link fence is one of the top abandoned places in Connecticut to visit, Seaside Sanitorium
Editorial credit: aswphotos134 / Shutterstock.com; Seaside Sanitorium is one of the most popular abandoned places in Connecticut to explore.

Originally built for tuberculosis patients in the 1930s, the Seaside Sanitorium was once considered a cutting-edge facility for children suffering from tuberculosis, allowing them to receive what was then the standard of care for tuberculosis: time spent by the sunny seaside.

The building was designed by the same architect who designed the Woolworth Building in New York, and this beautiful old building morphed into other facilities over the years before the doors officially closed in the mid-1990s and has been sitting abandoned ever since. 

Orbs, ghostly apparitions, and electronic voice phenomena have been noted at this abandoned sanatorium.

Today, it is a Connecticut State Park and visitors are free to roam by the seaside and admire these abandoned buildings, at a safe distance of course…

Haunted Places in Maine  

Perhaps it’s the wild swaths of mostly uninhabited wilderness that lend themselves so well to stories of paranormal encounters and unexplained phenomena. 

Or maybe it’s generation after generation of people who had to be tough as nails to endure the intensely trying conditions of a Maine winter or a sudden summer squall at sea? These Herculean efforts could be expected to have an energetic impact on a place, maybe contributing to the many supposedly haunted places in Maine.

If you’re looking for Maine haunted places, you’ve come to the right place. We’re rounding up the most compelling, popular, and yes, downright scary ghost stories and tales of the paranormal Maine has!

The Olson House – Cushing, ME

House in the distance behind a field
Photo by Lori Sorrentino; certainly could be something eerie about this New England historic home.

The state of Maine has an eerie feel about it especially in the small towns that dot the Midcoast around Penobscot Bay. The Olson House in Cushing, Maine is such a place. Originally built in the late 18th century, the colonial farmhouse became the home of Christina and Alvaro Olson in 1929.

From 1939 to 1968 the house was also a central theme in the works of American artist Andrew Wyeth, and whose poignant and haunting masterpiece Christina’s World was an homage to his longtime friend Christina, who’d been paralyzed most of her life from a childhood illness.

The house is open to the public and a docent will guide you from room to room bringing to life the stories of the Olsons and their friendship with Wyeth. They’ve even reported hearing footsteps in the rooms above and doors being opened or closed late in the day. Many folks believe their spirits are still around and stay clear of the house once the sun sets.

Alvaro, Christina, and Wyeth are all buried in the family plot just down the hill. Look back toward the house and you can almost see Christina lying in the grass, immortalized forever on the canvas by Andrew Wyeth.

-Contributed by Lori Sorrentino, Travlinmad

Battery Steele – Peakes Island, ME

A dirt path in a forest
Photo by Jenn Lloyd; something about abandoned New England places that are creepy enough, but then add in haunted happenings and oof.

On the southeastern side of Peaks Island sits Battery Steele Military Reserve, the largest gun battery ever built in the United States. The tomb-like structure was originally built in 1942 as part of a coastal defense system meant to defend the mainland against attack during WWII. Its concrete walls are 18 inches thick, blanking out all light and requiring a flashlight to explore the rooms jutting off to the sides of the two tunnels.

The cold, dark corridors are said to be haunted by former soldiers. Many of the island’s 858 permanent inhabitants have stories of ghostly encounters inside Battery Steele and the surrounding marshland.

Visitors have reported their cell phones freezing and batteries suddenly draining upon stepping inside the structure. Many also talk of piercing screams coming from inside the tunnels and visions of soldiers in uniform.

-Contributed by Jenn Lloyd, Sick Girl Travels

Captain Lord Mansion – Kennebunkport, ME

A man and a woman sitting on a sofa
Staying in a haunted hotel in New England? Only for the VERY brave of heart.

I visited Captain Lord Mansion in Kennebunkport Maine for my husbands birthday.

It was a complete surprise and I wanted take him there for the historic antique decor. It was regal, gorgeous and the hotel has won many awards.

They offered bikes for cycling around town and we took countless pictures. It was a picture perfect day until night time came and we both got an uncomfortable creepy vibe. We both couldn’t sleep and when I found the guest book filled with ghost stories. I needed out.

We actually left the hotel. We drove around town and watched the sunrise together. While nothing spooky happened directly, I think you know when something just doesn’t feel right.

-Contributed by Jordana Santos Wilson

PS: Apparently there is some spooky history in this place!

The Kennebunk Inn, Kennebunk ME

Built in 1799, the Kennebunk Inn has had a few iterations over its time, including as a private home, a tavern, and of course, an inn.

The resident spirit at this Maine inn is believed to be the ghost of former nightwatchman and auditor, Silas Perkins, who passed away in the mid 1900s.

Luckily for the proprietors and guests of the Kennebunk Inn, Silas’ ghostly presence is more mischievous than it is malevolent, only playing “tricks” on those who aren’t so well liked.

Some notable experiences that staff and guests have had with this haunted inn’s resident ghost include three mugs lifting off of a shelf by themselves and knocking a not so well liked bartender on the back of the head, as the owner of the inn watched in disbelief!

Another time, a housekeeper unplugged a TV in a guestroom, only to have it turn itself on a moment later, despite remaining unplugged from the wall. This happened in Room 17, which is considered the “haunted room” at the inn.

A psychic investigator was called to the inn at one point to see if they could commune with Silas, and not only was the presence of Silas affirmed, but there was another spirit discovered on the premises as well by the name of Sara Emily, who stands on the steps to greet new guests as they arrive.

All in all, the spirits that have remained at the Kennebunk Inn are friendly ghosts, which is a little easier to swallow for many of us when booking a room at a haunted inn!

Click Here to Check Prices & Book!

The Ogunquit Playhouse, Ogunquit ME

The Ogunquit Playhouse is absolutely one of the best theaters on Maine’s coast, but did you know it’s also one of the most haunted theaters in the Pine Tree State?

It is said that there are players on the stage and in the wings at this beautiful old theater that no longer exist in the land of the living. Apparitions that appear dressed as Revolutionary War soldiers, disembodied voices while the theater is supposed to be empty, and flickering lights are just a few of the reports that have come in over the years.

Is the Ogunquit Playhouse Theater haunted? The Ghost Light shines on!

Read Next: 15 Best Things to Do in Ogunquit Maine

Nelly Butler, America’s First Ghost – Machiasport, ME

Did you know that the first documented ghost sighting in the US is said to have happened in Maine? In fact, it’s referred to as America’s First Ghost.

In August of 1799, a man in Machiasport (or Sullivan, there have been some conflicting reports as to the exact location!) named Abner Blaisdel claimed to hear knocking noises coming from his basement, followed by a woman’s voice a few months later.

“I’m the dead wife “of Captain George Butler, born Nelly Hooper,” the voice called.

Nelly’s father, who only lived a few miles away, was eventually sent for, and he became a believer that the spirit of Nelly Butler, his recently deceased daughter, appeared and talked to him in Blaisdel’s basement.

Conflicting reports about what came next ensue, but the general gist is that many witnesses were invited into the basement to hear and even see the apparition as the months went on.

There were even several instances in which the ghost appeared outside of the basement, including one time she appeared before the Reverend who had hoped to put a stop to the nonsense of his congregation and their belief in her ghost!

The marriage of Nelly Butler to George Butler was a happy one, until she died tragically in childbirth, with her baby dying shortly after. Here’s where things get even more interesting!

One report states that Nelly appeared to her former husband in full apparition to angrily admonish him for remarrying after he had promised her on on her deathbed that he’d never remarry. 

Another report states that Nelly played matchmaker with the youngest daughter of Abner Blaisdel, 15 year old Lydia, with her many appearances in their family home!

It is said that Nelly had a sad prediction for Lydia, however. She told her former husband to be kind to Lydia, because they wouldn’t be married long before she would pass as well, and she did, exactly as Nelly had: in childbirth, with her baby passing shortly afterwards.

This is one of those Maine ghost stories that makes the head spin a little! Whether these events were completely true or not, there was an entire town that believed it was. That’s quite a ghost story!

Haunted Places in Vermont

Some places just lend themselves to spooky experiences better than others, and the Green Mountain State lands in that camp! 

You’ve got misty autumn afternoons with fog rolling over back roads and historic inns and hotels that have seen it all through the years, creating the perfect blend of atmosphere and architecture to give just a little extra credence and credibility to these tales of Vermont paranormal activity!

Vermont also has its share of abandoned places and ghost towns you may wish to explore.

The Jennings Music Building, Bennington VT

Located on the grounds of Bennington College, the Jennings Building is home to a wide variety of unexplained phenomena that has been reported over the years, and experienced by faculty and students alike.

In fact, it is suspected to be the inspiration for the Shirley Jackson novel, The Haunting of Hill House, with Jackson’s husband being a professor at the college and quite aware of its reputation.

Sitting in solitude atop a hill, this large stone mansion has had a wide variety of paranormal activity reported within its walls over the years.

Reports include locked windows flying up and open – not down – and doors closing and floors creaking with no one around. The lights are said to go out on occasion, despite there being no power outages, and there are frequently cold patches felt throughout.

The basement is said to be particularly spooky, being a long, dark corridor that has a general atmosphere of heaviness and darkness, and it is not a place people linger!

One story in particular stands out of a professor who fell asleep in this haunted Vermont building, only to be woken up by loud, banging noises moving down the corridors, frightening him so badly that he immediately fled as quickly as he could.

I wouldn’t want to stay overnight at this Bennington school!

Emily’s Bridge – Stowe, VT

Covered bridge on a fall day
This haunted bridge in New England looks especially haunted with the moody final colors of fall foliage all around it.

Stowe, Vermont is a popular tourist town, but one of its local covered bridges is a place fewer visitors dare to come.

This may look like an ordinary covered bridge, like the many hundreds of others seen all over New England, but a dark legend is attached to the Gold Brook Covered Bridge, most commonly known as “Emily’s Bridge.” 

A brokenhearted girl named Emily had planned to meet her lover at the bridge, where they would then run away together to elope. Apparently, the man never showed, and a heart-stricken Emily hanged herself from the rafters of the bridge.

Visitors today have reported scary happenings such as big, long scratches appearing on the outside of their vehicles after crossing the bridge. Even pedestrians crossing on foot have been said to experience scratches along their skin. 

The Bennington Triangle – Bennington and Southwestern VT

A lot of smoke on the side of a mountain
Unexplained disappearances are very, very creepy!

Less of a haunted place and more of a mysterious one, the Bennington Triangle is an area in the southwestern corner of Vermont where many people have gone missing. You can read here about a few of these unexplained disappearances.

The term Bennington Triangle was coined by supernatural author Joseph A. Citro. The wilderness area, which comprises a vast area including the ghost town of Glastenbury.

Perhaps the most well-known disappearance in the Triangle is that of Paula Welden, a student at Bennington College. In December of 1946, the 18-year-old Weldon went off to hike a bit of the Long Trail near Glastenbury Mountain. Despite a huge search party, that was the last time she was seen and there are no traces as to what happened to her.

The University of Vermont, Burlington VT

Considered by many to be the most haunted college in Vermont, UVM in Burlington has had a LOT of paranormal activity reported throughout the years.

Resident ghosts apparently run quite rampant at this haunted campus, with a variety of buildings having their own apparitions that are sighted from time to time. 

Converse Hall is said to be still inhabited by the spirit of a former student who unfortunately electrocuted himself in the late 1990s, and to this day continues to interact with the electricity onsite, turning radios on and off. 

The resident spirit at Simpson Hall is said to have followed a female student to her dorm one night and never left, and today students report waking up to the feeling that they are either being watched or that someone is even in their bed, usually accompanied by a sudden drop in temperature. 

Redstone Hall’s resident ghost is said to harbor ill will towards women, and is occasionally sighted on the back staircase. This particular spirit has even chased women out of the hall!

The Coolidge Hall ghost is reported to be a playful spirit, pulling blankets off of beds and whistling. I suppose that would definitely be better than being chased out of your dorm room!

The Bittersweet House at the AG department is said to have a resident ghost that appears dressed in late 19th century period garb, and the Center for Counseling and Testing is believed to be haunted by the spirit of Captain Jacobs, responsible for poltergeist activity throughout the years.

What is it that has kept so many tied to this historic campus? Who knows, but it has some of the most oft reported paranormal activity in Vermont.

Haunted Places in Rhode Island

There are places that just seem to invite the paranormal, with long and dramatic histories stretching back over the centuries. New England has plenty of these spots, but some of the most chilling are the haunted places in Rhode Island!

After all, Rhode Island is home to the actual Conjuring House.

Ghost hunters have plenty to explore and investigate in the Ocean State, so if you’re looking for abandoned places, ghost towns, haunted inns and more, you’re in the right place.

The Conjuring House, Burrillville RI

The real life house that the film, The Conjuring, was based on, The Conjuring House is not for the faint of heart. Built in 1736, there have been many, many MANY years for history to be made – and perhaps attached, to this historic homestead.

Records of the supernatural events that took place at this haunted property began with the book that the movie would later be based on, written by a member of the Perron family who lived there between 1970 and 1980.

Paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Watson were able to ascertain that the dark spirit of Bathsheba Sherman remained at the Perron House, and she had a very sinister past: she murdered her daughter and hung herself as a part of a ritual to bind her soul to the home. 

Work has been done to separate her soul from the property, but there are other spirits that remain onsite, and you can see for yourself with guided tours and overnight stays at this haunted attraction. 

Many visitors hear footsteps, see orbs of light, and some even see ghostly apparitions. This is technically a private residence, so you cannot arrive unannounced. Make a reservation and you two can stay a night at one of the most haunted locations in Rhode Island.

The Hotel Viking, Newport RI

amy walks down the stairs in a hallway with fancy wallpaper and portraits
Is that a ghost at the Viking Hotel in Newport? Nope! Just me!

How about a haunted Rhode Island hotel? This one is located in Newport, where there has always been quite the party scene for those with loads and loads of money to spare, and this haunted RI hotel was one of those spots!

The Hotel Viking is believed to be haunted by “residual hauntings,” the energies of those who once attended the lavish gatherings hosted here during Newport’s Gilded Age.

I sure am glad I didn’t know this fact when I stayed in The Hotel Viking in 2018!!

It’s even been said that it could be because these entities enjoyed their time here so very much in life, that they might like to come back and visit in spirit form, too. Sounds of a raucous party happening above one of the old ballrooms has even been reported by both working staff and guests who have been awakened by the ruckus.

Other paranormal activity reports have included cold spots, footsteps, and flickering lights, but the only way to really know for yourself is to book yourself a stay at this haunted Rhode Island hotel, right?

Click Here to Check Prices & Book!

Rose Island Lighthouse, Rose Island RI

Lighthouse and a house on a ledge with a rocky coast and body of water

What would a list of haunted places in New England be without a haunted lighthouse? The Rose Island Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse that dates back to 1870, with many generations of lightkeepers keeping the lights on, so to speak.

Over the many years of lightkeepers, it only stands to reason that there might be a strong attachment between lighthouse and lightkeeper, and it seems that that is the case on Rose Island.

Most of the paranormal activity reported at this haunted lighthouse is attributed to former keeper Charles Curtis, who many say can still be seen tending to the light, or at least, his footsteps can be heard making their way up to the light and back down.

The interesting thing about this particular haunted lighthouse is that you can reserve it for an overnight stay! That’s right, you can stay overnight and do your own paranormal investigations.

When Ghost Hunters visited this haunted Rhode Island property, they heard disembodied voices, experienced doors that opened and closed by themselves, and even saw unexplainable flashes of light.

Would you be willing to stay overnight in a haunted lighthouse?