H is for haunted places that have drawn visitors for generations.
HOTEL CHELSEA This hotel in New York City has a long legacy of famous residents and eerie stories. Some visitors say Sid Vicious, the former Sex Pistols bassist, still roams the halls, especially around the elevator. Guests report cold spots, whispered voices, and footsteps that seem to come from rooms no longer in use.
HANNAH HOUSE Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, Hannah House was built in 1858. It wasn’t until 1967 that reports of paranormal activity were recorded. The spectral presence includes a man, a woman, and a baby haunting the upper floors, while the basement is linked to the spirits of enslaved people. A second-floor room is described as smelling of death, and objects are said to move by themselves there.
HOLIDAY INN (BUFFALO, NEW YORK) This Holiday Inn sits on the site of an incinerated house. A girl named Tanya, who lived there, is said to have died in the fire and is believed to still wander the corridors. Managers and guests report seeing her ghost in the halls or jumping on the beds.
HARPERS FERRY (WEST VIRGINIA) John Brown, the abolitionist known for his controversial actions, was hanged in 1859. Locals say his ghost walks the town toward the firehouse and then fades from view. He appears as a man in old-fashioned clothes, and those who notice him sometimes request a photo before he vanishes.
HOPKINSVILLE GOBLINS The towns of Hopkinsville and Kelly, Kentucky, became famous after five floating, silver-colored beings were reported in August 1955. The creatures hovered above the ground, emitted an eerie glow, and were fired upon by residents but seemed unharmed, as if bullets had bounced off them. The case has not been discredited, inviting continued interest in a possible close encounter of the third kind.
HIMEJI CASTLE This Japanese fortress is linked to the legend of Okiku, a servant who served a samurai named Aoyama. He hid one of his family Delft plates and accused Okiku of breaking it. After she denied the accusation, Aoyama murdered her by throwing her into a well. Her spirit is said to haunt the castle, counting from one to nine and letting out a chilling scream. The tale ends when a neighbor calls out ten, ending the countdown before the final scream, and Okiku disappears from sight.