The most haunted Airbnbs in the U.S.

After a fire in 1899 destroyed this Victorian-era brothel, casino, and saloon, the space was rebuilt and meticulously restored, bringing spirited supernatural stories. Legend claims the Victorian Gothic building's electrical wiring was done by Nikolas Tesla. Its bay windows, oak doors, 12- to 15-foot-ceilings, and hardwood stairs are all original. The ghost who lives here is said to be a former miner who died in a gunfight. Equally creepy are some of the taxidermy and art the current owners have added.

The barn and farmhouse on this historic property were both used as a Confederate field hospital after the Battle of Gettysburg, so you can only imagine how many spirits are milling about. Prepare yourself for the possibility of spotting multiple apparitions: the host of David Stewart Farm says she’s seen plenty over the years, but promises they’re all friendly. Guests have reported hearing footsteps and seeing men dressed in Confederate soldier uniforms. The bedroom itself is decked out in period decor to really put you in the 19th-century frame of mind if that’s your style. 

Renting the Lilburn Mansion near Baltimore will get you two bedrooms, a ballroom, library, a pool and tons of outdoor space. It will also get you a haunted roommate or two (so much for space). After a fire destroyed the original 1857 property, "the castle" as the owners call it went through an extensive restoration. But the stone manor's spectral residents didn't much appreciate the changes, and a string of bad luck followed its living ones — including the death of a child as well as the family's patriarch. Recently, guests have reported plenty of ghostly activity in the mansion, like the time someone spotted a child hanging from a chandelier.

This adorable cottage in Bisbee, Arizona has all the charm you'd want out of an affordable Airbnb retreat—and some mysterious ghostly activity to boot. The listing doesn't go into much detail about what exactly haunts the gingerbread house, but repeated episodes of odd, unexplained mischief have been reported (though nothing scary or malevolent ... so far). Luckily, the place is pet-friendly, so feel free to bring along Fido to protect you from whatever awaits in Bisbee.

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New Orleans has its fair share of haunted attractions, but nothing sounds scarier than the idea of sharing a bedroom with a young ghost in a yellow dress. Although the 130-year-old Parks-Bowman Mansion in NOLA's Garden District offers multiple rooms, there’s only one room that’s supposedly haunted by a shy female ghost thought to be the youngest daughter of the house's original owners who was buried on the grounds in the 1890s after her untimely death. Of course, you may or may not actually encounter the youngster or hear her pacing the grounds with a slight limp, softly humming lullabies, or hiding pairs of glasses due to her extreme shyness (apparently, even ghosts can get too spooked for their own apparitions).

Built in 1883, The Manor is a mysterious castle in St. Paul brimming with creepy vibes. Formerly the St. Paul Art Gallery, this Victorian home is palatial — perfect for spirits and paranormal activity. Furnished with oddities and curiosities, The Manor may be haunted — or it might not be, depending on your perception — but it's a popular spot for rituals, murder mystery dinners, and paranormal investigations like one undertaken in 1969 by a trio of journalists at the Pioneer Press.

After six generations in the same family, The Enslin Mansion in the historic village of Lansingburgh (just outside downtown Troy) has plenty of haunted stories to tell. The old brick home is dripping with vintage charm and has even been featured in films, though its spirits haven't yet been captured on camera. Paranormal activity is centered on the second floor’s Haunted Bedroom, which has its own private entrance to the third-floor attic (a.k.a. where all the spooky business goes down). If you're lucky enough to see a spirit, there's nothing to fear: the hosts swear their ghosts are harmless (as if that’s much comfort).

Purchased by a paranormal researcher in 2018, this 150-year old Oberlin home is a hotbed of spirit activity, mostly ghosts of past residents who died in the home. The property, now called Inspiration House, is owned by paranormal researcher Michelle Belanger and has even been featured on ghost-hunting shows Paranormal State and Portals to Hell. The four-bedroom, three-bath rental is designed for relaxation (believe it or not) and connecting with the living and the dead. Guests have reported sightings of a ghost dog, hearing a children's musical television set playing on its own, and the sounds of screams. Spiritual communication prompts and Psychic Aptitude Cards are both available to guests, as is a first-floor display room that the host describes as part museum, part paranormal research training ground.

This spooky home shares some unfortunate history with a neighbor — it was built in 1890 by the same mason that constructed the nearby Lemp Mansion, home to a family that was doomed to die unexpectedly young, one after the other. It’s perhaps no surprise that the suite in this St. Louis, MO home has its own share of unexplained activity from beyond the grave; guests who’ve stayed in this studio-style apartment (once the maid’s quarters of the three-story brick home) have reported all kinds of paranormal activities like doors opening and lights turning on all by themselves, as well as the sound of people rattling around in the kitchen even when they believed the house was empty.

One-up the average haunted Airbnb by staying in a Texas ghost town. Once a mining boomtown, just about everyone but the ghosts have long since moved on from Terlingua. In this 100-year-old miner's casita, you’ll find a bedroom, living room, kitchen, and outdoor bathroom (a scary situation in and of itself). Watch for paranormal activity from the porch of this stacked limestone cabin, which luckily has lovely views of Big Bend National Park's mountains and badlands.

It's fitting that the town where the 17th century Salem Witch Trials took place would have plenty of historic haunted mansions. The Henry Derby House is no exception. Built for tailor Henry Derby, the 19th century Greek Revival rental home is now owned by Phil Marchand, who grew up in the haunted home. He and others have heard footsteps from the third floor, have been startled by bumps in the night and many guests have spotted a ghost that looks like a teenage girl with long hair.

Once owned by colonist John Smith, the former plantation has harbored a few ghosts over the years. Built in 1852, the four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom estate has a terrace and the third oldest beech tree in the state, which many believe is a portal to the supernatural. Guests have reportedly seen ghosts in the halls or yard and heard voices, ratting, and the like. Book a night at Linville Manor near Washington, D.C., if you dare.