As we approach the spine-tingling Halloween season when all things eerie and mysterious take center stage, it’s essential to remember that the level of fright you encounter might depend on where you reside. Some regions, it seems, have a more pronounced penchant for the paranormal.
Let’s Get Scared!
A recently unveiled study by SmokyMountains.com has pinpointed the states where hauntings and ghostly encounters are allegedly most prevalent. This investigation involved a comprehensive analysis of each state based on factors such as the quantity and quality of haunted house attractions, and the popularity of the most haunted locations in online searches, among other spooky factors.
Coast to Coast – Spirits, Ghosts & The Unexplained
These states have earned a well-deserved reputation for their spine-chilling mysteries, eerie landscapes, and unforgettable journeys into the unexplained.
In addition to this meticulous research, SmokyMountains.com also compiled an extensive catalog of the most haunted locations in each state. The team meticulously examined the top 10 to 20 reputedly haunted sites per state and employed Google search data and operators to determine their true popularity.
California: A Hot Spot for Hauntings
California claims the top spot as the most haunted state overall, boasting a total of 128 haunted houses spread throughout the state, with a high scare factor of 4.6 out of 5. Folks are searching Google with well over 2 million California haunted related searches every day.
Taking the crown with a remarkable 2,240,000 Google searches is California’s Alcatraz. The notorious abandoned prison, known for housing infamous inmates, has become equally renowned for its alleged hauntings. Visitors can even partake in haunted tours at night to learn about the spectral residents said to haunt its dimly lit corridors.
Utah: Trains to the Unknown
Utah secures second place with 29 haunted houses, but the average haunted house rating is 4.4 out of 5, a little lower than some other states in this list. They boast the second-highest number of daily Google searches for its most haunted site, with an average of 1,044,000 searches dedicated to Utah’s Union Station.
Stories of paranormal activity at this location abound, with tales of three apparitions, including a woman and her children, purportedly haunting the premises.
Join The Paranormal Club at The University of New Hampshire
New Hampshire clinches the third position with 12 haunted houses, with a high scare factor rating of 4.6. Just under 1 million people per day are searching for scary New Hampshire opportunities.
The University of New Hampshire in Durham is known for numerous locations on campus that are allegedly haunted. There have been rumors of ghosts in Stoke Hall, Smith Hall, Hood House, Hetzel Hall, Wolff House, T-Hall and Adams Towers.
A Paranormal Club was formed in 2011. Over the years, unexplained voices, footsteps, and apparitions have been reported by many.
BOO-hio
135 haunted house are scattered throughout the state, also with a 4.6 scare rating. Over 600,000 searches per day
Ohio University in Athens, OH is claimed to be one of the most haunted places in the world. The university is believed to be haunted by spirits from the former Athens Lunatic Asylum. After opening in 1874, the asylum quickly became overcrowded, and rumors swirled around the treatment of the patients within.
Iowa: Clara Barton Visitations
Only 37 haunted houses reported in Iowa, and the scare rating is a bit lower, at 4.3, but the searches on Google for fright fun is over 800,000 per day.
Iowa State University, in Ames, IA, is known to be haunted. (What is it with campuses?) An article in IowaStateDaily has several stories reported by university staff of their experiences with the paranormal at various locations in campus.
At The Farm House, reports of locked doors, flickering lights and odd noises are common. The Barton Residence Hall is supposedly haunted by a “nice” ghost: none other than Clara Barton herself. Gold Star Hall has unexplained noises, and many have reported strange shadows and voices in the Hotel Memorial Union.
The Fisher Theatre is said to be visited by the ghost of one of the theater program’s founders, Frederica Shattuck. According to urban legend, her wheelchair, which she donated to the program, rolled centerstage one day during rehearsal as if ready to perform.
Nevada: The Land of Screaming Spirits
How are there only 13 haunted houses in Nevada? We would think there would be more. And the scare factor is a mere 4.1, but searches? Over 750,000 every single day. Folks want to be scared, so if you are visiting Nevada, head on over to the Hoover Dam.
Supposedly you can hear the sound of a spirit falling to their death. This Youtube video supposedly captures the sound!
Mystical Missouri
Missouri is known for Ravenswood, in Bunceton, MO. You can read all about it in this Facebook post. Door lock and unlock by themselves. Christmas tree ornaments come crashing down the central staircase, a broken music box is known to spontaneously play, and people have claimed to hear music and laughter coming from the lawn, and seen lanterns in the trees, just as the owners, Nadine and Charles Leonard, used to display.
More Inexplicable Shenanigans in Florida
Ashley’s restaurant in Rockledge, FL is known for some mysterious events. There is a ghost who is said to play jokes on people by hiding their keys and other items. The keys are always found, but in places they shouldn’t be. Could it be because the restaurant was built on top of a former train station that caught fire years ago? That is one theory. Read more in this article.
Nebraska: Unsettled Native Americans
In the world of haunted house enthusiasts, Nebraska is known for Concordia University. This dormitory at Concordia University is believed to be haunted by Native Americans whose 1700s bones were discovered when the dorm was built in the 1970s. Haunting reports here include electronic appliances and showers that turn on by themselves.
Here is a quote from a 2023 Freshman: “I’m a current freshman at Concordia University in David Hall. It’s only my third week here and I have already had a paranormal experience……I was taking a shower Saturday night when the lights went out and the water stopped. I was thinking it was one of my friends messing around but I had a strange feeling of cold air rush over me. Before I could get my towel I was pushed into the floor by an entity. The lights flickered back on for a split second and I seen tall figure with what looked to be an Indian chiefs war hat. After the light came back on it was like nothing happened I was cold and naked on the shower floor. I haven’t been able to sleep since.”
Pennsylvania: Warring Ghosts
The renowned Cliveden site in Philadelphia witnessed the pivotal Battle of Germantown in 1777, marking a tragic chapter in history where numerous lives were lost. Today, a stately mansion graces the grounds, and it is rumored to be a place of eerie occurrences. Given the significant loss of lives during the battle, it’s no wonder that many speculate the presence of lingering spirits, among them, a headless elderly woman on a perpetual quest to reclaim her severed head.
6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
We scoured the Internet to see what people had to say about gas station food. If you think the only things available are wrinkled hotdogs of indeterminate age, and day-glow slushies, we’ve got great, tasty news for you. Whether it ends up being part of a regular routine, or your only resource on a long car trip, we have the food info you need. Let’s look at 6 gas stations that folks can’t get enough of and see what they have for you to eat. Read 6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
18 of the World’s Deadliest Foods: How Many Are You Eating?
Whether you eat to live, or live to eat, let’s make sure you live to see another day! These are some of the world’s deadliest foods. They can bring on extreme symptoms, ranging from paralysis to seizures, choking and even death, so don’t go tucking these into your lunchbox. Click for 18 of the World’s Deadliest Foods: How Many Are You Eating?
10 Of The Worst Tasting Drinks People Pretend To Like
Hold onto your taste buds, because we’re about to embark on a flavor-filled adventure through the realm of beverages! Sure, we all need water to survive, but let’s be real – drinks are so much more than just basic hydration. Recently, the question of which beverages people secretly think taste awful sparked a fiery debate. Boozy elixirs, non-alcoholic refreshments, and everything in between were thrown into the mix. Brace yourself as we unveil the truth behind the drinks we pretend to love. Get ready for a wild ride of taste revelations! Read 10 Of The Worst Tasting Drinks People Pretend To Like
12 Of The Worst Tasting Foods People Find Disgusting
Food. We all have foods we love, foods we cannot stand – and then there are the foods that have people deeply divided. While wandering about an online forum we came across a discussion about foods that people find disgusting.
READ: 12 Of The Worst Tasting Foods People Find Disgusting
Alive or Dead? You Be The Judge… 15 Famous People Rumored To Be Alive After They Were Reported Dead
There are many celebrities who have been rumored to be alive after they were reported dead, either because of false reports, hoaxes, rumors or conspiracy theories.
You be the judge…. Are they really alive or dead as claimed? Read: Alive or Dead? You Be The Judge… 15 Famous People Rumored To Be Alive After They Were Reported Dead
14 Of The Craziest Hacks People Use Mayonnaise For – Even In The Bedroom!
After you click through this slide show you will never look at a jar of mayo the same way again. Trust us. Click for 14 Of The Craziest Hacks People Use Mayonnaise For – Even In The Bedroom!
Take Back Control: How to Identify and Tackle Medical Gaslighting
What is medical gaslighting? Medical gaslighting refers to a situation in which healthcare providers dismiss or diminish the symptoms that an individual is experiencing, attempting to persuade them that the symptoms are attributed to an alternative cause or are mere figments of their imagination. Medical gaslighting can leave you questioning your own experience. And at worse can lead to undiagnosed serious illness.
Learn the signs and the ways in which you can take back control if this happens to you. Read: Take Back Control: How to Identify and Tackle Medical Gaslighting
Don’t Fall For These 17 Foods That Pretend To Be Healthy
Have you heard the term “Dr. Google”? That’s when you turn to search engines and the Internet to provide health and medical information – and unless you know how to vet sources, it is a mine field of faulty information. Here are 17 foods that you might have heard are “healthy”, but we have the whole story. PS: the moment a food becomes a trend, research carefully. We’re looking at you bulletproof coffee!
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17 Of The Most Expensive Foods In The World: Would You Pay This Much To Eat Any Of These?
These days our food budget is not going very far, even for everyday foods. And yet, there are still those who seek out extravagant foods, regardless of price. I guess we can live vicariously through these pictures. Maybe someday someone will bestow a 4-pound white truffle upon us, but until then, this will have to suffice.
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19 Of The World’s Most Overrated Foods
We have foods we love, and those we won’t touch. We all have our own likes and dislikes, but what are the most overrated foods? That was the question posed on this Reddit thread by Even_Cause_3478. There were a lot of opinions. Some made sense to us, and some were things we had never thought of before!
What is the most overrated food in your opinion?
Click for 19 Of The World’s Most Overrated Foods
Miracle at 30,000 Feet: What Happens When a Baby is Born During a Flight?
Have you ever wondered What Happens If You Give Birth On a Plane? Who delivers the baby? Where do you deliver the baby? What is the child’s citizenship, and do they get free trips for life?
Is Cash Still King In Your Life? 13 Reasons People Still Carry Cash
Cash. It never used to be controversial, but these days it appears that there are those on both sides of the coin (so to speak). For those of us of a certain age we can remember our mothers always telling us to keep a $20 bill in our shoe or bra, in case of emergencies. Now many of us struggle to find a coin to put in the meter.
Cash lovers, and those who never carry it. What’s the reasoning, either way? A Redditor was thinking the same thing, and asked the question, Do You Still Carry Cash? These are the answers they got. Read Is Cash Still King In Your Life? 13 Reasons People Still Carry Cash
