28 of the Spookiest Locations in the US

It's no surprise that the US does have haunted locations. Each one with its own unique history and story to tell, these locations have been the star of many ghost hunting programs, from Ghost Hunters to Ghost Adventures to Expedition X and more. In light of the spooky Halloween season, MSN.com has compiled a list of 28 of the spookiest locations in the US.

Spooky also is not always a bad thing. Haunted locations do not always become haunted due to a tragic event. They can also become haunted because it was a place so loved by someone that they can't bear to leave, even in the afterlife

1. RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, California

-This location is one of the more popular destinations for spooky location lovers and ghost hunting groups. Once a fully functioning cruise liner, it was commissioned during war time to be a floating hospital and transportation for soldiers. It was painted all battleship grey and referred to as the Grey Ghost. The original colors it dons now were returned after wartime. There are ghosts abound here, from spirits of those who travelled aboard to the spirit of a crew member who died in Stateroom B340. There are said to be spirits of German prisoners of war down in the hold of the ship, where cargo usually was, because these prisoners of war were being brought to the US for interrogation

-This location was visited by paranormal investigator Jack Osbourne and his sister Kelly. A psychic came on and told Kelly that the spirits were drawn to her because of her strong sensitivity to spirits and other paranormal activity

2. LaLaurie Mansion, New Orleans, Louisiana

-This mansion gives people chills, even on the hottest southern summer day. Louisiana is spooky even without this mansion. This city has a deep belief in the practice of voodoo, so it's no surprise to find out spooky is one word to describe this beautiful city. The LaLaurie Mansion was once owned by a socialite named Madame Marie Delphine LaLaurie. Known for her lavish parties, she soon became known for more dark acts. After a house fire in 1834, local police discovered the remains of murdered slaves all throughout the house. LaLaurie would purchase slaves and perform sadistic experiments on them. It's said the spirits of these slaves remains in the house

-This location was featured on an episode of the television program Jack and Ozzy's World Detour

3. Eternal Flame Falls, New York

-This is one of the most mysterious waterfalls in all of New York State. This waterfall, located in Chestnut Ridge Park, tumbles over a small cave where a flame flickers no matter the weather. It's strongly believed methane gas, seeping through cracks in the rock, keeps this flame burning. When it does go out, visitors are quick to relight the fire

4. Marfa, Texas

-This city is home to strange and unusual lights in the sky called the Marfa Lights. No one knows the source of this extra strange illumination. People have tried to debunk these lights for years and some think that it's aliens or reflections of car headlights

5. Cathedral Rock, Arizona

-Sedona is home to red rocks which exude a natural beauty. They have an almost haunting beauty. Locals firmly believe that there is a vortex here, or some form of energy that you can feel almost instantly. This energy is said to have healing qualities. Many who travel here go with the intention of mediation and well being because the electromagnetic energies swirl all around

6. Bodie, California

-Once a thriving mining boomtown, this now sad, decaying relic is relegated to the past. It provides a look into what mining boomtowns looked like in days gone by. It's been transformed into a state park. Locals know that anyone who removes anything from this location is cursed. Park rangers even warn those who visit not to take anything. This location also has ghosts, most notably the Angel of Bodie. This spirit is thought to be the spirit of a little girl killed by a miner's pickaxe

7. Red Onion Saloon, Alaska

-In Skagway, Alaska, there sits the Red Onion Saloon. While it's now a trendy restaurant, in days past, it was a brothel and saloon. It opened in the 19th century as a brothel and saloon for the gold miners looking to strike it rich in the Alaskan wilderness. The former madam, Lydia, is said to hang around still. Her perfume being smelled in the air lets those who visit know Lydia is there

8. Crescent Hotel, Eureka Spring, Arkansas

-In the Ozark Mountains region sits Eureka Springs, Arkansas. And in this lovely city sits the Crescent Hotel. Named for the crescent moon weathervane on top of the building, this building was originally designed as a health retreat because of the mineral-rich springs located nearby. Over the years, it became a conservatory for young women and even a hospital in 1937. The owner of the hospital was a man named Norman Baker. He was a con man who claimed he could cure cancer, which drew hundreds of sick people to his care. Unfortunately, many people died in the hospital. There are spirits of a bearded man in Victorian-era clothing and a five year old girl, who are both believed to have died within the building

9. Racetrack Playa, Death Valley. California

-A dry lakebed in California's Death Valley, here rocks are said to move by themselves. People have been puzzled for years about how rocks can move by themselves across the sandy terrain. In recent years, scientists discovered that when the ground is icy and the winds are high, that is how the rocks move

10. Poinsett Bridge, Greenwell, South Carolina

-It's not surprising to find out a lot of locations in the southern part of the US will be haunted or spooky. The oldest bridge in South Carolina, this bridge was built in 1820 and named in honor of local resident Joel Pointsett. It was believed, according to historians, to be designed by Robert Mills, the same man who designed the Washington Monument. There are spirits said to be hanging around this Gothic bridge, varying in stories, from a man who died in a car accident during the 1950s to a construction worker, who fell in to the concrete during construction and is entombed within

11. Roswell, New Mexico

-UFO believers unite! Here! This city in New Mexico is where UFO believers strongly believe a UFO crashed years ago. 1947 is the year that put this relatively small, inconspicuous New Mexico city on the map due to the story of a ranch worker claiming an alien ship crashed here. Explained away as a crash site for a weather balloon, many didn't believe this nonsense. All things alien-related happen here, even an annual UFO Festival

12. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

-This is one of the most popular destinations for haunted location and spooky lovers. Many ghost hunting groups have travelled here and documented paranormal activity within these walls. This Gothic-inspired prison was opened in 1929, with a wagon wheel design with a guard tower at the center. This unique design was done with the concept of being able to keep a close watch on all of the wings of the prison. This prison was the first to use solitary confinement, with inmates being given windowless cells. They were not allowed to talk. They were provided all the things a prisoner needed, including flush toilets. As time went on, overcrowding became an issue and it closed in 1971. Some of the paranormal activity here includes spirits floating down the halls, hearing loud whispers

13. Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois

-When you hear the word "zoo", you don't necessarily think of ghosts or paranormal activity. This Chicago zoo has been officially designated as one of the most haunted locations in Chicago. The main part of the zoo was once a 19th century cemetery, where 35,000 bodies were buried. When the graveyard was moved, not all of the bodies were moved. Paranormal activity here is incredibly high

14. St. Augustine Lighthouse, St. Augustine, Florida

-This whole city seems to have been overtaken by paranormal activity. This lighthouse in particular plays host to otherworldly visitors. One of the lighthouse keepers who lived here was Joseph Juan Camillo Andreu. He fell to his death in 1859 while repainting the tower. In 1873, three girls playing in a wooden cart on the ramp got into an accident. The cart took off down the ramp and flipped over in the water, trapping the three underneath. Unable to lift the cart off of them, they drowned

15. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston, West Virginia

-Opening in 1864 as an asylum to treat mental health patients, it quickly deteriorated. Overcrowding, inhumane conditions, inhumane treatments such as electroshock therapy, hot / cold baths, insulin injections and even lobotomies took place here. Closing in 1994, it reopened as a National Historic Landmark. Hundreds of patients who died here are said to haunt the walls of this crumbling relic

16. Winchester Mystery House, California

-This oddball concoction of a house was designed by Sarah Winchester, the wife of the founder of the Winchester Rifle company. She had purchased the original 8 room farmhouse in 1886. She was told by a psychic that she would be haunted the spirits killed by Winchester rifles unless she kept building onto the house. Now this rambling abode boasts having 160 rooms, two basements, 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors. Sarah Winchester created this labyrinth of a house to keep vengeful spirits confused so they would not bother her

17. Pine Barrens, New Jersey

-In this densely packed pine forest in New Jersey lurks a fearsome creature. This creature is known as the Jersey Devil. The local NHL team even named their team the New Jersey Devils. Back in the day, when there were ironworks, mills, general stores and homes for the iron workers here, there was a woman who had twelve children. When she found herself pregnant for the 13th time, she said something to the effect of "Let this one be a devil!" She got her wish and in 1735, gave birth to a hideous creature with cloven hooves, wings and a goat's head. This fearsome creature has been haunting the Pine Barrens ever since

-This location was featured on an episode of the television show The Sopranos

18. Hotel Monte Vista, Flagstaff, Arizona

-In the city of Flagstaff, Arizona sits the Hotel Monte Vista. The spirits haunting this hotel include a woman sitting in a rocking chair in room 305, two ladies of the night who were murdered and the famous "Meat Man", a long term resident who had a macabre habit of hanging meat from the chandelier of his room

19. The Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana

-This iconic plantation house located in St. Francisville, Louisiana. It is located on top of a burial ground, which means it's automatically going to have hauntings. Anytime something is built over a burial ground, there's a very high chance that paranormal activity will soon occur. It was built in 1796 and it's not just the spirits of the burial ground residents haunting here. Another well known spirit is Chloe, a slave woman who was taken as a lover by the master of the house. One day, he caught her eavesdropping on a conversation to see if he favored another slave over her. He cut off her ear, which caused her to wear a green turban. One day, with the hope of winning back the man's favor, she decided to mildly poison the food for his wife and kids with deadly oleander and suddenly cure them. This didn't work, as the man's wife and kids died. Fearing backlash from the master, the other slaves hung Chloe in a tree

-This location was investigated by paranormal investigator Jack Osbourne and is also featured in the book National Geographic Guide to the World's Supernatural Places by Sarah Bartlett

20. New Amsterdam Theatre, New York

-This Broadway theatre was home to the Ziegfield Follies, who put on extremely lavish shows. It's said that one of the dancers never left. Olive Thomas was described as "The Most Beautiful Girl in New York City" at only 16 years of age. She had a rather short life, as she died in 1920 at the age of 25 after accidentally swallowing a mercury solution made for topical uses. She's often seen floating across the stage, blowing kisses to the audience she once entertained

21. Colonial Park Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia

-It's no secret that Savannah, Georgia is one of the top MOST HAUNTED cities in the US. Paranormal investigators report such terrifyingly high levels of paranormal activity here that it's a treasure trove for all things paranormal. The oldest cemetery in the city is Colonial Park Cemetery. Built and opened in 1750, it's a stop on all ghost tours offered in the city. It's thought that more than 10,000 souls were buried here, despite there being less than 1,000 grave markers visible. Visitors on the ghost tour state they have seen shadowy figures lurking around, including a seven foot tall woman hanging from a nearby tree

22. Seguin Island Light Station, Maine

-This is the first offshore lighthouse station and the second oldest lighthouse. It was built in 1796 and is named after the island it's located on near the mouth of the Kennebec River. The ghosts hanging here are of those who lived at this location for years. One story that is frequent involves a lighthouse keeper who, in the mid-1800s, killed his wife and then committed suicide after being driven to madness by his wife's incessant piano playing. Visitors state they hear ghostly piano music being played

23. Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

-You can't have a talk of ghostly locations without mentioning this iconic hotel. This hotel is what inspired horror master Stephen King to write The Shining. This hotel sits at the beginning of the Rocky Mountains. Guests who have stayed here have stated they hear piano music in their rooms, said to be Mrs. Stanley, the wife of the original owner, playing the piano. Others state they hear children's laughter in the hallways

24. Area 51, Nevada

-First and foremost, this place does not give tours. It's a still operational US Air Force base in Nevada. There's even a special flight for those who work there to take to get to work. The airline is called JANET (Just Another Normal Everyday Trip). This place drew massive attention to itself during the Cold War, when it began testing alternative ways of travel. From rumors of sinister experiments to staging the moon landing to being involved with aliens, UFO and conspiracy theorists unite in their belief that this location is more than meets the eye. There is, luckily and thankfully, a nearby Alien Research Center, where tourists can go safely. It satisfies the curiosity of those who believe in aliens while the other parts of the site are strictly off limits. In fact, around the prohibited parts, there are military police trained in sharpshooting sitting in cars on the hill, keeping a close eye on all things passing by. There are also signs warning that the location is heavily patrolled and they will shoot on sight. And if these military police catch trespassers, they will not hesitate to follow you until you get off the property and they won't be kind at all about it

25. Shanghai Tunnels, Portland, Oregon

-These tunnels, running underneath the main business district of Portland, are practically unknown to those who live in the area. Only a select few Portland residents here and there know about their existence. Portland is a city known for craft beer and hipster-type people, but in years past, it was a hub of illicit activity. One of those illicit activities was "shanghaiing". This act involved getting men drunk and dropping them into the tunnels beneath the saloon they were drinking in. They would then be forced into servitude on ships, most if not all of them heading to the Far East for trade. Women were shanghaiied as well, forced into prostitution. The tunnels are said to be haunted by the spirits of men who died there and women who died there as well

-This location was investigated by paranormal investigator Jack Osbourne

26. The Conner House, Prairie Du Rocher, Illinois

-This city has been around for three decades, giving it plenty of time to work up a ghost story or two. And one of those ghost stories involves this house. There was a number of tragic deaths which occurred within the walls of the home. The spirit of a lady in white is said to traverse the stairs. It's believed she is Constance Conner, the wife of the original owner. She was thought to have lost three children to death in the house while a handmaiden, suffering from depression, is said to haunt one of the second floor rooms. The house now operates as a hotel, for lovers of all things spooky and haunted

27. Rolling Hills Asylum, East Bethany, New York

-This building goes back to the 1800s, when knowledge of how to treat mental health didn't extend to much. Back during the 1800s, treatments for mental illness included hot / cold baths, insulin injections, lobotomies, electric shock therapy, being strapped to chairs until the person's blood pressure lowered, being spun in circles and other treatments. This building is known for its extremely high paranormal activity. The spirits roaming this building are said to be former patients who died within the walls. Spectral nurses and patients are seen on the second floor, in various rooms, doors slam, strange music and disembodied voices are heard in the basement. Flashlight tours and ghost tours visit this location pretty frequently 

28. Hornet Spooklight, Missouri

-Part of Route 66, on a stretch of road nicknamed The Devil's Promenade, there is a mysterious orb of light mostly seen on the Missouri side of Route 66. For more than 100 years, people have been baffled by the source. Theories about its origin include a ghostly spirit, a combination of car headlights, a change in air density. The Army Corp of Engineers described it as "a mysterious light of unknown origin"