From Alcatraz to Union Station: America’s top haunted hotspots unveiled

With Halloween on the horizon, SmokyMountains.com has conjured up a list of the most haunted places in the good ol’ USA. Using eerie criteria like the number of haunted houses, Spirit Halloween stores, and general ghoulish interest, they ranked the nation’s creepiest corners.

In a shocking tie, California and Utah emerged as the frontrunners for the title of spookiest state. California’s claim to fame includes a staggering 172 Spirit Halloween stores and a wealth of haunted houses. And let’s not forget Alcatraz, with over two million Google searches about its haunting, making it the most haunted spot in the land. Meanwhile, Utah boasts the infamous Union Station, known for tales of wandering women and children.

Alaska, despite its icy chills, found itself at the opposite end of the ghostly spectrum due to its uninspiring search interest in the Begich Towers, the state’s most haunted location. South Dakota didn’t fare much better, with a mere two Spirit Halloween stores, making it the pumpkin patch of seasonal shops.

But it’s not just states; SmokyMountains.com delved into eerie categories, like the University of New Hampshire’s ghostly “lady in white,” St. Joseph’s Hospital’s robe-clad specter in Wisconsin, and the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, where the owner’s spirit apparently lingers in the boiler room.