In our previous article, we took a tour up the West Coast of the U.S. to explore some of the most haunted locations in the region to come up with a chillingly eerie road trip. But the haunts don’t just happen along the Pacific. Hop in your car and buckle up as we take you along the Atlantic to five of the most haunted locations on the East Coast.
CAUTION: Before planning a visit, remember that while some places may be open to the public, this may not always be the case. Check ahead and always respect private property.
1Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast
Location: Fall River, Massachusetts
One of the most infamous and grisly unsolved crimes is that of Andrew and Abby Borden, savagely murdered in their home with an axe. Just as the famous rhyme describes, their daughter, Lizzie, was the prime suspect. Though she was later acquitted due to a lack of evidence, many believed she quite literally got away with murder.
Naturally, the home where the gruesome killings took place is rumored to be haunted by the angry spirits of the Bordens. Today, it’s now a landmark attraction and bed and breakfast, where gutsy patrons can even stay the night in the very room where Abby Borden was slain.
2Eastern State Penitentiary
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The unofficial “Granddaddy of them all,” Pennsylvania’s Eastern State Penitentiary is often regarded as one of the most haunted locations on the East Coast and in the country. The prison has existed since the early 1800s and housed famous criminals such as Al Capone and bank robber “Slick Willie” Sutton. What makes it truly famous, though, are the heinous and shocking practices that went on as part of the prison’s so-called rehabilitation procedures.
Many of the punishment techniques resembled medieval torture rather than modern-day reform. Some of the most extreme included the “Mad Chair,” a seat that bound and tethered inmates so tightly that some needed their limbs amputated, or “the hole,” an underground cell that would render someone in complete sensory deprivation.
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This prison is known for stories of sightings of vengeful ghosts and unexplained forces, thanks in part to its sordid past. It has hosted many television shows, paranormal experts, and mediums, all of whom have come to experience one of the many supposed hauntings.
It’s now run as a haunted attraction, where attendees can see if the scares are all artificial or something more sinister.
3Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Location: Weston, West Virginia
This gothic, sprawling brick building has an appearance that is as ominous as the events that transpired inside its walls. When it was built in 1864, it was designed to house 250 patients, but by the 1950s, it held a staggering 2400 souls. The cramped living situation led to miserable and deplorable conditions for all, and many died under questionable circumstances.
Those victims may never have left the grounds, trapped for eternity…or so it is presumed.
The asylum was eventually shut down in 1994, but ghost tours are now a popular attraction, and it has been featured in several paranormal documentaries. Chilling accounts of tortured screams, flashlights turning off, flickering lights, and an overall sense of dread are frequently reported during nightly tours.
4St. Augustine Lighthouse
Location: St. Augustine, Florida
The oldest city in America would have its fair share of haunted history, and the lighthouse in St. Augustine, FL, is an integral part of this. The lighthouse was built in the 1870s (though St. Augustine is hundreds of years older) and has been besieged by mishaps since its construction.
During that period, the two young daughters of Hezekiah Pity, the main engineer in charge of overseeing the project, tragically drowned when the cart they were playing in broke loose and overturned. It is said that their playful laughter can still be heard near the lighthouse.
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Several of the landmark’s keepers have also been victims of horrific deaths, including Joseph Andreu, who fell to his demise while painting the exterior. It’s believed that he can still be seen keeping a watchful eye from atop the tower.
Reports of disembodied voices, doors that unlock on their own, and music boxes mysteriously beginning to play in the gift shop are rampant with both workers and visitors.
5East Martello Fort
Location: Key West, Florida
Amongst the crystal blue waters and pristine sands of the Florida Keys sits the East Martello Fort Museum, which contains one of the most notorious items in horror folklore: Robert the Doll.
Owned by local artist Robert Eugene Otto as a child, the doll is said to be possessed and contain supernatural abilities. Throughout Robert’s childhood, any odd occurrence that took place within his home was blamed on the doll.
Today, Robert the Doll is enclosed behind glass at the museum, but visitors claim to have witnessed the doll move, change facial expressions, and have glowing orbs of light around him. While there is skepticism regarding the legitimacy of the lore of Robert the Doll, the creepiness of his appearance is difficult to deny.
We hope you enjoyed taking a tour of these real haunted locations on the East Coast!
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