Popular Destinations You Had No Idea Were Haunted

Haunted places have history; in some cases they've housed pure evil and, in others, terrible tragedy. These spots have seen nightmares come to life within their very walls and the memories often still haunt — quite literally — visitors today. What can make an already famous spot even more thrilling is a creepy urban legend or the idea that the historical figures who walked in the same space never really left.

Along the shore of the world-famous Trunk Bay, one of the most gorgeous beaches in the Caribbean, people have reported spotting the ghostly spirit of a scuba diver. His scuba diving suit is all black, and six eyewitnesses claim to have seen him stick his head out of the water and then simply vanish. In the areas nearby where there used to be sugar plantations, ghostly figures of African slaves have also been seen working the sugar cane crops.

According to popular legend, a man asked his girlfriend to marry him at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately, she declined and told him she actually wanted to break up. Too angry, he pushed her off the top of the tower. Another story goes that a man proposed to his girlfriend, who was so excited she screamed, backed up to the edge and fell. Some locals say they can hear her screams on the anniversary of her death.

The Kremlin dates back to the 12th century and is one of many reasons Moscow is a bucket list destination. Given this long history, it's not surprising that it is associated with many myths and legends involving ghosts. Some people say they can hear the footsteps of Ivan the Terrible, tsar of Russia in the 16th century, in the Great Bell Tower. Vladimir Lenin, leader of the 1917 Bolshevik revolution, is also thought to be a frequent guest, while Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin is the most frequently seen.

Big Nose Kate's is the oldest bar in the state of Arizona, as well as the center of ghoulish activity in the spookily-named town of Tombstone. Legend has it, the hotel's janitor known as "the Swamper" hid silver somewhere in the building and has been protecting it for nearly 200 years. His tunnel to the mine has been left open in the basement of the joint and mostly untouched. When employees went exploring they reported hearing loud moaning and heavy footsteps. They searched only to find all of the doors were still locked without another living soul in the building.

Considering that thousands of slaves, gladiators and wild animals have died at the Colosseum, it may not be shocking that people report hearing screams, growls, and ghostly figures on the stairs and feel cold patches of air throughout the Colosseum. The tunnels below this top European landmark, once crowded with people preparing for combat, are particularly chilly at times.

Staff and visitors at the White House have said they have seen ghosts on numerous occasions, including those of Lincoln, Grant, McKinley, and several first ladies. Andrew Jackson, supposedly lying in his bed in the Queens' Bedroom (formerly the Rose Room), lets out a guttural laugh that has been heard in the famous American landmark since the 1860s. And it's not just presidents who've haunted the White House — one little known spirit, referred to as "the Thing" and supposedly the ghost of an unidentified 15-year old boy, reportedly terrorized domestic staff under the Taft administration in 1911.

There have been multiple reports of people staying in Sequoia National Park being touched by something in their sleep. In a separate incident, a young girl saw a man standing in the corner of her hotel room near the window, wearing a top hat as well as a suit and tie. Also, the chambers and passageways of Crystal Cave were once used as a camp for Native Americans and Civilian Conservation Corps workers in the 1940s. Some say their spirits still linger beneath the surface the park, and you can go on a tour to explore the rooms and meet the ghosts.

While Chicago is known for being haunted, the home of its favorite baseball team, the Cubs, is not. But at least three famous ghosts are said to hang out at Wrigley Field. The first is that of legendary broadcast announcer Harry Caray sitting in the press box. The second is of folk singer Steve Goodman, who wrote many songs about the Cubs and had his ashes scattered at the stadium; people have claimed to have seen him sitting in the seats behind home plate. The third ghost is Charlie Grimm, who led the Cubs to the 1932 World Series; security officers say they have seen a figure resembling Grimm walking through the park or its hallways at night.

Many places in the Smokies are said to be haunted. Avoid the Norton Creek Trail because of Spearfinger, an ogress who haunts Norton Creek and feasts on wayward children. There is, however, also a good ghost in the park; a man who died looking for his daughter now appears as light guiding hikers. At the Greenbriar Restaurant in Gatlinburg, a young woman named Lydia, who was jilted by her fiancé at the altar, hung herself; now diners say they see a sad figure on the staircase. Some drivers on the Roaring Fork Motor Trail say they've met another local spirit — a beautiful young woman looking for a ride.

Perhaps the most famous ancient landmark in the world, as well as one of the most beautiful places you can visit, the Great Wall of China is also among the most haunted places. Estimates vary widely, but it's likely that at least a million workers died building the 5,500-mile-long structure over the course of multiple centurie. Some visitors have claimed to see their ghosts walking along the paths of the wall; some even report hearing the ghosts' footsteps. Tourists have also complained of sudden nausea, headaches and other body pains.

The Grand Canyon is magnificent during the day, but there's something spooky about the isolated Arizona outback at night when it gets so quiet. Rumors that the park is full of ghosts have been circling around for years. The most famous is the one about "the Wandering Woman" who searches for her family after having died in a hiking accident in the 1920s. There are also reports of another ghost who haunts Phantom Ranch, where he was buried after he was crushed by a bolder.

If you are looking for a truly spooky experience you should check out what is called "the most haunted natural wonder in the world." Cavern tours are offered by lantern light for extra ambiance. Keep an eye out for any weird shadows, as the cave was used as a burial ground for local Native American tribes and cave explorers. The most famous ghost is that of Stephen Bishop, a slave and explorer who is buried nearby. There was also a tuberculosis hospital within one of the caves in the 1800s, which may be why some people hear coughing and why a visit here is considered one of the most hair-raising national park adventures.

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