Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Allegedly Haunted Attractions Part I

 


Locations that are (or have been) said to be haunted by ghosts, demons, or other supernatural beings throughout the world. Reports of haunted locations are part of ghostlore, which is a form of folklore.

Argentina

Cinco Saltos in Río Negro has been reported to have several ghosts, most of them reportedly the result of witchcraft. In 2009, an intact corpse of an 8- to 12-year-old girl who had died in the 1930s was found in a cemetery ossuary.

La Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires is a famous Argentinian haunted place. Several ghostly entities are reported, but the most celebrated is a girl named Rufina Cambaceres, who allegedly was buried alive in 1902.

Australia

Ararat Lunatic Asylum, or Aradale, is the largest abandoned lunatic asylum in Ararat. Opened in 1867, Aradale was reserved for many of the incurable mental patients in Victoria during the 1800s. An estimated 13,000 people died here during 140 years of operation.

Beechworth Lunatic Asylum in Beechworth, Victoria, is reportedly haunted by several ghosts of departed patients. Open from 1867 to 1995, it has appeared in several books, television shows, and documentaries, including A.C.T. Paranormal. Ghost tours run nightly.

Dreamworld is a theme park in Coomera, Queensland. One building inside the grounds of the theme park, where the reality television series Big Brother Australia is produced, has been reported to be haunted since the show's first season in 2001. Numerous production staff claim to have witnessed the presence of a young girl, as well as a child's voice and fog appearing late at night and early in the morning.

The Hotel Kurrajong in Canberra is said to be haunted by the ghost of former Prime Minister Ben Chifley, who died there in 1951. Some reports have Chifley pointing towards Old Parliament House, another location said to be haunted.

Monte Cristo Homestead in Junee, New South Wales, was the site of seven deaths during the 1800s and is reported to be the most haunted house in Australia. Various ghost groups have reported sightings there.

North Head Quarantine Station in Manly, New South Wales, housed victims of several diseases, including smallpox and the Spanish flu, between 1833 and 1984. It was the site of over 500 deaths. Several ghost tours are run on the grounds, which include a large cemetery.

Port Arthur, Tasmania, has reported 2,000 ghost sightings.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Queensland, has been haunted by a ghost bus and also the ghosts of A1 and D Pod.

The Princess Theatre Melbourne has reported several ghosts since the building opened in 1886. The theatre's best-known "inhabitant" is Frederick Baker, whose stage name was Frederick Federici, a talented bass-baritone singer who died in March 1888 whilst singing the role of Mephistopheles in Faust – and who was seen by the rest of the cast taking his bows with them soon thereafter. For years, the theater kept a seat vacant in the dress circle for Federici (only ceasing the practice on economic grounds), and his appearance in the dress circle during rehearsals for a new show is considered a good omen.

Willow Court Asylum is reported to have numerous ghosts.

Bangladesh

Dhaka Airport Road: The segment of the road between Nikunjo and the Biman office is reported by believers to be haunted by a lady at night, supposedly causing accidents.

Dhaka Golf Heights, Banani, Dhaka: Claimed by believers to be haunted by a crying baby, and feelings of being watched are reported.

Under-construction apartment in Old DOHS, Banani, Dhaka: Said to have ties to Satanism. Lanes 4 and 5 are reputed to have been built on top of graves.

Purbo Nayatola Rail Crossing, Dhaka: Reported by believers to be haunted by a woman frantically looking for her missing infant.

Shahidullah Hall Pond, Dhaka: The old pond adjoining Shahidullah Hall at Dhaka University campus is believed to be haunted by people who drowned in the pond

Shahidullah Hall Pond, Dhaka: The old pond adjoining Shahidullah Hall at Dhaka University campus is believed to be haunted by people who drowned in the pond.

Farmhouse in Comilla: A huge farmhouse in Comilla is reported to be haunted by black shadows assaulting people at night.

Barbados

Chase Vault is a burial vault in the cemetery of the Christ Church Parish Church in Oistins, Christ Church Parish, best known for a widespread but unverified legend of "mysterious moving coffins". According to the story, each time the heavily sealed vault was opened during the early 19th century for the burial of a family member, all the lead coffins had changed position. The facts of the story are unverified, and skeptics call the tale "historically dubious." The tale appears to have originated from anecdotes told by Thomas H. Orderson, Rector of Christ Church during the 1800s, and subsequently repeated in James Edward Alexander's 1833 Transatlantic Sketches.

Brazil

The Bibi Costa Mansion in Belém, the city residence of José Júlio de Andrade (1862 – 1953). De Andrade was noted for his cruelty towards his workers and ownership of slaves long after the abolition of slavery in Brazil; with "dozens of testimonies of the noise of chains dragging across the floor, sudden screams, figures, and voices" in the mansion across its history.

The Joelma Building (now the Praça da Bandeira Building) in São Paulo is allegedly haunted by victims of the fire that started on 1 February 1974, after an air conditioning unit on the twelfth floor overheated; centered on the "Mystery of the Thirteen Souls", individuals who died within an elevator as they were trying to escape the fire, and are haunting the building.

Cambodia

Kampong Chhnang: The famous "ghost house" in Cambodia.

S-21 Prison: This infamous detention center is haunted by the victims of the Cambodian genocide.

Czech Republic

Zvíkov Castle: Until 1597, there were stories about a Zvíkovský Rarášek (Rarach is a supernatural being common in Slavic folklore, like an imp or trickster), which haunts people in the ancient tower, Markomanka. This tower has stones engraved with unknown symbols, and was built during the Marcomanni rule over Bohemia, in the 1st century BC and 2nd century AD. It was integrated into Zvíkov Castle hundreds of years later. Strange events occur here frequently, including weird photos, technical problems, unpredictable behavior of animals, spontaneous extinguishing of fires, electromagnetic anomalies, and the presence of ghosts. In Czech media, it's a popular subject of investigation. Other areas of the castle are also haunted; it is said to be dangerous to sleep in the main tower, as anyone who does supposedly dies within a year. Another monster common in Czech culture, fire hounds are also part of the myths surrounding the castle. It is said that these spectral dogs (in some accounts, they are depicted with burning eyes) are guarding a hidden tunnel underneath Zvíkov.

Cuba

In 1860, six soldiers disappeared on duty at a watch tower at San Juan at 20°9'6"N 76°53'20"W without a trace after firing some shots. Officer Manolo Herez from Manzanillo was called for the investigation of these incidents. He guarded together with some sergeants from a nearby forest the tower with a soldier on duty. In the first six nights, nothing unusual occurred. On the following night, it was spotted, then, when the guard left the tower for a short break, a mysterious dark spot appeared and followed him into the tower. Suddenly, a bright light appeared in the tower, which allowed Manolo Herez and his men to see the guard in the tower. Then a bang occurred, and the light went off. The guard of the tower could not be found anymore. There was only one entrance to the tower, and the window in the tower was not wide enough for a man could pass through.

Egypt

Baron Empain Palace: Tourists have reportedly heard voices throughout the palace late at night. Guards and police reported seeing ghostly apparitions of people who were once residents of the palace, wandering the outside lawn at midnight.

Farafra Desert: The ghost of Akhenaten is said to wander the Farafra Desert (also known as the White Desert) of Egypt, reported by dozens of tourists and nomads

Farafra Desert: The ghost of Akhenaten is said to wander the Farafra Desert (also known as the White Desert) of Egypt, reported by dozens of tourists and nomads. Legend says this is because Akhenaten abolished the Egyptian gods when he became Pharaoh, angering the religious followers and priests of Egypt. Upon his death, the priests are believed to have cursed him to wander the deserts forever as punishment.

Pyramids of Giza: A man in early 20th-century clothing has been seen by visitors, rumored to be the ghost of Howard Carter. Various employees and tourists have reported seeing an orb apparition of an Egyptian Pharaoh, floating away from the pyramids towards the Valley of the Kings.

Valley of the Kings: Eyewitnesses have reported seeing the vision of an Egyptian Pharaoh in the Valley of the Kings, wearing his golden collar, headdress, and riding a fiery chariot with black phantom horses.

Finland

Alexander Theatre in Helsinki is reportedly haunted by the ghost of an officer

Alexander Theatre in Helsinki is reportedly haunted by the ghost of an officer. The ghost moved to Helsinki as the tiles to build the Alexander Theatre were relocated from Åland. Some have suggested that the officer died in the Crimean War and has been there ever since.

The Finnish National Theatre in Helsinki is reportedly haunted by at least three ghosts - an unknown Grey Lady and the ghosts of actors Aarne Leppänen and Urho Somersalmi.

Haihara Manor in Tampere is supposedly haunted by The Blue Maid, the former maid of the manor.

Nummela Sanatorium, an abandoned hospital in the village of Röykkä, has been rumored to exhibit paranormal phenomena, like mysterious lights appearing in the windows of the building, and on the edge of the roof, the ghost of a woman who commits suicide by jumping down. There is also a rumor that the hospital might be haunted by the spirit of a girl who died there at a young age.

Omenainen, an uninhabited island in the municipality of Nagu (now Pargas) in the central Archipelago Sea, was formerly a burial ground for those parishioners of Rymättylä and Nagu whom the church refused to bury in consecrated ground (because they'd committed, for example, murder, and other sins). In folklore, the island is considered cursed, and ghost stories are told about it.

Svenska Klubben (The Swedish Club) house in Kruununhaka, Helsinki, is haunted by the Grey Madame. She is rumored to be the former lady of the house who had an affair with her chauffeur. She is known to swing chandeliers, play the piano, and walk around the house.

Villa Kleineh, a historical villa in Helsinki currently used by the Dutch embassy, reportedly hosts a ghost called The White Lady.

Germany

Berlin: The Reichstag building has been reported to be haunted by numerous ghosts of famous German politicians.

Heidelberg: The Hexenturm (Witches Tower) and the Nazi Amphitheatre are both said to be haunted by various ghosts.

Frankenstein Castle: Frankenstein Castle (German: Burg Frankenstein) is a real hilltop castle in the Odenwald, overlooking the city of Darmstadt, and allegedly an inspiration for Mary Shelley when she wrote her novel Frankenstein. The SyFy TV show Ghost Hunters International aired an entire episode about the castle and testified it had "... significant paranormal activity".

Lichtenegg Castle: The ghost of a lady in a white dress is said to be seen standing in front of the entrance to the ruins at midnight. She will usually sit down on a flat rock covered with moss.

Schloss Nordkirchen: The castle was built between 1703 and 1734

Schloss Nordkirchen: The castle was built between 1703 and 1734. According to the legend, at full moon and on certain foggy nights, a few people have reported seeing a luxurious carriage with stallions running through the grounds.

Wolfsegg, Bavaria, Wolfsegg Castle: This 14th-century castle was supposed to be a sanctuary for travelers. The folklore of this haunting originated from the 1500s, when Ulrich von Laaber hired two young farmers to kill his wife, Klara von Helfenstein, after discovering she was having an affair. Soon thereafter, Ulrich and his sons also died suddenly. There have been reports of strange noises coming out of a cave area near the castle. Several expeditions into the cave uncovered numerous animal skeletons, leading locals to decide the noises had come from hunters who were hiding their prey. While the cave noises might have been solved, this has not been the case with the haunting of the "White Woman," who is still restlessly making her rounds of the castle.

Würzburg: There is supposedly the ghost of a dead nun walking through the halls of Praemonstratenser Abbey. The ghost is said to be that of Maria Renata Von Mossau, accused of mixing herbs into everyone's food to bewitch them. The nun was taken to be executed only three days after her sentencing in court. She was first decapitated and then burned, and her ashes scattered. To this day, there are reports of her walking down the hallways and holding a bouquet of roses while picking off the petals, leaving a trail across the grounds.

Indonesia

Lawang Sewu: A Dutch-built building in Semarang, which served as the Administrative Headquarters for the Dutch Indies Railway Company. During World War II, the Japanese troops took it over. Stories about torture and execution are the source of the haunted lore around it. The name Lawang Sewu translates to "Building of a Thousand Doors."

Jakarta History Museum: This building is in the Old Town of Jakarta. It was built in 1710 and served as the city hall for Batavia, the capital of the Dutch East Indies. It opened as a museum in 1974. The folklore of its haunting is connected to violence committed under the colonial government.

Jeruk Purut Cemetery: According to local legend, the cemetery is haunted by a decapitated pastor.

Kebayoran Baru: Initially a planned residential area. Some parts of the area are said to be haunted. There are some urban legends involving a Satay peddler with a skeletal head lingering around Blok P.

Menara Saidah: A 28-storey building located in East Jakarta was once an office tower owned by a local Arab Indonesian businessman of the same name. The building was abandoned in 2007. Since then, there have been numerous stories about paranormal activities within the building, such as a lady in red, ghost sightings in the basement, and mysterious ride-hailing orders, postal deliveries, and job interview invitations coming from the tower. The building remains a popular spot among local ghost hunters.

Toko Merah: A Dutch colonial building located in Jakarta Old Town was built by Colonial Governor-General Gustaaf Willem van Imhoff and later owned by Chinese Indonesian landlord Oey Liauw Kong. The building was known to be the site of the 1740 Batavia massacre, when the building was used for torture and killings at the time. Many locals report the sound of screaming at night and sightings of a Dutch lady in a white gown.

Hotel Tugu Malang: A 5-star hotel located in the heart of Malang, Hotel Tugu is known for its collection of Peranakan antiquities from the Dutch colonial era. There are some myths surrounding the portrait of Oei Hui-lan, the former First Lady of China, who was still related to the hotel owner who was rumored to have some mystical aura. Some visitors reported that they were allegedly visited by the spirit of Oei Hui-lan in their sleep.

City Plaza Klender: Located in Klender, a subdistrict of Duren Sawit in East Jakarta, originally called Central Klender Plaza, the mall changed its names and ownership several times, from Citra Mal Klender and finally City Plaza Klender. During the May 1998 riots in Indonesia, the mall was burned and looted by rioters, killing 288-488 people inside the mall. Since then, many urban legends have surfaced among locals regarding the mall, many claimed seeing the ghost of security guards, clerks, and some visitors with third-degree burns. There are also claims that the smell of blood and screams can still be heard at night.

Benteng Pendem: Located in Cilacap, Central Java, the fort was built in 1861 and finished in 1879 to protect the important Dutch port in Cilacap. After Indonesian independence, the fort was briefly owned by the Indonesian Army until it was abandoned in 1965, and in 1986 when it became a tourist attraction. The fort was said to be haunted and is a popular spot among ghost hunters.

Ireland

Charles Fort: Haunted by a 17th-century bride known as "The White Lady of Kinsale".

Charleville Castle: This castle is haunted by the third Earl of Charleville's younger daughter, Harriet. She lost her life after falling from the main staircase of this building at the age of eight, in April 1861.

Ducketts Grove: The mansion was owned by the Duckett family for 300 years and is said to be haunted by a Banshee Ghost. On 17 March 2011, the SyFy show Destination Truth featured a four-hour live investigation for the season finale to find out the mystery of the ruins.

Kilmainham Gaol: This former prison has paranormal activities of lights which often turn themselves on and off in the prison's chapel, unseen forces pushing people over, apparitional footsteps, the feeling of being watched by spirits, as well as unexplained bangs and disembodied voices.

Kilmainham Gaol: This former prison has paranormal activities of lights which often turn themselves on and off in the prison's chapel, unseen forces pushing people over, apparitional footsteps, the feeling of being watched by spirits, as well as u...

Kinnitty Castle: This Gothic castle sits on a plot that once housed Druids and Bards. It has witnessed a long and turbulent history, and is reportedly the home of many ghosts, the most popular of which is the Phantom Monk of Kinnitty.

It has witnessed a long and turbulent history, and is reportedly the home of many ghosts, the most popular of which is the Phantom Monk of Kinnitty

Malahide Castle: This castle is haunted by Lord Galtrim, Sir Walter Hussey, the son of the Baron of Galtrim. Killed in battle on his wedding day during the 15th century, his apparition roams the castle at night, groaning in pain, while pointing at the spear wound in his side. There is also Lady Matilda "Maud" Plunkett. Her spirit appears to workers and guests as she did on the day of her marriage to the Lord Chief Justice. Maud would chase his spirit through the corridors. The third spirit is Puck, a jester who fell in love with Gerard FitzGerald's daughter, Lady Eleanor, who was detained at the castle by Henry VIII for inciting rebellions. One snowy night in December, Puck was found stabbed through the heart, still wearing his jester suit and cap. Before his death, he swore that he would haunt here until a master with a bride from the people ruled this castle. However, he promised not to harm any male Talbot who slept here. Numerous visitors have reported seeing the jester's face in some photos taken here. The White Lady is the fourth apparition here. The White Lady is a painting of a very beautiful, but unknown, lady, which hangs on the castle's Great Wall. It is said that she would leave her painting at times and wander through the grounds at night. The fifth and final spirit is Miles Corbet. He was given this castle and the surrounding property by Oliver Cromwell. During the Restoration, Miles was made to pay for his crimes and was hanged. It is reported that his apparition appears as a whole soldier in armor, which then suddenly falls into pieces.

Montpelier Hill: The Stewards House, or Killakee House, was built around 1765 by the Conolly family as a hunting lodge

Montpelier Hill: The Stewards House, or Killakee House, was built around 1765 by the Conolly family as a hunting lodge. The house has a reputation for being haunted. Stories tell of a particularly large ghostly black cat. The best documented account occurred between 1968 and 1970 when the Evening Herald and Evening Press newspapers carried several reports regarding Mrs. Margaret O'Brien and her husband, Nicholas, a retired Garda superintendent, who were converting the house into an arts center. During the conversion, tradesmen employed on the work site began complaining of ghosts. One night, a friend of the O'Briens, artist Tom McAssey, and two workmen were confronted by a spectral figure and a black cat with glowing red eyes. McAssey painted a portrait of the cat, which hung in the house for several years afterwards. Although locals were skeptical of the reports, further apparitions were reported, most notably that of an Indian gentleman, and of two nuns called Blessed Margaret and Holy Mary, who had taken part in black masses on Montpelier Hill. There were also reports of incorporeal ringing bells and poltergeist activity. In 1970, an RTÉ television crew recorded a documentary about the house. In the documentary, a clairvoyant called Sheila St. Clair communicated with the spirits of the house through automatic writing. In 1971, a plumber working in the house discovered a grave with a skeleton of a small figure, most likely that of a child or, perhaps, the body of the dwarf alleged to have been sacrificed by the members of the Hell Fire Club. The house operated as a restaurant in the 1990s before closing in 2001; it is now a private residence.

Leap Castle: Many people were imprisoned and executed in this castle, and it is supposedly haunted by several spirits.

Ross Castle: Guests often wake at night hearing disembodied voices and doors banging and shutting on their own. An apparitional spirit who roams here is Richard Nugent's daughter, Sabina. Her lover, Orwin, drowned himself. A second apparitional spirit who roams here is Orwin's father, Myles "The Slasher" O'Reilly. This Irish soldier spent his last night here before dying in a battle in 1644.

St. Michan's Church: This church is haunted by disembodied whispering voices from mummies entombed in the vaults.

Shelbourne Hotel: This hotel is believed to be haunted by a seven-year-old girl from the 18th century, named Mary Masters, who had lived in the row of houses that once stood where the hotel is now. She died due to cholera in 1791. Her apparition roams the halls.

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