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There are 11 real, historic properties behind the “haunted houses to visit” list, but only some currently welcome the public. “Real” means the buildings and their reported stories are real—not that ghosts have been scientifically proved. Two properties in the list have confirmed museum-style access, several advertise tours or overnight programs that require current verification, one is restoration-dependent, and three are private and closed to tours.
What “real haunted houses to visit” actually means
The properties below are genuine American houses, mansions, estates and former institutions connected to reported apparitions, unexplained sounds, deaths or local legends. Their histories can be documented even when the supernatural interpretation cannot. Bob Vila’s September 30, 2023 list distinguishes historical records from stories told by residents and visitors; it does not establish that any building is demonstrably haunted.
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That distinction matters when planning a trip. A property may be famous for a ghost story yet be private, closed, under restoration or open only on selected dates. Conversely, a historic-house museum may offer a worthwhile visit even if you reject paranormal claims. Treat every haunting detail as folklore or a reported experience unless a source identifies a verifiable historical event.
The 11 properties at a glance
| Property | Location | Public-access status | What a visit may involve | Story type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Myrtles Plantation | St. Francisville, Louisiana | Open as a bed-and-breakfast with tours, subject to current scheduling | Historic property tour; lodging may be available | Reported murders and apparitions |
| Franklin Castle | Cleveland, Ohio | Private; seasonal tours and limited overnight stays have been reported | Seasonal tour or occasional overnight booking | Voices, apparitions, a cold room and family tragedies |
| Hampton Lillibridge House | Savannah, Georgia | Private and not open for tours | No public visit | Deaths and a reported crypt |
| Old Arnold Estate (The Conjuring House) | Burrillville, Rhode Island | Restoration-dependent; the official site says public tours are planned afterward | Future tour program, not a presently assured booking | Perron-family experiences and film connection |
| Villisca House | Villisca, Iowa | Day tours and overnight bookings have been reported; verify current operation | Guided visit or overnight stay | 1912 murders and later reports of voices and moving doors |
| George Stickney House | Bull Valley, Illinois | Not open to the public | No tour | Stories attached to an unusual historic house |
| Ashmore Estates | Ashmore, Illinois | Day, overnight and occasional nighttime access have been reported; verify dates | Tour, overnight stay or investigation event | Apparitions associated with a former poorhouse and hospital |
| Smith-Ely Mansion (Erie Mansion) | Clyde, New York | Bed-and-breakfast with reported tours and overnight stays; confirm availability | Lodging and possible tour | Reported shadows and sounds |
| Rowan Oak | Oxford, Mississippi | Open to visitors year-round except major holidays, with seasonal hours | Historic-house tour; $10 cash admission | Faulkner-house lore |
| Pittock Mansion | Portland, Oregon | Open as a historic-house museum; current hours and admission are set by the museum | Self-guided museum visit | Apparition and rose-scent reports |
| Pioneer Park/Henry Webber House | Aspen, Colorado | Privately owned and not open for tours | No public visit | Henry Webber story and local lore |
Property-by-property guide
The Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana
The late-18th-century Myrtles Plantation operates as a bed-and-breakfast and has offered tours, making it one of the more practical destinations on the list. Bob Vila reports that 10 murders are said to have occurred on the grounds, but identifies only one as confirmed: owner William Drew Winter’s murder in 1871. Keep that distinction intact when discussing the property. The alleged total belongs to the plantation’s lore; the documented case is the 1871 killing.
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Visitors can approach it as both a historic property and a lodging destination rather than assuming a paranormal experience is guaranteed. Ask the property directly which tours, rooms and dates are operating before you travel.
Franklin Castle, Cleveland, Ohio
Franklin Castle dates to the early 1880s. Stories associated with the privately held house include voices, apparitions, a room said to turn unusually cold and tragedies involving the family. Seasonal public tours and limited overnight stays have been reported, but availability is not permanent. A booking page, if one appears online, should be treated as date-specific rather than proof that the building is continuously open.
Because it is private, do not approach outside authorized events or assume that exterior viewing grants permission to enter. Confirm the season, tour rules, photography policy and any age or safety restrictions before reserving.
Hampton Lillibridge House, Savannah, Georgia
Built in 1796, the Hampton Lillibridge House is linked in local stories to deaths and a crypt. It is private and not open for tours. That makes it a historical point of interest in the list, not an attraction to add to a walking itinerary. Do not trespass, knock on the door seeking access or treat nearby public space as a viewing platform.
Old Arnold Estate (The Conjuring House), Burrillville, Rhode Island
The property popularly called the Conjuring House is identified on its official site as the Old Arnold Estate. Its reputation comes largely from accounts associated with the Perron family and from the film The Conjuring. Andrea Perron described the family’s experience this way: “Eight generations of one family lived and died in that house prior to our arrival…some of them never left.” Bob Vila quotes that statement as her account; it is not independent confirmation of paranormal activity.
The current practical issue is restoration. The official site says public tours are planned after restoration is complete. Do not rely on older language suggesting that you can simply book a visit now. Check the property’s own announcement for a reopening date, permitted areas and booking instructions.
Villisca House, Villisca, Iowa
Villisca House is associated with the 1912 murders of eight people, including six children. Those victim figures are historical claims reported by Bob Vila and should be presented as such. The property’s later reputation includes reports of voices and doors moving without an obvious cause.
Daytime tours and overnight bookings have been offered, but operating schedules can change. Ask for the current tour duration, check-in procedure, sleeping arrangements and rules for overnight guests. A respectful visit should acknowledge the victims rather than treating the crime scene solely as entertainment.
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George Stickney House, Bull Valley, Illinois
Built in 1856, the George Stickney House is notable for its rounded corners and is described as the home of the Bull Valley Police Department. It is not open to the public. There is no legitimate tour or overnight option to plan around, so keep it off a visitor itinerary and do not interfere with police or municipal operations.
Ashmore Estates, Ashmore, Illinois
Ashmore Estates began as a county poorhouse in 1916 and operated as a mental hospital from 1959 to 1986. Reports of apparitions are attached to the site, which has been described as offering daytime tours, overnight stays and occasional nighttime investigations. Those programs are event-based and should be confirmed directly before travel.
The institutional history deserves care. Former poorhouses and hospitals housed vulnerable people under difficult conditions; avoid turning patients’ lives into a prop for a scare story. Read the operator’s rules, stay within authorized areas, and follow any restrictions on recording, darkness, equipment or group size.
Smith-Ely Mansion (Erie Mansion), Clyde, New York
The Smith-Ely Mansion, also called the Erie Mansion, dates to 1858. It has been described as a bed-and-breakfast offering tours and overnight stays, with reports of shadows and unexplained sounds. Because accommodation and tour operations can change with ownership or season, verify that both are running and ask whether a room booking includes any guided history program.
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For a first visit, prioritize the documented architecture and local history. Treat a shadow or sound as an observation to report, not as proof of a ghost.
Rowan Oak, Oxford, Mississippi
Rowan Oak is the former home of writer William Faulkner and one of the clearest visitor options in the list. The official visitor information says the house is open year-round except major holidays, with seasonal hours. Admission is listed as $10 cash, and reservations are generally unnecessary unless your group has 10 or more people.
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The public information supports a historic-house visit; the haunting remains lore. Check seasonal hours before setting out, bring cash for the stated admission, and contact the site in advance if your party meets the group threshold. The house’s literary significance stands independently of any paranormal story.
Pittock Mansion, Portland, Oregon
Pittock Mansion functions as a historic-house museum with self-guided admission. Stories connected to the building include apparitions and the scent of roses, but the official visitor material establishes museum access rather than a ghost investigation. Use the museum’s current hours, admission information and closure notices when planning.
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A self-guided format lets you examine the architecture, furnishings and views at your own pace. If you mention a reported apparition, label it as a story associated with the mansion, not as a museum finding.
Pioneer Park and the Henry Webber House, Aspen, Colorado
The list connects Pioneer Park and the privately owned Henry Webber House with a story involving Henry Webber and identifies the residence as dating to 1885. The house is not open for tours. It is therefore not a destination for a ghost-hunting stop, and visitors should not enter private grounds or seek access from occupants.
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- Separate confirmed access from old descriptions. The underlying list was updated in 2023, while schedules and ownership can change. Treat every tour, room or investigation as unconfirmed until the property’s current official information says otherwise.
- Check the exact visit format. A museum admission, daytime tour, overnight stay and nighttime investigation are different products with different rules. Ask what your ticket actually includes.
- Verify dates, prices and payment. Rowan Oak’s stated $10 admission is cash, and its seasonal hours matter. Other properties may use advance reservations, limited dates or event-only access.
- Respect private and closed sites. Hampton Lillibridge House, George Stickney House and the Henry Webber House are not public attractions. Do not trespass, photograph through windows or disturb residents and officials.
- Read safety and conduct rules. Historic structures may have uneven floors, fragile finishes, darkness, stairs or restricted rooms. Follow staff instructions and never enter a cordoned area.
- Describe claims accurately. Use “reportedly,” “according to local lore” or “visitors have claimed.” Documented deaths, construction dates and museum hours are different categories of evidence from a cold spot or apparition.
Which places are the best fit?
- For the most dependable public-history visit: Rowan Oak and Pittock Mansion have current official visitor information supporting public access.
- For lodging connected to a haunting reputation: The Myrtles Plantation and Smith-Ely Mansion have been described as bed-and-breakfast properties, while Franklin Castle and Villisca House have reported limited overnight options. Confirm each booking directly.
- For a restoration watch: The Old Arnold Estate is the relevant choice, but tours are planned only after restoration is complete.
- For research rather than a visit: Hampton Lillibridge House, George Stickney House and the Henry Webber House are private or closed to tours.
No reviewed study or paranormal organization supplies a statistic proving activity at these properties. A compelling story can justify curiosity, but it cannot substitute for permission, a current schedule or evidence.
What to bring and what not to assume
Bring the practical items your chosen property requires: identification for lodging, cash where specified, a reservation confirmation, weather-appropriate clothing and a phone for emergency contact. Do not assume that a historic house permits flash photography, audio recording, overnight equipment, candles, drones or unsupervised exploration. Ask before bringing specialized paranormal gear.
Most importantly, do not promise yourself a supernatural encounter. The reliable outcomes are access to a real building, a chance to learn its history and an opportunity to evaluate how legends develop around places. Whether you interpret a sound as plumbing, settling timber, coincidence or something unexplained is your judgment; the property’s public rules and documented history remain the firm ground of the visit.
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