Exploring Real-Life Haunted Places: The New Way to Get Spooky This Halloween Season

As Halloween approaches, many people are looking for ways to get into the spooky spirit. For some, that might mean visiting a haunted house or watching a horror movie. But for others, the best way to get scared is by exploring real-life haunted places.

Urban exploration has become increasingly popular in recent years, with adventurous souls seeking out abandoned buildings and other off-limits locations. And while not every abandoned place is haunted, there are certainly plenty of creepy spots around the world that have been rumored to be home to ghosts and other supernatural entities.

To explore this topic more deeply, we spoke with three experts on the subject: John E.L. Tenney, a paranormal researcher and author; Amy Bruni, a paranormal investigator who has appeared on numerous TV shows including Ghost Hunters; and Michelle McKay, an urban explorer who runs the website Creepy Cincinnati.

First up: John E.L. Tenney
Tenney has been investigating claims of ghosts and hauntings for over 30 years. He’s written several books on the subject and regularly speaks at conferences about his research.

When asked about his favorite haunted location that he’s visited during his career as a paranormal researcher, Tenney doesn’t hesitate: “The Villisca Axe Murder House in Iowa.”

In 1912, six members of the Moore family were brutally murdered with an axe while they slept in their beds. No one was ever convicted of the crimes (although there were several suspects), and today the house is open for tours – if you’re brave enough to visit.

According to Tenney, “There’s something very unique about that house – it’s almost like time stopped when those murders happened.” He describes feeling a sense of heaviness and unease upon entering the home: “It just feels very oppressive,” he says.

But despite its reputation as one of America’s most haunted houses (it’s been featured on multiple TV shows including Ghost Adventures), Tenney says that he’s never personally experienced anything paranormal there. “I’ve spent a lot of time in that house, and it’s always been very quiet,” he says.

Next: Amy Bruni
Bruni has been investigating the paranormal for over 20 years, and has appeared on shows like Ghost Hunters, Kindred Spirits, and Haunted Salem: Live.

When asked about her favorite haunted location to investigate, Bruni cites Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky.

The sanatorium was originally built as a hospital for tuberculosis patients in the early 1900s. Over the years it became overcrowded and understaffed, leading to reports of neglect and mistreatment of patients. Today the building is abandoned (although there are plans to turn it into a hotel), but many people believe that the spirits of former patients still linger within its walls.

According to Bruni, “Waverly Hills is just such an intense location. It’s so big – you could spend weeks there and not see everything.” She describes seeing full-bodied apparitions at Waverly Hills (“It was like they were walking among us”), as well as hearing disembodied voices and feeling sudden drops in temperature.

But despite all of these spooky experiences, Bruni emphasizes that she doesn’t necessarily believe every strange noise or sighting is evidence of ghosts: “We’re really trying to find natural explanations first,” she says. “We want to debunk things before we say ‘oh yeah, this is definitely supernatural.'”

Finally: Michelle McKay
McKay runs Creepy Cincinnati, a website dedicated to exploring Cincinnati’s abandoned places (of which there are many). She’s also written several articles for Atlas Obscura about creepy locations around Ohio.

When asked about her favorite haunted spot in Cincinnati, McKay immediately names Music Hall – specifically its sub-basement level.

Music Hall was built in 1878 as home to the local symphony orchestra and other musical performances. Over the years it’s been renovated several times, but one area of the building that hasn’t changed much is its sub-basement level – which McKay describes as “a labyrinth of tunnels and rooms.”

According to legend, a young girl died in the sub-basement during a performance at Music Hall many years ago. Some people believe her spirit still haunts the tunnels today.

McKay has explored Music Hall extensively (including its sub-basement), and says she’s experienced some strange things there: “There are definitely areas where you feel like you’re being watched,” she says. She’s also heard unexplained noises and seen shadows moving in the darkness.

But despite these eerie experiences, McKay emphasizes that urban exploration can be dangerous if you’re not careful: “You have to know what you’re doing,” she says. “It’s not just about wandering into abandoned buildings – there are real risks involved.”

Overall, it’s clear that haunted places hold a unique fascination for many people – whether it’s because they want to experience something spooky firsthand or because they’re simply curious about the stories behind these locations. And with so many abandoned buildings around the world waiting to be explored, there’s no shortage of opportunities for daring adventurers who want to seek out ghosts and other supernatural entities…if they dare!