Living on the edge can be fun, for sure. But would you actually stay the night in a haunted house?
For all the thrill seekers out there we’ve compiled a gloriously spooky list of places around the world that you can not only reportedly witness paranormal activity in, but also – in theory – sleep the night in. That is, if you’re not too terrified. Boo!
Villisca Axe Murder House
If you happen to find yourself in Iowa, in the US, with a hankering for some good old-fashioned spookiness, then this creepy old farmhouse – the location of several murders – should be on your hit list.
The farmhouse in Iowa has had a long and bloody history with the paranormal. Picture: Facebook
The operators of the Villisca Axe Murder House say: “The walls still protect the identity of the murderer or murderers who bludgeoned to death the entire family of Josiah Moore and two overnight guests on June 10, 1912.”
“Almost 97 years later, her secret continues to draw many visitors to her door.”
You and your five closest friends can hire out the farmhouse for an overnight stay you won’t forget for US$428.
Castle Keep Adelaide
If you’re after a haunted house vibe minus the angry ghosts, then maybe Adelaide’s Castle Keep is for you.
Pictures courtesy of Stayz.com
The award-winning bed and breakfast is made to look like an old-world castle, yet doesn’t have the gory history of other buildings.
Waverly Hills Sanatorium
The Waverly Hills Sanatorium. Picture: Facebook
If creepy old hospitals ring your bell you could stay at the Waverly Hills Sanatorium, a former asylum for sufferers of tuberculosis, the elderly and mentally handicapped.
Located in southwestern Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky, the Waverly Hills Sanatorium opened in 1910 to house sufferers of the highly contagious diseases. At its peak, it cared for 400 patients.
With the development of treatment drugs decreasing the need for such a large facility, the hospital was transformed into a nursing home for the elderly and the handicapped in 1962.
Sadly, it was allegedly due to patient neglect that the facility was closed for good in 1982.
It’s now a hotspot of supposed paranormal activity, with tours and sleepovers being hosted by its new owners. Proceeds from the tours are going towards funding the building’s restoration.
Monte Cristo Homestead
Touted as Australia’s most haunted house and built in 1884, Monte Cristo Homestead – located around 2.5 hours drive from Canberra – was constructed by a local businessman and landowner.
What was once one of the grandest homes of the area, hosting numerous balls and gatherings for the era’s most elite, has now become a hotspot for reported paranormal sightings of the original family that lived in the home until their final days.
Monte Cristo Homestead. Picture: Supplied
Several sightings of the owner and his wife have been made and the home now offers overnight stays where you can see for yourself whether the home is haunted.
Barcaldine Castle
If you’re wandering around the hills of Scotland on the lookout for a medieval castle to rest your head, then Barcaldine Castle should be on your list.
What’s now an idyllic bed and breakfast and popular wedding venue was, back in the 1600s, the setting of a murder of a Scottish laird in the middle of an uprising.
Barcaldine Castle in Scotland. Picture: Facebook
The ghost of Donald Campbell, the Laird of Barcaldine, is believed to haunt the castle with guests complaining that they experience pressure on their legs during the night as if someone is sitting on them.
Dracula’s castle
The home that inspired one of the most famous works of literature in the western world, Dracula, was available for rent on Airbnb in an exclusive competition back in 2016.
Sadly now this castle only accepts day visits.
Bran Castle is believed to be the inspiration behind Count Dracula’s castle. Picture: Getty
While Bram Stoker never actually visited Romania, where the castle still stands, it’s believed that he created the myth of the castle and the count from descriptions of Bran Castle.
The Irish writer is believed to have based the character for the novel on a Transylvanian count, Vlad Tepes, who lived around 1450 and was sometimes known as Vlad Dracula.
His army fought an uprising at the request of a Transylvanian princess and his fighting methods earned him the nickname Vlad the Impaler.
Originally published as 6 creepy homes to make your next holiday a hoot by Erinna Giblin. Author at realestate.com.au.
