Every traveler has their own set of goals when planning an itinerary. Some want nothing else but to relax by the beach, while others want to visit as many tourist hotspots as possible during their trip. Some travelers fill their itinerary with tourist spots that coincide with their hobbies and interests, like foodies and history buffs.
It is no different for horror fans. If you love all things horror, be it movies, TV shows, or books, here are some U.S. travel destinations that might pique your macabre interest.
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Table of Contents
- The Haunting Experience, Twin Cities, Minnesota
- Amityville Horror House, Amityville, New York
- The Exorcist Stairs, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
- The Museum of Death, Los Angeles, California
- The LaLaurie Mansion, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Stephen King House, Bangor, Maine
- The Murder House, Los Angeles California
The Haunting Experience, Twin Cities, Minnesota
If you want to feel like you’re a star in a horror movie, head on to Twin Cities, Minnesota for some of the scariest Halloween attractions in the country. The Haunting Experience offers horror attractions for all ages, such as the classic Haunted House and the Haunted Hayride. The best part? The Haunted Experience offers tickets to both of its biggest attractions for the best value—especially if you come with a group.
The Haunted Experience has been scaring visitors for thirty-four years to date. So if you’re looking for the best way to spice up your Halloween, Twin Cities is the place to be.
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Amityville Horror House, Amityville, New York
No horror junkie hasn’t watched the cult classic: The Amityville Horror. Whether you’re a fan of the movie or not, visiting the house where the infamous story of the Defeo family murders took place is sure to bring you some chills. However, the house is currently privately owned, but you can always drive by and admire the property from a distance—and maybe even spot a creepy face in the mirror of the topmost room.
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The Exorcist Stairs, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Who can forget the climax of the movie The Exorcist? In this classic horror movie, two people were killed by falling down these steep steps—one by Regan Macneil herself. It is also the site where the valiant priest, Father Damian Karras, sacrificed himself to save the possessed girl. As a horror fan, you’ll find it especially bone-chilling to be walking down these steps in real life—especially at night.
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The Museum of Death, Los Angeles, California
Located in Hollywood, the Museum of Death showcases the world’s biggest collection of serial killer artwork and photography. It houses photos of some of the most prolific serial killers in history, as well as other interesting artifacts surrounding the subject of death. Here, you can also find antique funeral ephemera, mortician instruments, and authentic crime scene photographs, among many others.
But if you are weak of heart, this is not a place to be because it is can be that disturbing.
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The LaLaurie Mansion, New Orleans, Louisiana
The LaLaurie Mansion is the site of dozens of gruesome slave murders in the 1800s committed by no other than the mistress of the house herself—Madame Delphine LaLaurie. Today, it is one of the eeriest places in historic New Orleans and is a major hotspot for horror fans.
You can visit the mansion on tour and learn all about the house’s history, the grisly crimes that took place there, and the bizarre experiences that succeeding occupants have experienced thereafter.
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Stephen King House, Bangor, Maine
Stephen King is perhaps the most famous author in the horror genre. A true lover of all things macabre at heart, Stephen King’s house in Bangor, Maine looks like it comes straight from a classic horror gothic fiction. The house is a 19th-century Victorian-style mansion that looks inherently creepy from the outside. Although visitors are not allowed to enter (except for writers on a retreat there), you can admire it out front and snap a few pictures.
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The Murder House, Los Angeles California
Fans of the hit horror anthology American Horror Story will love seeing the Murder House up close, which is where all the gruesome events in the pilot season place. Even if there are no real ghosts trapped inside (maybe?), the house itself is old and creepy. Even actor Evan Peters says that he would “never, ever want to live in that house.”
You can go into the Murder House and see the set up close, but due to COVID-19, tours are may still be suspended.
Visiting these locations may be just the thing you need to scratch your itch as a horror fan. Although you may not get to see ghosts or monsters up close, these tourist destinations are bone-chilling enough to have you looking over your shoulder even after you leave.
