Top 20 SCARIEST Places in North America

13 Scariest Places in North America

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re taking a look at some of the creepiest locations from across the continent of North America.

Lake Lanier

USA

On the surface, Georgia’s Lake Lanier is just another body of water. But look a little deeper, literally, and you’ll see something truly creepy. Before the 1950s, the surrounding area was just everyday farmland and housed multiple small towns, including Oscarville. But the rapid growth of nearby Atlanta necessitated more water, so the Army Corps constructed Lake Lanier. In the process, they evacuated and then completely flooded these small towns - and without demolishing them first. So, laying under the surface of the water are the skeletal remains of homes, roads, and businesses. Many locals now believe that Lanier is haunted, the ghostly hands pulling swimmers down to join their watery graves…

Whittier, Alaska

USA

Wandering into the Alaskan town of Whittier is like wandering into another dimension. Found nearly sixty miles southeast of Anchorage, Whittier feels insanely creepy because almost the entire population lives inside a single building, the Begich Towers, a stark concrete structure that looms over the otherwise desolate town. Inside the towers, residents share not only apartments but essentials like a grocery store and post office, creating an uncanny “all-in-one” environment that may come across as unsettling to outsiders. And surrounded by foggy mountains and accessible by just one tunnel, the dark and isolated setting only adds to its eerie atmosphere. The empty streets and looming presence of one singular building where everyone lives can feel like something out of a nightmare.

Eastern State Penitentiary

USA

There’s nothing like a giant, rotting prison to get the blood pumping. Opened in 1829, the famous Philadelphia prison was one of the first to use solitary confinement as punishment, leaving behind stories of suffering and psychological torment. Naturally, this has led to its now-famous reputation as a haunted prison. But even if you don’t believe in ghosts, there’s still plenty to find spooky about Eastern State. The imposing stone walls, crumbling cellblocks, and rusting iron doors create a palpably eerie feeling, and visitors are often left unsettled by its long and silent corridors. It’s one thing to see it on TV. It’s something else to walk through its hallowed, and probably haunted, halls. Eastern State stands as a decayed relic of a barbaric past.

The Wreck of the Titanic

Atlantic Ocean

If you have a fear of deep water (thalassophobia if you’re fancy), then you probably can’t even look at the wreck of the Titanic. It lies over 12,000 feet below the Atlantic, and its massive structure just sits there in the dark and silent deep, a rusting underwater graveyard. Its rotting mass is an unbelievably eerie sight, just sitting there in the pitch black. Even worse, human objects like shoes, suitcases, and dishes still sit scattered on the seabed, frozen in time, making the monument feel ever more ghostly. And for the more philosophical, there’s the uncanny contrast between its contemporary symbol of wealth and its current state of ruin. There’s a haunting sadness about the whole thing.

Area 51

USA

Countless myths, stories, legends, tales - whatever you want to call them - have been made about Area 51. The alien capital of America, the secret base is said to be closely associated with UFOlogy, either housing aliens, conducting otherworldly experiments, reverse-engineering UFOs, or whatever else. But even without the folklore, Area 51 is one creepy place. Such is often the case with restricted areas and forbidden access. Deeply hidden in the Nevada desert, surrounded by threatening signs and armed patrols, and with its secret operations being strictly classified and hidden from public view, Area 51 fuels the imagination like no other place on Earth.

Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary

USA

For thirty years, Alcatraz was an ominous presence on a lonely island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Since it was in a relatively isolated position, it was frequently cited as totally inescapable. And although three people notably did escape in 1962, they were never seen again after leaving the island. Even while it was still in use, Alcatraz was a dangerous, decaying place. Its prisoners were often mistreated since it was designed to feel as hostile as possible. Though it’s been shuttered for far longer than it was ever in operation, that hostile atmosphere persists. Today, you can tour the prison and experience its horrors – and many alleged ghosts – for yourself.

The Great Blue Hole

Belize

Belize’s Great Blue Hole isn’t the only marine sinkhole in the world, but it is the largest, at 1,000 feet wide and over 400 feet deep. Several divers have become lost and died inside it. In fact, a 2019 expedition to the bottom discovered two bodies of long lost divers. Not only is the hole dangerous to inexperienced divers, but also to the sea life around it. The bottom is so full of hydrogen sulfide that life can’t survive inside for long. Unfortunately, many reef-dwelling crabs learned that lesson firsthand.

Weston State Hospital

USA

Drive through central West Virginia and you won’t find much of note. But nestled within the endless trees is the small town of Weston, and there you’ll find one of the most gorgeous buildings in America. Also one of the scariest. It’s Weston State Hospital, which housed patients for over a century between 1864 and 1994. The building’s old, gothic architecture is incredibly imposing, striking both awe and fear before you even step foot through its doors. The place also has a dark history of mental health treatment, including overcrowding, filthy conditions, and electroshock therapy, contributing to its reputation as one of America’s most haunted buildings. Since closing in 1994, much of the hospital has fallen into significant disrepair, further contributing to its ghostly aura.

The Stanley Hotel

USA

Master of horror Stephen King stayed in this hotel in 1974 when he and his wife were the only guests in the entire place. This spooky atmosphere served as the inspiration for “The Shining”, the novel that was later adapted to film and became one of Stanley Kubrick’s scariest movies. Just knowing that the Stanley was the inspiration behind the Overlook Hotel will send a chill down your spine. Located in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, the hotel is supposedly haunted by numerous ghosts. It’s become a prime destination for paranormal tourism since the book was released. Stay the night at the Stanley, if you dare.

Centralia

Pennsylvania

There’s an area of Pennsylvania that has essentially been on fire since 1962. In the early ‘60s, Centralia hosted roughly 1,500 residents, but the area suffered a horrific coal mine fire that is estimated to keep burning for another 250 years. The major detrimental effects weren’t really known until 1981, when a sinkhole randomly opened and nearly killed a 12-year-old boy. The government bought out most of the residents and had them relocated, leaving just 63 people by 1990. Today, the town hosts under a dozen citizens, and various signs are littered throughout the area warning of sudden ground collapse and fatal levels of carbon monoxide. A “graffiti highway” that became a destination spot in the area has been paved over as of 2020.

Island of the Dolls

Mexico

Turns out there are many areas throughout the world populated by dolls. There’s a village in Japan called Nagoro which has become a famous tourist attraction due to its countless lifesize dolls. But perhaps the freakiest of all is Mexico City’s La Isla de las Muñecas, which is located in the canals of Xochimilco. The island contains hundreds of dolls, most of which are hung from the trees. Legend states that the spirit of a young girl haunted the island, forcing its owner to hang dolls from the trees to appease her ghost. The owner passed away in 2001 and the island became a popular tourist destination, even though some locals refuse to go there owing to superstition.

Cecil Hotel

USA

It’s the heartbreak hotel– but not because relationships have ended here. Now known as “Stay on Main”, this once lavish location became the source of countless catastrophes throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Within its walls, several lives have been ended, which have overshadowed any potential positive aspects. Even more, some notorious serial killers, including Richard Ramirez, once made the establishment their temporary residence. Among the most recent tragedies was the 2013 case of Elisa Lam, a young woman who mysteriously died shortly after she was filmed in the hotel’s elevator. It was later converted into low-income housing, but it remained plagued by various issues. As of 2024, the property is up for sale– and it’s unsure what its future will hold.

The Bermuda Triangle

Atlantic Ocean

Alright, we know that the Bermuda Triangle isn’t actually cursed, but the mythology certainly makes an impression, doesn’t it? As kids we were taught to fear the Bermuda Triangle, an area of the Atlantic Ocean that is said to swallow planes and boats through some type of interdimensional portal. Or something, we don’t really know. Point is, a lot of people have supposedly gone missing within the triangle thanks to some type of creepy magic. The legend is so pronounced and persistent that many regulatory bodies have conducted studies disproving the legend. But those three words - The Bermuda Triangle - are still enough to send shivers down the spine.

Would you visit any of these places? Let us know in the comments!