Buzz
Famous landmarks attract visitors from all over the world. People can’t resist snapping selfies at iconic sites like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Colosseum, the Eiffel Tower, Disney World, and countless others. But sometimes, when tourists review their photos, they notice something strange. Perhaps a face emerging from the water where the USS Arizona sank or mysterious shadows on a war memorial that look like soldiers with their gear. With Halloween approaching, it’s the perfect time to revisit some lesser-known ghost stories tied to these landmarks, perfect for those chilly, eerie nights.
10. Central Park
Janet and Rosetta Van Der Voort were two wealthy sisters raised in Central Park South, NY, during the 1800s. Their parents were so protective that they rarely allowed the girls to leave the house without them. One of the few things Janet and Rosetta could enjoy alone was ice skating on the Central Park Pond during the winter—a place they could visit without their parents.
The two sisters were inseparable, turning down any romantic proposals. In 1880, both Janet and Rosetta passed away within months of each other, never having married. During World War I, reports of a ghostly pair of skaters on Central Park Pond began to emerge. It was said that the sisters, unable to let go of their beloved pastime, returned to the pond in the same outfits they wore when they skated there a century ago.
Further reports emerged of people witnessing the sisters skating even in the summertime, with their skates seemingly gliding just above the surface of the water in the pond.
9. Casa Loma
Casa Loma is a Gothic Revival mansion set on a vast garden in Toronto, situated 460 feet above sea level. Designed by architect E.J. Lennox, the mansion has served as the backdrop for several movies and TV shows and is also a sought-after venue for weddings.
Casa Loma is also renowned for its chilling ghost stories. Visitors and staff have reported seeing a mysterious lady in white, believed to be the spirit of a maid who worked there in the early 1900s and may have passed away from influenza. There have also been instances of hearing children’s laughter and voices, even when no children were present.
Some claim to have encountered the restless spirits of Sir Henry Pellatt, the man who commissioned the mansion’s construction, along with his wife, Lady Mary Pellatt.
Even the tunnel that leads to the stables on the mansion grounds is thought to be haunted. Numerous visitors have reported feeling something tugging at their hair or having the sensation of being grabbed by an unseen force.
8. Dover Castle
Dover Castle, a true medieval masterpiece, is located in Dover, Kent, England. As the largest castle in the country, it has earned the nickname ‘Key to England’ due to its significant role in historical defense. The grounds also house one of the last remaining Roman-era lighthouses in the world. During World War II, tunnels beneath the castle, originally constructed more than a century earlier, were converted into air-raid shelters and later served as an underground hospital.
With such a rich and tumultuous history, it's no surprise that Dover Castle has developed a notorious reputation for paranormal activity. After the war, the army remained at the castle until 1958. Five years later, the Ministry of Works took over the site for preservation.
Soon after the Ministry's acquisition, reports of ghostly encounters began. One of the most well-known stories involves a phantom in the King’s bedroom, where the lower half of a figure is said to walk through the door before vanishing into thin air. Staff members who have seen this apparition often follow it in an attempt to uncover its path, but it always disappears before they can learn its destination.
Other eerie reports mention that visitors have heard the sound of drumming coming from the battlements, while a headless apparition roams the halls. It is believed that this ghost could be that of 15-year-old Sean Flynn, a drummer boy who was decapitated by two soldiers. Along with banging doors and anguished screams, there have been several sightings of servicemen in uniform in the World War II section of the tunnels beneath Dover Castle.
7. Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is a monument built to honor the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for France during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Beneath the monument lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. One of the world’s most famous landmarks, the Arc de Triomphe also has a tragic reputation as a place where suicides have occurred. In 1878, a man leaped from the parapet and fell to his death. In 1908, a woman jumped and became caught on a cornice, hanging there for several minutes before her dress ripped, causing her to fall. On Bastille Day in 1914, a young woman named Rose, enraged after a quarrel with her lover, jumped from the monument. She narrowly missed tourists as she fell to her death. Now, every year during the Bastille Day parade, Rose’s ghost is said to reenact her fatal leap, horrifying those who witness it.
6. Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings in Egypt is home to the tombs of pharaohs and other nobility from the Eighteenth to the Twentieth Dynasties. With 63 tombs and chambers, including the famous tomb of Tutankhamun, the valley is one of the most renowned archaeological sites in the world. In 1979, it was designated a World Heritage Site.
The Valley of the Kings is no stranger to ghostly legends. It is said that archaeologists are sometimes guided to discover tombs by the restless spirits of the ancient royals and noblemen. Perhaps the most famous paranormal tale from the valley is the sighting of an Egyptian pharaoh riding a chariot at midnight. Witnesses claim the phantom wears a golden collar and an ancient headdress, with his chariot drawn by black horses.
5. Breytenbach Theatre
The Breytenbach Theatre in Pretoria, South Africa, originally began as a German club before being taken over by Emily Hobhouse, who established a craft school there. When the deadly global influenza pandemic of 1918 struck, the building was repurposed as a temporary hospital. Those who succumbed to the illness were buried beneath what is now the theatre's stage.
A nurse named Heather cared for the ill children in the makeshift hospital until she too contracted the virus and passed away. The legend of Heather’s ghost was born when she seemingly refused to leave her post, either in life or in death, ensuring she would always be ready to help any child in need. One version of the story even has Heather’s ghost asking, “Where are my children?” The spirits of the children are said to remain as well.
A group of paranormal investigators, intrigued by the tale, decided to explore the theatre. They claimed to have experienced poltergeist activity, heard an invisible piano being played, and witnessed the spirits of children running across the stage. Some investigators reported feeling watched, followed, and inexplicably ill. They also alleged to have captured an EVP of a disembodied voice crying out for help.
There are also reports of a monk haunting the theatre, allegedly responsible for an accident in which two drama students fell ten meters from the ceiling of the stage. This monk is believed to dislike the productions at the theatre, often interfering with the sound and lighting systems. He is said to follow people into the restrooms, flushing the toilets to scare them.
4. Sydney Harbor Bridge and Middle Creek Bridge
Commonly referred to as 'The Coathanger', the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a world-renowned landmark that opened in 1932. It holds the title of the tallest steel arch bridge and the sixth longest spanning-arch bridge globally. According to legend, safety standards during its construction were inadequate, leading to 16 documented deaths, with another three fatalities covered up. It is said that three contractors fell into the bridge’s pylons, and their bodies were never recovered, remaining embedded in the structure to this day.
But the spooky stories don't stop with the Sydney Harbour Bridge. At Middle Creek Bridge, near Wakehurst Parkway, travelers have claimed to see the ghost of Kelly, a girl dressed in white. She is said to have telekinetic abilities, causing cars to crash unless the passengers make it clear they do not want her in the vehicle. A few years ago, a documentary about Kelly was made, and several crew members became ill during filming, possibly due to the chilling nature of the tale.
3. The Highland Towers
Once a landmark, the Highland Towers in Ulu Klang, Selangor, were composed of three blocks in a 12-storey apartment complex. Constructed between 1974 and 1982, the towers eventually became the residence for many expatriates.
On December 11, 1993, a catastrophic combination of overloaded water pipes and monsoon rains led to a devastating explosion at Block 1 of the Highland Towers. The collapse that followed resulted in the recovery of 48 bodies during search and rescue efforts.
Following this tragedy, numerous ghost stories and urban legends emerged. In 1994, a taxi driver recounted picking up a woman in the dead of night who insisted on going to the Highland Towers. Upon arrival at the eerie site, the woman explained that she had left some important belongings behind. When the driver questioned what could be so urgent, she replied, 'My body and my life. I died here last year,' before vanishing into thin air.
Another chilling tale involves a paranormal investigator who encountered a young boy on the stairs while searching for ghostly signs. When asked what he was doing, the boy responded, 'I’m looking for my other arm, I lost it in that building there.'
In 2018, there were plans to redevelop the now-abandoned Highland Towers site into a recreational park. As of 2019, discussions are still ongoing, with construction slated to begin in 2020.
2. Stockholm’s Old Town
In 1520, following an invasion by Danish King Kristian II, 82 members of the Swedish nobility were executed in Stortorget, the main square of the Old Town. Those who refused to renounce their allegiance to the opposition were either beheaded or hanged in what became known as the Stockholm Bloodbath.
Legend has it that if you visit the square on the nights of November 7th to 9th, you might witness the blood of the slain nobles slowly creeping across the cobblestones. It is said that 82 white stones, embedded in a red building in the square, were placed to commemorate the victims of this tragic event. Some versions claim that 92 people were murdered, and thus 92 stones mark their deaths. According to the tale, if one of these stones is ever removed, the spirit of the person it represents will rise from the grave and haunt Stockholm forever.
1. Shaniwarwada Fort
Shaniwarwada, constructed in 1732 as a fortress in Pune, Maharashtra, India, played a central role in the politics of the Maratha Empire in the 18th century. However, in 1828, a mysterious fire nearly destroyed the fort. Today, the remaining walls attract tourists from all over the globe.
Like many ancient structures, Shaniwarwada is steeped in eerie legends. One such tale recounts the murder of a young prince named Narayanrao by a relative within the fort's walls. It is said that as the prince was slain, his screams echoed through the air. Now, on nights of the full moon, those who camp on the fort’s grounds claim to hear the ghostly cries of the prince, desperately calling for help. Another version of the story suggests that his screams are only audible on new moon nights, as the horrific murder and dismemberment of the prince replay in the haunted ruins of Shaniwarwada.
