Buzz
Winter is the ideal season for sharing eerie ghost tales. As the nights stretch longer and holiday lights glimmer, it’s easy to envision shadows lurking where none should exist. The most chilling stories, however, are those claimed to be true. This list features such ghosts: specific apparitions witnessed by multiple people at various times in the same location. The more witnesses and the more credible they are, the more compelling the tale. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these stories are sure to ignite the imagination.
10. Kate Morgan Hotel del Coronado
The Hotel del Coronado, a breathtaking Victorian beachfront resort in Coronado, California, just south of San Diego, had only been open for four years when Kate Morgan, a young and beautiful woman, checked in on November 24th, 1892. She appeared severely ill during her stay, and it was later speculated that she had ingested a large dose of quinine to induce a miscarriage. Her distress was evident, and when she was discovered on the beachfront steps on November 29th with a gunshot wound to her temple and a gun beside her, her death was swiftly ruled a suicide. Since then, the hotel has been the site of numerous strange occurrences: unexplained noises, flickering lights, and sightings of a ghostly woman in Victorian attire roaming the halls.
During my research, I noticed that the specific room number where most paranormal activity occurs varies across different accounts. This discrepancy could be due to second-hand retellings (which many are) or confusion arising from room number changes over the years as the hotel expanded. The exact reason remains unclear.
9. Ghosts of the Stanley Hotel
If you were a guest at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, and tuned your room television to channel 42, you’d find one of my favorite films playing: *The Shining*. Regardless of the time or season, it’s always on—a tribute to the hotel’s role as the inspiration for Stephen King’s novel. Staff have reported hearing the sounds of a lively party in the grand ballroom when it’s empty, and the laughter of children echoing through the halls, even when no children are present. Guests often describe seeing spectral figures in their rooms at night, silently observing them. The fourth floor is particularly active, with one ghost, believed to be Lord Dunraven, the former landowner, frequently spotted in room 407, either standing by the bed or gazing out the window. He is often blamed for the disappearance of jewelry and valuables over the years.
8. The Brown Lady Raynham Hall
Raynham Hall in Norfolk, England, is famous for being the site of one of the most renowned ghost photographs ever taken. The Brown Lady, named for her elegant brown brocade dress, is widely thought to be Lady Dorothy Walpole, sister of Sir Robert Walpole. She married Charles, the 2nd Viscount Townshend, in 1713 and died under mysterious circumstances in 1726. Sightings of her began soon after. While reports have decreased significantly since the famous 1936 photograph, earlier accounts came from credible sources. One notable story involves Major Loftus, who stayed at Raynham Hall in 1849. One night, he and a companion named Hawkins saw a woman in brown brocade who disappeared as Loftus approached. The next night, he returned to the same spot and saw her again. To his horror, her face had no eyes—only dark, empty sockets. Truly chilling!
7. Clifton Hall
If you have £2.75 million to spare, you could own Clifton Hall in Nottinghamshire, England. This historic property dates back to the 11th century and was owned by the Clifton family from the 13th century until 1958. Over the years, it served as a school, then another school, and later as luxury apartments before becoming a private residence. Most recently, it was home to Anwar Rashid, his wife, and their four children. The hall features 17 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, 10 reception rooms, a private gym, and a cinema—along with a few ghostly inhabitants. The Rashids experienced strange occurrences from their very first night, including knocking sounds and a man’s voice calling, “Hello, is anyone there?” In one eerie incident, Nabila Rashid went downstairs early one morning to prepare milk for her toddler and saw her eldest daughter sitting in front of the TV. When her calls went unanswered, she returned upstairs to find her daughter still asleep in bed. After eight months of enduring such hauntings, the family fled. While their story is the most recent, rumors of paranormal activity at Clifton Hall have persisted for generations, including reports of crying babies and a woman seen pacing in a sealed-off room.
6. The White Lady Balete Drive
The Philippines is home to many ghostly tales, and the Lady in White is one of the most common spectral figures worldwide. While researching, I encountered two locals from Quezon City who dismissed the story as a hoax, but the majority believe there’s truth to it. Witnesses describe a woman in white with long black hair, her face either featureless or covered in blood, standing in the middle of Balete Drive. Locals advise avoiding the area at night, but if you must drive there, ensure your back seat is occupied. It’s said the White Lady prefers empty seats, appearing in the rearview mirror after the driver feels an overwhelming sense of dread.
5. Chloe and The Myrtles Plantation
According to legend, Chloe was a slave at the Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana, known for eavesdropping on the household through keyholes. One day, the master of the house caught her and cut off her ear as punishment, forcing her to wear a green scarf to hide the injury. Seeking revenge, she baked a cake laced with oleander leaves, a highly toxic plant common in the South. While her target was the master, his wife and two daughters consumed the cake and died in agony days later. Chloe fled but was later lynched by fellow slaves for bringing shame upon them.
While there’s no historical evidence to support this tale, it remains a fascinating story. True or not, the Myrtles Plantation is said to be haunted by other spirits, including a young girl often seen in a stairwell mirror and another who chants voodoo spells over those who sleep in her room. Today, the Myrtles operates as a Bed and Breakfast, offering tours to curious visitors—though exploring alone after dark is discouraged.
4. Resurrection Mary
Driving northeast on Archer Lane between the Willowbrook Ballroom and Resurrection Cemetery in Justice, Illinois, young men might encounter a young woman hitchhiking by the roadside. She has light blond hair, blue eyes, and wears a white party dress, but she’s been dead since the 1930s. If you offer her a ride, she’ll ask to be dropped off at Resurrection Cemetery, only to vanish from your car. This tale is a classic example of the vanishing hitchhiker legend, a ghost story that has persisted for centuries. What sets Resurrection Mary apart is the consistency of her appearance and the location of her disappearance. Reports of her began in the mid-1930s and continue to this day. In one 1973 account, a cab driver described a girl who fled his cab without paying her fare at Chet’s Melody Lounge near the cemetery. Patrons immediately recognized her description: Resurrection Mary had struck again!
3. Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Queen Elizabeth I, reigned as queen consort for three years before falling out of favor. Falsely accused of adultery, incest, and witchcraft, she met her end with dignity on May 19th, 1536, executed by a swordsman. Legend has it the executioner, attempting to ease her anxiety, called out, “Where is my sword?” before delivering the fatal blow.
Her ghost has been sighted in numerous locations, including Hever Castle, Blickling Hall, Salle Church, Marwell Hall, and most famously, the Tower of London. While she often appears as she did in life—a stunning woman in an elegant gown—some encounters are more chilling. Certain witnesses have reported seeing her headless, sometimes carrying her head under her arm. This haunting image has become iconic, inspiring parodies in films, TV shows, and Halloween costumes. Yet, one can only imagine the terror of encountering such a specter in a dark hallway.
2. Abraham Lincoln
According to legend, Lincoln foresaw his own death. He once shared a dream with his cabinet in which he attended a funeral at the White House. When he asked a mourner who had passed away, the man replied, “The President… he was killed by an assassin.”
Lincoln’s ghost has been witnessed by numerous White House visitors and residents, including First Lady Grace Coolidge, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, and Winston Churchill. Churchill, ever the wit, recounted an encounter where he emerged from the bath, unclothed, and saw Lincoln standing by the fireplace. He remarked, “Good evening, Mr. President. You seem to have me at a disadvantage.” Lincoln responded with a gentle smile before vanishing.
1. The Flying Dutchman
In 1641, Captain Hendrik van der Decken vowed to sail around the Cape of Good Hope, even if it took him until the end of time. His ship, *The Flying Dutchman*, is now a legendary phantom vessel, frequently sighted near the cape. Witnesses often describe it appearing dangerously close, as if on a collision course, only to vanish moments later. Spotting the ship is considered a dire omen. One notable sighting occurred in 1881, witnessed by the future King George V of England. He recorded: “At 4 a.m., *The Flying Dutchman* crossed our path. A eerie red glow illuminated the phantom ship, revealing its masts, spars, and sails in stark detail as it approached our port side.” Tragically, the sailor who first spotted the ship died later that same morning.
