Haunted Hotels in Kentucky You Can Stay In
Discover the most haunted hotels in Kentucky with real ghost stories and paranormal activity
Cities in Kentucky with haunted hotels
14 Haunted Hotels Found in Kentucky
Hall Place Bed & Breakfast
313 S Green St, Glasgow, KY 42141, USA
Hall Place Bed & Breakfast, with roots extending to the early 1800s, has gathered its share of ghost stories. It served various roles over the centuries, including potentially as a makeshift hospital or refuge, which could contribute to lingering spirits. Guests report experiencing cold spots, hearing disembodied whispers or footsteps, and seeing fleeting apparitions, particularly in older sections of the house. There's mention of a 'Gray Lady' spirit, possibly connected to the Hall family or a past tragic event, who sometimes makes her presence felt subtly.
Maple Hill Manor Bed and Breakfast
2941 Perryville Rd, Springfield, KY 40069, USA
Maple Hill Manor, built in the 1850s, is reputed to be quite haunted, possibly due to its history as a hospital during the Civil War. Numerous soldiers died here, and their spirits are believed to linger. Guests report encounters with ghostly soldiers, hearing moans or cries, smelling medicinal odors, and seeing unexplained lights. A 'Lady in White' is also frequently reported, possibly a former resident. The family cemetery on the property adds to the eerie atmosphere, with sightings near gravesites noted.
DuPont Mansion Bed & Breakfast
1317 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40208, USA
The lavish DuPont Mansion, reflecting the wealth of its original industrialist owners, is said to host spiritual residents connected to its long history. One frequently mentioned spirit is 'Uncle Alfred' DuPont, one of the original family members, who seems to keep an eye on his former home. Guests report seeing shadowy figures moving through rooms, particularly on the main staircase and in common areas. Unexplained sounds like footsteps on wooden floors, faint voices or laughter when no one is there, and doors creaking open or shut mysteriously are also commonly reported phenomena.
Grand Victorian Inn
401 E Main St, Park City, KY 42160, USA
The Grand Victorian Inn, dating back to the late 19th century, carries tales appropriate for its age. It's believed to be haunted by several spirits, including a former owner and perhaps guests who passed through during its long history. Paranormal investigators and guests have reported EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) recordings, sightings of shadowy figures, items moving on their own (like rocking chairs), and unexplained knocks or footsteps. A childlike spirit is sometimes sensed, playing or making sounds, adding to the layers of paranormal activity within this historic structure.
Jailer's Inn Bed & Breakfast
111 W Stephen Foster Ave, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA
Operating as a jail from 1797 to 1987, the Jailer's Inn has housed countless inmates, some executed on-site, leading to its haunted reputation. The most prominent spirit is believed to be 'Captain,' a former jailer known for being strict. Another spirit is 'Martin,' a prisoner who allegedly murdered his wife. Guests report disembodied voices, phantom footsteps, unexplained cold spots, cell doors slamming shut, and feelings of being watched, particularly in the old cell block areas. Some claim to have been touched or pushed by unseen forces.
Benham School House Inn
100 Central Ave, Benham, KY 40807, USA
The Benham School House Inn, once a thriving educational institution, carries echoes of its past. Guests and staff report supernatural occurrences attributed to former students and faculty. 'Lula', a former kitchen worker who tragically died on site, is believed to be one of the resident spirits, often making her presence known in the kitchen area. Other reports include sounds of children running and laughing in hallways once filled with pupils, disembodied voices, unexplained cold spots, and doors opening or closing on their own, suggesting a classroom of spirits remains.
Historic Boone Tavern Hotel and Restaurant
100 Main St N, Berea, KY 40404, USA
The Historic Boone Tavern Hotel, operational since 1909, has accumulated tales of ghostly residents. Staff and guests frequently speak of phenomena in the older sections of the hotel. Room 303 is particularly noted for unexplained activity, possibly linked to past guests. There are reports of items moving mysteriously, disembodied voices, and shadowy figures seen in hallways and guest rooms, believed to be residual energies or spirits attached to the historic building and its long history with Berea College.
The Brown Hotel
335 W Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
The Brown Hotel is said to be haunted by its founder, J. Graham Brown. He lived in the penthouse suite until his death in 1969 and reportedly never left. Guests and staff report smelling his cigar smoke unexpectedly, especially near his former quarters. The elevator is also known to make unexplained stops at the penthouse floor (the 15th). Additionally, sightings of ghostly apparitions, unexplained footprints in dusty areas, and sounds of furniture being moved in otherwise empty rooms contribute to its haunted reputation.
The Sire Hotel Lexington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
120 W Vine St, Lexington, KY 40507, USA
Formerly known as Gratz Park Inn, The Sire Hotel shares in the ghostly legends of its predecessor. Positioned near historic Gratz Park, itself associated with paranormal tales, the hotel is rumored to harbor spirits connected to Lexington's past. Reports include sightings of apparitions, sometimes described as figures in period clothing, especially near older parts of the building or overlooking the park. Guests have occasionally mentioned faint sounds of music or voices when no source is present, and an unexplained feeling of melancholy or being watched in certain rooms.
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park (DuPont Lodge)
7351 Highway 90, Corbin, KY 40701, USA
DuPont Lodge, nestled in Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, has tales associated with the natural beauty and sometimes tragic history of the area. One story speaks of a honeymooning bride who tragically died near the falls; her spirit is sometimes said to wander the lodge or areas overlooking the falls, dressed in white. Other reports mention spirits connected to Native American history in the region or those who may have perished exploring the rugged terrain. Guests occasionally report eerie feelings, unexplained noises, and fleeting apparitions, particularly during misty nights or near historic structures within the park.
Old Talbott Tavern
107 W Stephen Foster Ave, Bardstown, KY 40004, USA
Claiming to be one of America's oldest taverns still in operation, the Old Talbott Tavern has sheltered countless individuals, some of whom may have never left. Famous figures like Jesse James are rumored to be among the spectral guests; some stories suggest bullet holes in the wall are from his stay. The most commonly reported apparition is that of a 'Lady in White,' believed to be a former resident or guest who met an untimely end. Guests have reported seeing her figure, objects moving on their own, lights flickering, and hearing phantom footsteps and eerie sounds, particularly in the older rooms.
The Campbell House Lexington, Curio Collection by Hilton
1375 S Broadway, Lexington, KY 40504, USA
The Campbell House, while elegant, is rumored to house spirits connected to tragic events from its past. One story involves two women who allegedly died violently on the property decades ago; one stabbed on the stairs and another shot on the third floor. Guests and staff have reported encountering unexplained phenomena, particularly near the main staircase and on the third floor, such as seeing bloodstains appear and disappear on the carpet, doors opening and closing by themselves, and feeling sudden temperature drops or uneasy presences.
The Seelbach Hilton Louisville
500 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
The Seelbach Hilton, dating back to 1905 and famously mentioned in 'The Great Gatsby,' is considered one of Kentucky's most haunted hotels. The primary spirit is known as 'The Blue Lady,' identified as Patricia Wilson. According to legend, in 1936, despondent over her husband's death, she tragically jumped down an elevator shaft, falling ten floors to her death. Guests frequently report sightings of a sad brunette woman in a blue dress throughout the hotel. Beyond 'The Blue Lady,' hotel staff and guests have also reported other apparitions, disembodied footsteps, and mysterious smells of perfume, suggesting multiple paranormal entities reside within.
Ramada by Wyndham Paintsville Hotel & Conference Center
624 James S Trimble Blvd, Paintsville, KY 41240, USA
Formerly known as the Paintsville Ramada Inn, this hotel has local legends surrounding tragic events, primarily a murder-suicide said to have occurred in one of the rooms. Guests have reported disturbances consistent with trapped spirits: lights turning on and off, TVs changing channels, doors locking/unlocking on their own, and unexplained noises. Some claim to feel extreme sadness or unease in certain areas, potentially linked to the tragic event. The spirit of a woman searching for her partner is sometimes mentioned in local lore.
Haunted History of Kentucky
Kentucky's haunted history is as rich and complex as its bourbon. As a border state during the Civil War, its soil is soaked in the blood of a nation divided, leaving behind a legion of restless soldiers who are still seen marching across its hallowed battlefields. The state's rugged Appalachian mountains hold ancient folklore and tales of "haints" passed down through generations, while the dark, winding passages of Mammoth Cave whisper stories of those who sought a cure for consumption and found only a tomb.
But no tale looms larger in Kentucky's paranormal landscape than that of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium, a place so steeped in death and suffering it is considered one of the most haunted locations on Earth. From the ghostly echoes of the Civil War to the tortured spirits of former asylum patients and the lingering souls of bourbon barons, the Bluegrass State is a place where the past is never far away, and the spirits are always stirring.
Other Haunted Attractions in Kentucky
- Waverly Hills Sanatorium: This former tuberculosis hospital in Louisville is a paranormal mecca. An estimated 63,000 people died here, and their spirits have never left. On a tour with the Waverly Hills Historical Society, you might encounter the ghost of a little boy named Timmy rolling his ball, see shadow people darting down the infamous "body chute," or feel the sorrow of the nurse who haunts room 502.
- Bobby Mackey's Music World: Billed as the "most haunted nightclub in America," this honky-tonk in Wilder is built on the site of a 19th-century slaughterhouse and is rumored to contain a portal to Hell in its basement. Bobby Mackey's is said to be haunted by numerous spirits, including the ghost of a murdered dancer named Pearl Bryan and a host of demonic entities.
- Mammoth Cave National Park: This vast, subterranean world is not just a natural wonder; it's a haunted one. In the 1800s, tuberculosis patients lived in the cave in a desperate attempt to find a cure. Their ghostly coughs are still heard in the darkness, and the spirit of Stephen Bishop, a famous slave guide, is said to still lead tours from beyond the grave. You can book a tour at the Mammoth Cave National Park website.
- Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site: The site of Kentucky's most brutal Civil War battle, where thousands of soldiers were killed or wounded. Visitors to the Perryville Battlefield report seeing full-bodied apparitions of soldiers, hearing phantom cannon fire and screams, and smelling gunpowder on the now-peaceful fields.
- Sleepy Hollow Road: Just outside Louisville, this winding, wooded road is the stuff of local legend. Drivers at night have reported being followed by a mysterious black hearse that vanishes, seeing strange cult-like figures, and hearing the disembodied cries of an infant, making it one of Kentucky's spookiest drives.
Travel Tips for Haunted Hotel Stays in Kentucky
- Book Waverly Hills in Advance: Tours and overnight investigations at Waverly Hills Sanatorium are internationally famous and sell out a year or more in advance. If you want to visit this iconic location, planning is essential.
- Explore the Bourbon Trail: Mix your spirits with, well, spirits! Many of the historic distilleries and charming towns along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, like Bardstown, are filled with their own ghost stories.
- Visit a Battlefield: To truly connect with Kentucky's past, walk the grounds of a Civil War site like Perryville. The weight of history and the sorrow of the land is a palpable and chilling experience.
- Be Respectful of Hallowed Ground: Many of Kentucky's most haunted places are battlefields or former hospitals where immense tragedy occurred. Approach these locations with the respect and solemnity they deserve.
FAQ about Haunted Hotels in Kentucky
Are haunted hotels in Kentucky safe to stay in? Absolutely. All hotels, from grand historic properties in Louisville to charming inns in Bardstown, must comply with all modern safety regulations. The ghosts are just part of the five-star service!
What is the most haunted hotel in Kentucky? Kentucky has several famous contenders, including Louisville's magnificent Seelbach Hilton and the many historic taverns-turned-inns in the heart of bourbon country. Browse our listings to see which establishment's spirited reputation intrigues you the most.
Do haunted hotels in Kentucky offer ghost tours? Many of them do. A hotel's haunted history is often a badge of honor and a major attraction for guests. The state also has a thriving ghost tour industry in its major cities and historic towns.
Can kids stay in haunted hotels? Most hotels are family-friendly. However, parents should be aware that the stories behind Kentucky's most famous hauntings, especially those related to Waverly Hills Sanatorium, are extremely intense and not appropriate for children.
What time of year is best for haunted hotel stays in Kentucky? Fall is the definitive season for a spooky trip to Kentucky. The crisp weather is perfect for ghost tours, the changing leaves create a beautiful and eerie backdrop, and the Halloween season brings special events to many haunted locations.