Haunted Hotels in South Carolina
Discover the most haunted hotels in South Carolina you can actually stay in with real ghost stories and paranormal activity
Cities in South Carolina with haunted hotels
13 Haunted Hotels to Stay in South Carolina
Mansfield Plantation Bed & Breakfast
1776 Mansfield Rd, Georgetown, SC 29440
Mansfield Plantation, with its history dating back to the 1700s, carries stories of spirits tied to its past, including former owners, inhabitants, and enslaved individuals. Guests and staff have reported various phenomena: sightings of figures in period clothing, particularly near the main house and slave cabins; unexplained sounds like voices, whispers, or children playing; and eerie feelings in certain areas, such as the avenue of oaks or specific rooms. The weight of history feels palpable to many visitors, suggesting unresolved stories linger.
The Inn at Merridun
100 Merridun Pl, Union, SC 29379
The Inn at Merridun is believed to harbor spirits from its long past, potentially dating back to its construction in 1855. Reports include sightings of apparitions, sometimes identified as former owners or residents. Common occurrences are unexplained noises like footsteps in empty hallways, voices, and music from unknown sources. Specific areas like certain bedrooms and common areas are noted for higher activity, possibly linked to personal stories and historical events within the house during periods like the Civil War.
Annie's Inn Bed & Breakfast
1703 Richland Ave E, Aiken, SC 29801
Annie's Inn is believed to be haunted by several spirits. One prominent story involves the ghost of a former resident, possibly Annie herself or a relative, who is protective of the house. Guests have reported hearing unexplained footsteps, disembodied voices, and doors opening or closing on their own. Some accounts mention seeing apparitions, particularly that of a woman in period clothing, in hallways or individual rooms. There are also tales linked to its history possibly involving hidden rooms or past tragedies contributing to the lingering spiritual energy.
Barksdale House Inn
27 George Street, Charleston, SC 29401
Built in 1778, the Barksdale House Inn is home to several reported spiritual residents. One commonly reported entity is an older man, estimated to be in his 60s, who has been seen by guests walking across their rooms only to vanish into a closet. Other, more varied accounts include encounters with a potentially menacing limbless male torso. In contrast, a "Gentleman Ghost" is said to frequent Room 10, known for playfully getting close to sleeping guests. Additionally, the playful spirit of a young girl has been reported near the inn's fountain and within rooms.
The Pelican Inn
500 S Ocean Blvd, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
The Pelican Inn carries legends, most notably that of 'The Gray Man,' a famous Pawleys Island ghost. Legend says he appears as a warning before hurricanes, urging residents to leave. While associated more broadly with the island, sightings have been linked to the areas around historic structures like the Pelican Inn. Another tale involves 'Sue,' possibly a former servant or guest, who is said to wander the inn, tidying up or making gentle appearances, usually perceived as non-threatening.
20 South Battery
20 S Battery St, Charleston, SC 29401
Previously known as the Battery Carriage House Inn, 20 South Battery is renowned for its ghostly inhabitants. Room 8 is reportedly haunted by a headless male torso, described as menacing. Room 10 hosts the 'Gentleman Ghost,' considered more benign, known to lay beside guests or interact playfully. Other phenomena include disembodied voices, feelings of being watched, and items moving. The intense history, including Civil War associations and possible use as a hospital/morgue, contributes to these legends.
The Belmont Inn
104 E Pickens St, Abbeville, SC 29620
Built in 1903, The Belmont Inn is said to have at least two well-known ghosts. One is believed to be 'Abraham,' possibly a former manager or worker, often sensed or seen in the lobby or dining area. Another spirit is 'Anna,' described as more interactive, sometimes heard singing or felt as a presence in specific rooms, particularly those on the second floor. Activity includes doors opening/closing, lights flickering, and faint music.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Historic District
337 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403
This hotel is housed in the original buildings of The Citadel Military College. Paranormal reports often relate to its past as a military academy and potentially a hospital during wartime. Guests and staff report sightings of figures dressed in cadet uniforms, particularly on the upper floors. Disembodied voices, marching sounds, and unexplained footsteps are common. One distinct entity is described as a soldier missing part of his head, contributing to its reputation as one of Charleston's actively haunted locations.
Francis Marion Hotel
387 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States
The legend of the Francis Marion Hotel is a classic tale of tragic romance, and its details have remained remarkably consistent as the story has been passed down through the decades. It centers on a young man from New York named Ned Cohen, who visited Charleston in the 1920s or 1930s. He had previously met and fallen deeply in love with a Charleston "Southern belle" and traveled to the city, ostensibly on business for a shoe company, to reunite with her. They spent a blissful, romantic weekend together at the Francis Marion, the city's grandest hotel, a perfect setting for their love story. The idyllic romance shattered in an instant. After their weekend together, Ned awoke one morning to find his beloved gone. In her place on the pillow was a note that delivered a devastating blow: “I’m sorry. My family will never understand us. Good-Bye”. Utterly desolate and with his heart broken, Ned walked to the window of his tenth-floor room. Overcome with grief, he jumped, ending his life on King Street far below. The specific location of this tragedy has been identified in the hotel's lore as Room 1010, marking it as the epicenter of the haunting. Since that day, guests and staff have reported strange and unsettling occurrences, primarily concentrated on the tenth floor. Ned Cohen's spirit is said to remain, forever wandering the halls where he experienced his last moments of happiness and his deepest despair. His presence is felt in various ways. Some have seen the spectral figure of a young man, sometimes described as wearing a dinner or smoking jacket, staring vacantly down the hallway. More common are the physical manifestations of his sorrow. Guests in his former room report windows rattling and then mysteriously sliding open, letting in a sudden, chilling breeze even on the calmest of nights. Drapes are said to sway as if touched by unseen hands, and some have reported the faint sound of a man sobbing. Others feel nothing tangible but are overcome by a profound and inexplicable wave of "immense sadness" that seems to emanate from the very walls.
Meeting Street Inn
173 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29401
The Meeting Street Inn's haunted history is tied to its original structure built by Adolph Tiefenthal in the 1870s. Rooms 303 and 107, part of the original family residence, are focal points. Room 303 is allegedly haunted by Adolph Tiefenthal himself, who sometimes locks the door from the inside with considerable force, resisting entry. Room 107 is said to house a female spirit, possibly Adolph's wife, who appears as an apparition. Further paranormal activity includes sightings of Civil War-era Confederate soldiers rushing through halls as if still fighting a past fire. Guests and staff have also reported encountering a ghostly young boy playing, shadowy figures, mysterious noises, and an unsettling feeling of being watched, particularly noted in rooms 105 and 307 as well. One story tells of a housekeeper encountering a solid-looking elderly woman ghost in Room 105.
The Mills House Charleston
115 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA
The paranormal legacy of the Mills House is forged in fire and war, rooted in the Great Fire of 1861. As the catastrophic fire consumed Charleston, Confederate General Robert E. Lee was a guest, watching the inferno from the hotel's roof while staff valiantly fought the flames with wet blankets, saving the building. This traumatic event is believed to be the source of the hotel's most enduring haunting: the apparitions of Confederate soldiers. For decades, guests and employees have reported seeing these spectral figures frantically running through the corridors, hearing disembodied shouts for water as they seem locked in an eternal mission to extinguish the blaze. This haunting is complicated by a profound historical paradox. The ghosts of 1861 are haunting a building that didn't exist during their lifetime; the original 1853 hotel was demolished in 1968 and replaced by a faithful replica in 1970. Paranormal researchers suggest the haunting is tied not to the building but to the land itself, or perhaps to the original ironwork balcony which was salvaged and reinstalled on the new structure, acting as a 'trigger object' for the residual energy. These frantic soldiers are not the only spirits said to occupy the Mills House. In stark contrast to their panic, guests have also witnessed the serene, sorrowful apparition of a woman in a 19th-century dress quietly holding a baby. A far more terrifying account involves the specter of a young boy who, when approached, allegedly burst into flames before vanishing completely, his origins and connection to the hotel remaining a dark mystery.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Greenville Golf Resort & Conference Center
670 Verdae Blvd, Greenville, SC 29607
Though a relatively modern building compared to historic inns, this Embassy Suites location has garnered reports of paranormal activity. Some staff and guests claim anomalous occurrences such as lights flickering or turning on/off independently, strange noises, and feelings of unease in certain areas. One specific claim suggests activity stems from the land's prior use or disturbances during construction, leading to unsettling experiences like disembodied voices or unexplained cold spots within the facility.
Walnut Lane Inn
110 Ridge Road, Lyman, SC 29365
The innkeeper and stories suggest Walnut Lane Inn hosts two or possibly three ghosts. One is described as a shapeless male presence favoring the kitchen area. A second spirit appears as a woman in dark skirts, often seen on the stairs and suspected of moving pictures and lampshades. A third manifestation is an unseen presence outside, indicated only by dogs barking at seemingly nothing.
Haunted History of South Carolina
South Carolina's haunted history is as thick as the humid Lowcountry air. As one of the original colonies, its past is a complex and often tragic story of immense wealth, brutal wars, and deep-rooted folklore. The historic port of Charleston stands as the state's paranormal epicenter, a city where the ghosts of pirates, Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers, and the sorrowful spirits from its past as a center of the slave trade still wander the cobblestone streets. The first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter, and the spiritual reverberations of that conflict are still felt across the state.
Beyond the cities, the state's haunted lore is deeply influenced by the Gullah Geechee culture of the coastal plains, with its rich traditions and tales of "haints," boo hags, and plat-eyes. From the benevolent spirit of the Gray Man on Pawleys Island, who warns of hurricanes, to the restless souls of soldiers on the battlefields of the Upstate, South Carolina is a place where history is not just read about in books—it's a living, breathing, and often spectral presence.
Other Haunted Attractions in South Carolina
- The Old City Jail (Charleston): One of America's most terrifyingly active haunts, this formidable building housed thousands of inmates from 1802 to 1939, including pirates and Civil War prisoners. The ghost of Lavinia Fisher, often called America's first female serial killer, is said to be its most famous resident. The immense suffering that occurred here makes it a must-visit for serious paranormal investigators on a tour with a group like Bulldog Tours.
- Pawleys Island and The Gray Man: This coastal island is home to one of America's most famous and benevolent ghosts. The Gray Man is a spectral figure who appears on the beach just before a major hurricane, warning residents to evacuate. Those who heed his warning are said to find their homes mysteriously spared from the storm's wrath. You can learn more about the area at the Town of Pawleys Island website.
- USS Yorktown (Mount Pleasant): Moored at Patriots Point, this legendary WWII aircraft carrier, "The Fighting Lady," is known for its paranormal activity. The spirits of sailors who died in service are said to still perform their duties, with visitors and staff on the USS Yorktown reporting hearing phantom footsteps, seeing full-bodied apparitions in the engine room and sick bay, and doors slamming on their own.
- Poinsett Bridge: Built in 1820, this beautiful stone bridge in Greenville County is one of the oldest in the state and is shrouded in ghostly legends. Visitors to the remote Poinsett Bridge Heritage Preserve have reported hearing disembodied screams, seeing phantom lights, and encountering the spirit of a mason who was supposedly entombed within the bridge during its construction.
- Oakwood Cemetery (Spartanburg): Known locally as "Hell's Gate," this historic cemetery has a reputation for being intensely haunted. Paranormal investigators and curious visitors report hearing the ghostly laughter of children, seeing strange lights float among the tombstones, and capturing numerous EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) in the dead of night.
Travel Tips for Haunted Hotel Stays in South Carolina
- Explore the Lowcountry: Immerse yourself in the unique Gullah Geechee culture and its rich spiritual folklore. A trip through the coastal sea islands offers a different kind of ghost story, one that is deeply tied to the land and its people.
- Respect the History: South Carolina's past is complex and often painful. When visiting plantations, battlefields, or sites related to slavery, approach them with the reverence and respect they deserve.
- Prepare for the Heat: The Palmetto State is known for its hot and humid summers. Plan your outdoor explorations, like visiting cemeteries or battlefields, for the cooler morning or evening hours, and always bring water and bug spray.
- Combine History with the Coast: Plan a trip that includes the historic haunts of Charleston before heading up the coast to the Grand Strand and Pawleys Island to experience the state's unique coastal folklore.
FAQ about Haunted Hotels in South Carolina
Are haunted hotels in South Carolina safe to stay in? Absolutely! Southern hospitality is a point of pride. All hotels, no matter their age or ghostly reputation, must adhere to strict safety standards for their guests.
What is the most haunted hotel in South Carolina? The historic inns and grand hotels of Charleston are by far the most famous, with centuries of ghost stories to their names. However, charming and spooky bed and breakfasts can be found all over the state. Browse our listings to find your perfect haunt.
Do haunted hotels in South Carolina offer ghost tours? Many do, especially in a tourist hub like Charleston where the paranormal is a major draw. Historic hotels are almost always a key stop on the many excellent ghost tours offered throughout the state's oldest cities.
Can kids stay in haunted hotels? Most hotels are family-friendly. However, parents should be aware that the history behind many of South Carolina's hauntings involves mature and often dark themes like war, slavery, and piracy that may not be suitable for all children.
What time of year is best for haunted hotel stays in South Carolina? The fall season is ideal. The oppressive summer heat and humidity give way to pleasant, cooler weather that's perfect for walking tours. The spooky atmosphere of October makes it a particularly popular time to visit.
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