Niagara Falls isn't just one of North America's most popular tourist destinations; it's easily one of the most haunted places in the country. Thanks to its rich (and sometime violent) history, there are plenty of haunted places for ghost geeks to explore, and we've named the best ones in this Ultimate Ghost Guide to Niagara Falls!
The legends that surround the infamously haunted Red Coach Inn revolve around a husband and his newly-wedded bride. In December of 1927, the couple checked into a suite, where later that night the husband bludgeoned his new wife to death in the bed. So much for wedded bliss.
Over the years guests have experienced a ton of unexplainable paranormal activity that range anywhere from temperature changes to doors opening and closing on their own. Some even report hearing the disembodied voice of a woman screaming in the dead of night.
Tip: If you're hoping to have a paranormal experience, it might be a good idea to book the Victoria Suite, where the murder allegedly occurred.
Over the years, many people have tried to make it safely over the falls in barrels, boats, and even a metal submarine, but most of them don't fare so well. Over 5,000 people have died attempting to go over the falls and come out alive, and many of them are said to still haunt Niagara Falls State Park today.
Tip: Keep your eyes open for the "Hat Man", who is often spotted wearing a tall hat and missing a leg from the knee down. He often disappears into thin are when anyone asks him if he's okay.
Once the site of the bloodiest battle of the War Of 1812 in Niagara Falls, Drummond Hill Cemetery has since become one of the most active haunted hotspots a paranormal investigator could ask for. Many of the homes around the cemetery are said to be haunted by the spirits of soldiers who died during the battle, and during crisp evenings, visitors swear that they've seen their ghostly presences wandering the cemetery.
Tip: The memorial and the rear section are consistently reported to be the most active areas of the cemetery.
The food is so good that even the ghosts won't leave! According to the rumors, Legends Bar and Grill is frequented by a ghost named "Jack" who is often spotted wearing a long black jacket and wandering the restaurant's main floor after hours.
Tip: Come for the ghosts but stay for the famous fried pickles!
Legend says that The Screaming Tunnel is haunted by a girl who managed to escape a nearby barn fire, but was burned so badly that she later died inside the tunnel. Another version of the story says the girl was set on fire by her evil father, and still another version has her body being burned inside the tunnel to hide a murder. Regardless of which version you want to believe, this place is downright creepy.
Locals say that if you make your way to the middle of the Screaming Tunnel at night and strike a match, you'll hear the shrill sounds of the young girl screaming from beyond the grave.
Said to be haunted by the spirt of a young girl, many visitors to Historic Holy Trinity report experiencing the disembodied sounds of a female voice singing sweetly in the halls. Others report the overpowering smell of perfume and fresh-cut flowers that seems to follow you around for hours, regardless of which area you're visiting. A ghost known as the "girl in white" will often touch visitors on the arms, or they will experience the feeling of having phantom fingers running through their hair.
Tip: Holy Trinity is an active school, so you'll have to sign in and explain your ghost hunting equipment before you're allowed to explore.
The Echo Club has been around for over a century, and is said to be haunted by a handful of active spirits, some of which are believed to be downright evil in nature. The Club is so haunted that it's even been featured on SyFy Channel's hit reality series "Ghost Hunters."
The evil entity that haunts the community club loves to smash cutlery and violently push furniture around rooms. He's even been heard letting loose with a blood-curdling scream.
Another famous ghost said to haunt the Echo Club is an unnamed little girl in a bright white dress; she's often seen by guests hiding in the washroom.
Over the years many people have reported having strange run-ins with otherworldy visitors at Oakwood Cemetery. These spirits seem to disappear into thin air when acknowledged. The beautiful cemetery has a reputation for being a bit of a spirit magnet, especially the rear area, which is said to be the most active.
Tip: Oakwood Cemetery is so cool with their paranormal reputation they even have a section on their website dedicated to strange photos that have been captured at the graveyard over the years.
A warning to anyone brave enough to enter the cave at Devil's Hole State Park: you might leave cursed. In 1763, 80 British soldiers were found floating in the Niagara River after being attacked by 500 Seneca Indians. The incident became known as the Devil's Hole Massacre.
The violence, it seems, drew the attention of an evil spirit who now lives inside the cave, cursing anyone who is brave (or foolish) enough to make their way up the craggy stone staircase into the dark tunnel.
Tip: It's quite a tricky climb into the cave, so wear good boots and be very careful if you decide to make the journey... and good luck with that whole curse thing.
There are two ghosts said to haunt the Niagara University Library: a woman who has been spotted roaming the aisles late into the night, and a young man, who makes it his job to pull books off the shelves and disrupt the chairs when no one is around.
The legend of the spirit that haunts the Rapids Theatre dates back to the 1920s, when an actress committed suicide in the building. To this day she's heard crying and sometimes singing in the wings of the theater, and some visitors have even reported the sound of her shoes on the hardwood followed by the opening and closing of doors as she passes from one room to another.
Niagara Falls is a ghost magnet... there's no doubt about that. If you're looking to get your paranormal fix in one of America's most popular tourist destinations, look no further then our ultimate guide to getting spooky in the Falls! Happy hunting!
Planet Weird
Seeking the strange and the unexplained all over North America and beyond. Buckle up as Planet Weird takes you on the country's spookiest paranormal adventures.