Local
A Dive Into The Most Haunted Places in Washington State
With history that dates back hundreds of years, from when the Native Americans occupied the land to the arrival of the first explorers and settlers and even more recently, to when soldiers were stationed here during various wars, Washington state is home to plenty of haunted locations.
What Makes a Place Haunted?
But before we get into our extensive list, let’s cover what makes a place haunted, as our compilations covers locations that range from nature trails to mental hospitals.
First, of course, haunted locations tend to have a history of violent death or torture.
Second, these sites usually have reports of ghost sightings or other paranormal activity.
Finally, there’s just a creepy vibe! You’ll know it when you feel it.
Now, without further ado, let’s get into it.
Let's Take A Haunting Gaze Into These Locations...
Monte Cristo Ghost Town
Founded as a mining town in 1889, Monte Cristo suffered floods and fires and the desperation of being located in the middle of some pretty harsh wilderness. The town was abandoned by 1907 and is said to have a wealth of ghosts of dead miners roaming the streets. Today, you must hike for about 4 miles from the Monte Cristo trailhead to get there.
Escape Hour Gig Harbor
At Escape Hour Gig Harbor, it's not just about the award-winning horror escape experience, "The Cabin: Final Chapter." Beyond the crafted scares, the venue itself holds its own eerie secrets. Early morning video footage has captured images mysteriously flying off walls. Numerous accounts from both customers and staff tell tales of whispered voices, ghostly apparitions, and unsettling sensations. This hotspot of paranormal activity adds an unexpected layer to the escape experience. Some believe the hauntings stem from the unique furniture pieces acquired by the owners, each with its own shadowy history.
Town of Govan
In 1902, a judge and his wife were killed by a man with an axe who was never found. Their ghosts have been reported wandering this abandoned ghost town ever since.
The Whitman Massacre National Historic Site
Armed conflict that lasted 7 years between the US government and the Cayuse people led to a brutal massacre at this location in Walla Walla, and many say they can still hear the screams and the sounds of hooves from 1847.
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Once a fur trading post, it seems some visitors have never left, since the 19th century! Phones ring when they are unplugged, and doors open and close on their own. One ghost named “Sully” apparently sits and enjoys coffee at the cafe.
Lewis County Historical Museum
You can actually go on ghost tours here in Chehalis to see shadowy figures and items moving by themselves. Ghosts of two men and young girls are often seen wandering the grounds.
Hoh River Trail
Said to have been the site of satanic rituals, with sightings of goat-like men wandering the forest in dark robes, the Hoh River Trail in the Olympic National Park is one of the most haunted in the state.
Iron Goat Trail
The Iron Goat Trail in Leavenworth leads to the Cascade Tunnel where almost 100 people were killed in an avalanche. See more below.
Lime Kiln Trail
Outside of the town of Everett, this trail is known for its satanic rituals, abandoned saw blades, and creepy vibes.
Camp Muir
Mount Rainier National Park is home to this dangerous and haunted trail which legend says is prowled by an unhappy wife who consumes hikers into her “cave like stomach.”
Silver Star Mountain Summit
Hikers are continually reporting a large, shadowy figure roaming this trail near Battle Ground. Maybe it's the notoriously secretive sasquatch?
Kell's Irish Pub
Before it was the popular pub it is today, Kells in Seattle served as the city mortuary. Dead bodies traveled through the same door pub goers walk through today, and many say they still do.
Lighthouse Oceanfront Resort
You can visit this resort in Long Beach to see the guest book, which holds the accounts of all the guests who have had supernatural experiences over the years, like lights turning on and off and rocking chairs moving.
Hotel Andra
Once the upscale Claremont Hotel, this Seattle destination used to house gangsters and rumrunners in the 1920s. Today, guests hear glasses breaking and voices shouting with no known source.
Campbell House
This gorgeous house in Spokane has been haunted since a burglar broke in over one hundred years ago, killed three of the owner’s children, and kidnapped the fourth. The spirits of these children remain, and nearly every guest says they can feel it.
Walker Ames House
Full bodied ghosts have been appearing to visitors of this Kitsap Peninsula location for decades. Visitors can even take tours to see where former guests resided. Be careful. Some have reported being grabbed in the basement.
Hotel De Haro
Located in Friday Harbor, this hotel now more than 120 years old is home to a ghost by the name of Ada, mistress of the owner, who roams the halls and creates mischief.
Tokeland Hotel
As legend has it, a Chinese immigrant from the early 1900s has roamed the halls of this hotel since he choked to death while camped out behind the fireplace.
Meeker Mansion
Puget Sound founders Eliza and Ezra Meeker are said to still be frequenting the home they build over one hundred years ago, leaving traces of perfume and whispering in the dark.
Rucker Mansion
Founders of the town of Everett, the Rucker family moved out of their gorgeous home and almost immediately people began reporting paranormal activity that includes the piano playing itself in the middle of the night.
Port Townsend
One of the most notable haunted locations in the country, the entire town of Port Townsend, on the north coast of Washington, just below the Canadian border, is teeming with spirits. Ghost sightings take place regularly, with people reporting them in more than 25 locations.
Cascade Tunnel
Located in Leavenworth, this tunnel was the site of a horrific avalanche that swept two trains off the tracks and collapsed the tunnel, killing 96 people. It is said their ghosts are still there today.
Georgetown Castle
If you’re already hanging out in the Georgetown neighborhood in Seattle for the breweries and eclectic art scene, you should wander up to Georgetown Castle to catch a bit of a fright. The castle was owned by Peter Gessner, and it is said that he, his employees, and his niece all died under mysterious circumstances and still reside there today. Watch the windows.
Starvation Heights Sanitarium
Dr. Linda Hazzard was discovered to have been starving her patients to death here in 1912, and the bodies were incinerated on site to cover it up. The ghosts are said to remain.
Northern State Mental Hospital
In the early 1900s, mental treatment included what we would see as torture today, and up to 2000 people were treated at a time at this location in Sedro-Wooley. The spirits of the departed are said to haunt the halls.
Post Hospital at the Vancouver Barracks
Abandoned since 1990, this hospital once treated dying victims of the Spanish Influenza, and some believe their spirits remain.
Pike Place Market
Yes, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Seattle is teeming with spirits. Princess Angeline, daughter of Chief Seattle, has been seen wandering the streets and stores, as has Arthur Goodwin at the Goodwin Library. Keep your eyes open and your sense of wonder awake as locals have reported many ghost sightings on site.
University Heights
Once a school and now a community theater in Seattle, this building is said to be haunted by the spirit of a little boy who is frequently seen and heard playing in the halls.
Tacoma Old City Hall
Police have been called to this site in Tacoma on numerous occasions since 1974 to investigate various paranormal sightings like lights flickering on and off, noises coming from the empty building, and fire alarms and intruder alarms being triggered.
Mount Baker Theater
The original owner of this theater in Bellingham, in northern Washington, bulldozed her own home in 1927 to make way for it and is said to appear frequently to play practical jokes on employees and guests.
Historic Everett Theater
Just north of Seattle, in Everett, this 120-year-old theater is known for its historic performances. It was not until 1993 when the theater was being renovated that rumors of ghost sightings began, and they have thrived since.
Oxford Saloon
Once a raucous den of iniquity, this saloon in Snohomish, around since 1900, is known for all its regular ghosts, including one who pinches ladies in the restroom!
Black Diamond Cemetery
Visit this burial ground in Black Diamond, and you’ll hear whistling and voices even though no one is in sight. You might even catch a swinging lantern suspended by itself.
Greenwood Cemetery
No ordinary cemetery, Greenwood is among the spookiest, with a long staircase leading up to it that legend says no one can complete because it is so haunted you will turn around before you do. Go ahead, we dare you.
LET THE HAUNT TOUR BEGIN!
In the end, you will need to visit these locations yourself, with a brave heart, and maybe a friend or two, to see what your experience with the paranormal is. After all, it can be an adventure to roam halls once inhabited by criminals, and perhaps still wandered by those left behind.
But it is certainly not an adventure for the faint of heart!
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