Although you don’t have to wait for All Hallow’s Eve to give yourself a good scare — after everything, genuine crime movies are popular all year long, you can’t deny that autumn is the ideal moment to sit around the campfire (or an ominous candle) and enjoy frightening ghost stories with your pals.
From stories of haunted hotels which you can still go to and haunted houses that are swarming with ghosts and supernatural experiences straight from a horror film, these terrifying ghost stories, some of which are believed to be real, will cause a lot of trouble (pun meant) at your fall party and your children’s sleepover, or even an adult-only wine or the candy corn-themed cocktail party. An online witch name generator can generate character names, witch names, villain names, etc.
“True” ghost stories
The Amityville Haunting
The most famous and well-known ghost stories began on the 13th of November 1974 the day that Ronald J. DeFeo Jr. killed the entire DeFeo family at Amityville, New York. But it wasn’t the murder of six that brought the sleepy Long Island town on the map. It was the hauntings of the home, that began 13 months later after it was purchased through the Lutz family.
The details of the ghostly incident (like many ghost stories) have not been confirmed, however, the Lutz’s stated that over the course of their stay they experienced a variety of strange and unfathomable happenings, i.e. doors fell off of hinges and slime was squirting from walls and ghosts were seen. George Lutz used to wake each day at 3:15 am at the exact time that at which the DeFeo murders were committed. Since the reports of the slaying first came out in the early 1990s, the Amityville house has served as the setting for a variety of documents, books, and even films.
The Conjuring
You’ve probably seen or, at the very minimum, been told about the Conjuring. The 2013 film starring Vera Farmiga, and Patrick Wilson along with Ron Livingston was very well loved, but did have the knowledge that the supernatural thriller was inspired by a real story? Yes, there is a real story behind the Perron family actually existing and residing in the “haunted” home.
What exactly did they do? The Perrons claimed that the Perrons’ Rhode Island residence was the scene of numerous strange happenings. The things moved around at will as well as strange noises and ghosts, too. The Perrons were even subject to some instances of “possession.” While their house was not the scene of mass murder, a number of children were killed in unidentified or suspicious circumstances which have led to their murders being linked (albeit somewhat loosely) to the legendary satanist, Bathsheba Sherman.
The Crying Lady in The Dakota
At the time that The Dakota was built, it was a modern-day marvel. In the words of Curbed New York, the article from the 1885 Real Estate Record and Builder’s Guide described it as “one of the noblest apartment houses of the world.” Since its opening, it has been home to many famous residents, such as Peter Tchaikovsky, Lauren Bacall, Rosemary Clooney, Connie Chung as well as Maury Povich. However, The Dakota made a new name after John Lennon and Yoko Ono relocated to the place in 1973. Why? Because Lennon said he witnessed the “crying lady ghost” roaming the halls. Later, following the time Lennon passed away–right in front of The Dakota–Ono claimed she saw Lennon’s ghost seated at his piano.
The Jersey Devil
Although this isn’t a “ghost” story, the story of the Jersey Devil has withstood the years, and for the right reasons. Stories about this winged monster are frightening. Who or what are that Jersey Devil? As per Weird NJ, the infamous creature that haunts the Pine Barrens is the child of Mother Leeds, a Pines resident who had her 13th daughter in 1735. The time was 1735 and Leeds was unsure of how she would take care of (let even pay for) another child therefore, out of frustration, she lifted her arms “Let this one be a devil!” he exclaimed to heaven. Leeds received her wish. The moment she was born the baby was healthy and developed claws and horns as well as bat-like wings. Legend says that this “devil” then killed his mother before attacking people in the crowd.
Phantom Steamboat on the Tombigbee River
The steamer Eliza Battle was launched in February of 1858. called Eliza Battle set out on an excursion down Alabama’s Tombigbee River. The passengers included 60 people as well as around 1200 bales filled with cotton. When the cotton caught fire on March 1 guests and crew members were swept away by flames and smoke. 33 died at the bottom of (or on) the Tombigbee. There is a legend that says those unfortunate travelers haunt the river to this day. On cold nights, some claim to have seen an image of the Eliza Battle in the misty waters.
The Bell Witch
Like The Conjuring Much like The Conjuring, Bell appears to be the protagonist of two films: An American Haunting and The Blair Witch Project, along with a number of podcasts and even books. What is the story of where the witch originated from? It is believed that the Bell witch first began appearing in the early 1800s, when the Bell family, for who the witch was named, moved to Tennessee.
After they settled in their new residence after which the Bells began to hear strange noises such as chains rattling, dogs barking, and a woman who was whispering about, and she was popularly known by the name of Bell witch. It’s true that no one knows the identity of this woman however, there is a legend that says that she’s a ghostly representation of a former neighbor, Kate Batts. There is also a belief that the witch was involved in the tragic death of John Bell, who died due to poisoning.
The Ghost of Henry Dixon
Tunnelton could be a tiny town that is not incorporated in rural Indiana however, it is a major part of the ghost-hunting community. Why? Because Tunnelton is the home of The Tunnelton Tunnel–a.k.a. The Big Tunnel — where it is believed there are ghosts that still haunt the area in and around the ground. But the most famous tenant can be identified as Henry Dixon, a night watchman whose body was discovered within the tunnel in 1908. Dixon’s murder never was solved, but many have claimed to have seen the watchman out on patrol with his lantern. Locals have also reported being “chased” by Dixon.
The Legend of the Hamburger Man
Although the origins of Hamburger Man are unclear, the motive behind his name is clear. The urban legend states that the half-man, the half-human monster is a smuggler who kidnaps his victims, then drags them into the forest in Sand Hills State Park in Hutchinson, Kansas, and after that, he grinds his victims into hamburgers.
Devil’s Den
It was summer 1863 when a swarm of thousands of soldiers poured into Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and several of them lost their lives. As per How Stuff Works, more than 50,000 soldiers were wounded, dead or missing. reports suggest that some of them remain to haunt the battlefields, especially Devil’s Den: a rocky area where more than 800 people perished. One woman has claimed to have been able to feel a hand grip her ankle on the historical site as well as a number of other people have seen ghosts “appear”, both in the flesh and in photographs.
A Journey Through Hallowed Ground
There are rumors that a variety of spirits are haunting The Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana; however, the most famous ghostly figure is Chloe who, as per the official website of the plantation is the former slave (and lover) of the plantation’s the owner Clark Woodruff. The relationship ended abruptly. Woodruff discovered that she was listening to him and, as a punishment she cut off her ears and Chloe claimed to have retaliated. She poisoned her family and his family. Unfortunately, the people around her were not able to defend her actions. The other slaves understood what she did and executed her. It is believed that Chloe is still on the property to this day.
