6 Real Haunted Houses with Dark Histories

In this episode of Unscripted Company, we dive headfirst into spooky season by exploring six real-life haunted houses that’ll give you chills from coast to coast.

Oct 08, 2024

Get ready for ghost stories with a side of history as we dive into six of America’s creepiest haunted houses, from the notorious Amityville Horror House to the bizarre and endless Winchester Mystery House.
Expect everything from cursed land deals and sadistic socialites to staircases that lead nowhere—plus ghostly sightings, eerie cold spots, and spirits that just won’t quit.
Could you survive a night in one of these haunted houses for $150K? Riley and JK weigh in, but we want to hear from you—are you brave enough to take the challenge?

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6 Real Haunted Houses with Dark Histories

In this week's episode of Unscripted Company, we’re diving into the world of haunted houses—real ones. Not your average creaky floorboard, flickering light type either. We’re talking homes with dark histories, spine-chilling stories, and ghosts that might just give you a little nudge in the night. From the infamous Amityville Horror House to the endlessly eerie Winchester Mystery House, we’ve got a lineup that’ll make you double-check your locks before bed. Let's get spooky.

1. The Amityville Horror House – Where Horror Movies Meet Real Life

If you’ve heard of Amityville, you know this one. The Lutz family’s brief 28-day stay in this unassuming house at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY, inspired books, movies, and about a million nightmares. But before the horror franchise took over, there was a real-life murder—six of them, in fact.

Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot his entire family in their sleep in 1974, claiming voices in his head made him do it. A year later, the Lutz family moved in, hoping for a fresh start, but got more than they bargained for. Paranormal claims? Oh, just the usual: doors flying open, green slime oozing from the walls, levitating beds, and the occasional “I swear I just saw a red-eyed pig staring through the window” situation.

But here’s the kicker—after the Lutz family bolted, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (yes, those Warrens from The Conjuring) came to check it out. They reported dark, demonic vibes, further cementing Amityville as one of the most haunted homes in the U.S.

Would you live here? Riley’s hard pass is pretty clear, but for JK, haunted houses on discount might be a deal he’d consider (and then turn it into a tourist trap).

2. The LaLaurie Mansion – Where Horror Gets Historical in NOLA

If you're thinking New Orleans is all jazz and beignets, think again. The LaLaurie Mansion is one of the city’s darkest secrets, and Madame Delphine LaLaurie? Yeah, she wasn’t your average French Quarter socialite. She tortured enslaved people in her attic in ways that would make even the toughest ghost hunters shudder.

The brutal truth came to light after a fire in 1834, when locals discovered mutilated, chained bodies—some even subjected to medical “experiments.” When her grim secrets were revealed, LaLaurie fled to France, leaving behind a house with an unbearable amount of bad energy.

Nicolas Cage—yes, that Nic Cage—once owned the house (because of course he did). But even the Ghost Rider couldn’t hold onto it for long. Today, the house is rumored to still be haunted, with disembodied screams, phantom footsteps, and shadowy figures adding to its cursed charm. Riley’s all for grabbing a drink at the bar (if it ever reopens), but JK’s more into the history than the ghosts.

3.The Joshua Ward House – Witch Trials and The Strangler in Salem, MA

Salem, Massachusetts. Say no more, right? The Joshua Ward House is a brick colonial building with connections to the infamous Salem witch trials. But it’s not the witches that haunt this place—it’s Sheriff George Corwin, aka “The Strangler.”

This guy earned his nickname by torturing accused witches, and legend has it he still roams the halls. Some say he was even buried on the property, which might explain the strange things people have seen—shadowy figures, ghostly women, and creepy cold spots that feel like someone’s watching you.

There’s even a spooky photo that went viral, showing a ghostly “Lady in Black” with wild dark hair. Riley’s fascinated by the chilling details, while JK’s more into learning about this haunted spot he had never heard of. Salem never disappoints in the eerie department, that’s for sure.

4. The Bell Witch Farm – Cursed Land in Tennessee

This one’s got history and a cave, folks. The Bell Witch legend comes from Adams, Tennessee, where the Bell family was haunted by a spirit named Kate. According to the legend, Kate had a personal vendetta against John Bell over a land deal and spent years tormenting the family—moving things, making noises, and even poisoning John Bell to his death in 1820.

The haunting didn’t stop there. Even at John Bell’s funeral, witnesses claimed to hear the witch laughing and celebrating his death. Today, the Bell Witch Cave on the property is open for tours, where visitors still report spooky happenings. Some say the witch is trapped in the cave, others say she's just biding her time.

Riley’s ready to dynamite the cave shut, but JK's curious about the legends—and maybe just crazy enough to tour it. Either way, this haunting is deeply ingrained in Southern folklore, and the Bell Witch isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

5. The Hay House – The Palace of the South with a Haunted Twist

Now, if you like your haunted houses with a little Southern charm, the Hay House in Macon, Georgia, is your spot. Known as “The Palace of the South,” this 18,000-square-foot beauty has been around since the mid-1800s, featuring stunning architecture, marble fireplaces, and even secret rooms.

But don’t let the elegance fool you. Guests and staff have reported some weird stuff—shadowy figures, cold spots, and music playing when no one’s around. There’s also a creepy figure of a woman who’s said to haunt the third-floor bedroom, along with ghostly children running around in period clothing.

Riley’s impressed by the historical significance of the place, but it’s the paranormal activity (and those impeccable marble fireplaces) that have JK intrigued. The Hay House might not have the gruesome history of the others, but it sure does bring its own spooky energy.

6. The Winchester Mystery House – Staircases to Nowhere, and a Whole Lot of Weird

Last but definitely not least, we’ve got the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California. Imagine this: you’ve inherited a boatload of money from your late husband, the founder of the Winchester Rifle Company, and now you’re convinced that the spirits of everyone killed by a Winchester are out to get you.

What do you do? You build a 160-room mansion with staircases that lead to nowhere, doors that open into walls, and windows that look into other rooms. And you keep building. For 38 years.

Sarah Winchester was told by a medium that as long as she kept adding to her house, the spirits wouldn’t harm her. So that’s exactly what she did—until her death in 1922. Today, the house is a bizarre architectural wonder with endless twists, turns, and ghostly apparitions. Workers from the house’s never-ending construction are still said to roam the halls, and Sarah herself has been spotted near her favorite window.

JK's obsessed with the sheer oddity of the place, while Riley's more intrigued by how anyone could live like that. Either way, the Winchester Mystery House stands as one of the weirdest—and creepiest—houses in America.

Would You Spend the Night?

So, here’s the big question: would you spend the night in any of these haunted houses? Let’s sweeten the deal—you’d get $150,000 for one night. No tricks, just you, a minimal lighting setup, and the promise of paranormal activity. Are you taking that cash, or would you nope out before the sun sets? Let us know in the comments!

And don’t forget to tune in next week as we take the spooky season up a notch—this time, we’re diving into some of the creepiest real-life murders. It’s about to get dark.

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