The Paris Catacombs, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, and The Ridges Asylum… are places that only the bravest dare to visit.
10. The Haunted “Riddle House”
Riddle House, located in Palm Beach County, Florida, originally served as a funeral home. The house was later dismantled and rebuilt in Yesteryear Village, South Florida. In the 1920s, it became the residence of Karl Riddle. It is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of Joseph, a former employee who committed suicide by hanging himself in the attic. Joseph’s spirit is believed to have a particular hatred for men, often attacking those who venture into the attic. Currently, men are not allowed to ascend to the attic. Aside from the haunted area, other parts of the house are also said to be filled with paranormal activity, with furniture frequently being moved.
9. Helltown
Helltown, located in Boston, Ohio, is an eerie ghost town known for its strange name. In the 1970s, the government bought out the town and evacuated its residents. The homes here were slated for demolition, with the land earmarked for a national park, but the plans never materialized. Since then, mysterious tales have begun to emerge. Whether based on true stories or the rich imaginations of locals, the creepy legends of Helltown continue to frighten those who pass through the area. At the end of Stanford Road in Helltown lies a dead-end dubbed “The End of the World.” According to superstitious beliefs, anyone trapped there for too long may encounter wandering spirits in the woods. If lost, you might stumble upon Boston Cemetery, a site haunted by numerous ghosts, madmen, mutants, or even ghostly trees…
8. Stull Cemetery
Stull was once a small, mysterious town in Douglas County, Kansas, with a population of about 20. However, behind the town’s quaint facade lie chilling and mystical stories. Stull is considered one of the most haunted cemeteries in the world, with some claiming it is one of the seven gateways to Hell. In the early 20th century, two tragedies rocked this small community. The first involved a father who burned down his farm, later discovering the charred remains of his son. The second tragedy was the disappearance of a man who was later found hanging from a tree. The area is heavily patrolled by police to prevent curious onlookers from sneaking in, especially during Halloween.
7. The Ridges Asylum
Originally known as Athens Lunatic Asylum, The Ridges was renamed after the state of Ohio reclaimed the land. The asylum operated from 1874 until 1993. According to the British Psychological Society, Athens is considered one of the 13 most haunted places in the world. The nearby Ohio University (which now owns most of the former Ridges property) is also reputed to be heavily haunted. Notorious rapist Billy Milligan was incarcerated here for many years. One of the most famous stories involves a 54-year-old female patient who escaped and went missing for six weeks. She was eventually found dead in an abandoned cell, stripped of her clothes, which were neatly folded and placed on the cold concrete floor where she died. The combination of decomposition and exposure to light has left stains on the floor that remain visible to this day, while the woman’s ghost is said to haunt the room.
6. Humberstone and LaNoria
These are two abandoned mining towns in Chile, founded in 1872 but existing only until 1960. They are considered among the most haunted locations in Chile. Locals claim that corpses often rise from the LaNoria cemetery, wandering around the town and causing frightful scenes. Additionally, some have captured terrifying images of mysterious creatures in Humberstone. Most locals living nearby are too afraid to approach the area.
5. Byberry Mental Hospital
Byberry Hospital was established in 1907. At its peak in 1960, the patient population soared to 6,000. It housed various types of mentally ill patients, including those with criminal backgrounds. The hospital closed in 1990, becoming a source of horror for the surrounding community. The fear here does not stem from ghost stories or terrifying figures but from the horrific realities that occurred within the asylum. At Byberry, human waste was piled in the hallways where patients slept. Staff frequently abused and beat patients. Individuals in the hospital even had teeth extracted without anesthesia, and one female patient was murdered and dismembered. Furthermore, as the hospital was closing, the bodies of two patients were found dead in the Delaware River, two days after they had been discharged.
4. Leap Castle
This castle in Ireland is perhaps the most famous location on the list and is filled with gruesome tales. It was built by the O’Bannon family in the late 15th century but later came under the control of the O’Carroll family. Following the death of Lord Mulrooney O’Carroll, the family engaged in bloody power struggles, turning Leap Castle into a site for prisoner confinement and murder. The castle is rumored to be haunted by many spirits, including a hunchbacked monster known as the Elemental. According to tales, this creature is easily recognizable due to its foul odor of decay and sulfur. During renovations, workers discovered a dungeon where prisoners were executed and starved to death. Additionally, they found three skeletons whose remains had been impaled.
3. Shades of Death Road
This road is located in Warren County, New Jersey, USA, and spans approximately 11 kilometers. It winds through dense woods, connecting the towns of Liberty and Independence. This road is said to be the site of numerous horrific incidents witnessed by both locals and travelers. Residents recount stories of robberies, murders, and bloody violence occurring here. Alongside the road is a lake known as the Lake of the Ghost, where many mysterious accidents have taken place. Locals believe that spirits hide in the trees lining the road, ready to attack those who stray off the path. Terrifyingly, missing persons leave no trace behind.
2. Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
According to Wiki, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a museum dedicated to the crimes of the Khmer Rouge during their rule from 1975 to 1979. This site was once a high school before it was transformed into a concentration camp by the Khmer Rouge regime. In 1975, the school was converted into a prison known as Security Prison S21. During the four years of Khmer Rouge rule, approximately 17,000 people (some sources suggest this number is as high as 20,000) were imprisoned here, primarily former members or soldiers of the Khmer Rouge who were accused of treason. The school was renovated with the addition of electric fences, reinforced rooms converted into cells, interrogation rooms, and torture chambers. Thousands of people were tortured here, with only a few prisoners surviving what was often referred to as “a nightmare” for the Cambodian people. The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum currently displays images of the victims and documentation of the Khmer Rouge’s atrocities, which leave viewers horrified.
1. Paris Catacombs
The Paris Catacombs are an underground ossuary in the city of Paris and originally consisted of old quarries stretching 1.7 kilometers. At the end of the 18th century, the Innocents Cemetery located in the Les Halles district had existed for nearly six centuries and caused significant sanitation issues. Following numerous complaints from the public, on November 9, 1785, the National Council declared that this cemetery would be closed. Other cemeteries in Paris had also become overcrowded over the centuries due to wars, epidemics, and more. The old stone quarry located on the outskirts of Paris was chosen as the new burial site for the remains from the cemetery. After renovations, the transfer of bones to the new location began on April 7, 1786. According to the ritual, this transfer was conducted at night with the participation of monks praying for the deceased. By 1788, the work was completed. Subsequently, in 1814, this site received remains from other cemeteries in Paris. After several months of closure for repairs, the Paris Catacombs reopened on June 14, 2005. To this day, the catacombs continue to evoke chills among many due to their treacherous terrain, difficult pathways, and are said to be haunted by wandering spirits.
