Do you believe in ghosts? If so, then you just might think that Rhode Island is the most haunted state in the country. We have some truly terrifying legends of ghosts here. Here are eight of the scariest Rhode Island ghost stories we could find, hands down!

1. The Ghost Children On Tower Hill Road
Google
Tower Hill Road, in Cumberland, is apparently haunted by many ghosts. A little boy rides his tricycle down the shadowy road near dusk, disappearing when your car gets near. A little girl sitting next to the side of the road seems normal, until you realize that she's not alive. A young boy runs down the road with his dog, then veers in front of your car before disappearing into thin air.
2. The Farm Hand At Colt State Park
Dan Connolly/flickr
The land that is now Colt State Park was once a working farm. An unfortunate farm hand died in an accident at the barn that once occupied the property. He's said to haunt the park office now, turning off lights and slamming doors.
3. The Screaming Knight Of Belcourt Castle
Wally Gobetz/flickr
Completed in 1895, Belcourt Castle is a very impressive "summer estate," consisting of sixty rooms. This mansion isn't thought to be haunted by its original owner, however. Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont and his second wife, Alva, traveled extensively and furnished the mansion with antiques from all over the world. It's thought that some of the historic pieces may have brought some spirits along with them.
4. The Ghost Ship Of Block Island
Daniel Krook/flickr
Not all ghosts are the lingering souls of the dead. Block Island is supposedly haunted by a ship that ran aground there in 1738. The Palatine had a horrendous crossing from Germany to Block Island. When they finally got within sight, the residents of the island decided to overtake the ship and steal its cargo (not knowing that all the food was spoiled and the passengers were all but starved to death). The island residents set off false landing lights, causing the ship to run aground. The ship caught fire, and many passengers burned to death. Others jumped into the icy waters and drowned. The Palatine is said to appear every year near the anniversary of the tragedy.

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5. The Famous Ghost At The Providence Athenaeum
freda/flickr
The ghost of Edgar Allen Poe is said to haunt Providence Athenaeum in Providence. Poe reportedly spent time here with his literary love, Sarah Whitman. His portrait hangs in the art room, and many visitors have reported seeing the man himself in the room.
6. The Vampire Of Chestnut Hill Cemetery
Josh McGinn/flickr
Mercy Brown was only 19 years old when she died in 1892. The January temperatures were well below freezing, so Mercy was buried in this crypt at Chestnut Hill Cemetery. When several other members of her family were overcome with consumption, townspeople were convinced that Mercy was "undead." When they opened the crypt, they found a perfectly preserved body. Taking that as confirmation that they were dealing with a vampire, they removed her heart, burned it, and made her brother drink a concoction that included the ashes. Uhh, yikes.
7. The Wealthy Ghost At Breakers Mansion
slack12/flickr
The Vanderbilt family built the 65,000-square foot Breakers Mansion. The Preservation Society of Newport owns and manages the estate now, but the Vanderbilt family still has rights to the third floor of the mansion, where they sometimes stay. That floor is said to be haunted by Alice Vanderbilt, who died in 1934. Family members, tour guides and visitors to the mansion all report seeing Alice.
8. The Mill Owner At Slater Mill
Doug Kerr/flickr
Samuel Slater opened Slater Mill in 1793, when he was just 25 years old. He's said to be the "Father of the Industrial Revolution" because his inventions changed the ways textile mills operated. Samuel's ghost is said to still haunt the property. In addition to its owner, the mill is haunted by several spirits that supposedly died while operating the dangerous machinery. The screams of children have been heard here, and guests report feelings of dread and cold spots throughout the mill.

Do you have any ghost stories to share with us? Which Rhode Island ghost stories creep you out the most? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

If you’re looking for more haunted places, take this terrifying haunted Rhode Island road trip! It’s easily the spookiest thing you’ll ever do!

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Rhode Island Ghost Stories

Tori Jane | August 22, 2022

Is Rhode Island’s Block Island haunted?  

Well, supposedly. It’s filled to the brim with dark, eerie history, and ghost stories galore. You’ll hear tales of spooky ghost ships visible on the horizon, terrifying manhunts for vicious serial killers, Native American massacre sites, and so much more packed into this little place. Should you embark upon a ghost tour in Rhode Island, this is the one you’ll want to do – it's equal parts interesting and frightening! Be prepared to meet something otherworldly on the Block Island tours!  

What are some eerie Block Island ghost stories?  

Block Island goes back – way back – and as a result, it’s a smorgasbord of spooky tales and creepy ghost stories. Some of our favorite Block Island ghost stories include the one about the southeasternmost lighthouse, where the spirit of a very angry woman is thought to reside. In the early 1900s, her husband was the lighthouse keeper and, one fateful night, he murdered her in a fit of rage. She is very aggressive when it comes to male visitors; she’s been known to lift their beds off the ground, shake them violently, and even lock them in or out of closets and rooms!  

Where are some of the most haunted places in Rhode Island?  

Rhode Island is one of those states that’s been around forever – almost literally. Sure, it hasn’t always existed as a “state” in the United States, specifically, but its history goes back for centuries and as a result it’s probably one of those most haunted states in the United States! Some of our favorite haunted places in Rhode Island include spots like Fort Wetherill, in Jamestown. Supposedly, once the British took control of the fort in 1776, they were harassed and plagued by a jet-black dog that stared people down and frightened them immensely; he was thought to be an omen of death – not a real dog at all – and to this day, folks still occasionally claim to see him. Another haunted place in New Hampshire is the creepy Perron House, made famous by The Conjuring, a supposedly true account of one of the wildest hauntings in US history that occurred here.  

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