As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.

If you haven’t gotten enough of a scare from the various haunted houses, corn mazes, and other terrifying Halloween attractions here in wonderful Iowa, here’s another one to add to your list: a creepy stay at a haunted hotel. If you don’t mind sharing a room with a ghostly guest, then check out one of these six haunted hotels in Iowa! Your stay is sure to be a nightmare – and we mean that in the best way possible, of course.

1. The Mason House Inn
Jody Halsted/Flickr
21982 Hawk Dr, Keosauqua, IA 52565, USA
Jody Halsted/Flickr
This historic 1846 hotel in Bentonsport is said to have several spirits living there. In Room 5, the ghost of a young boy pulls on people’s clothing at night. His apparition has also been seen on the landing. In Room 7, a man named Knapp was murdered, and his spirit lingers about the room. In Room 8, a floating head has been seen. Also, in several third-floor bedrooms, the ghost of an elderly woman has been spotted. Click here to learn more about the Mason House Inn.
2. Blackhawk Hotel
Hotel Blackhawk, Autograph Collection/Facebook
200 E 3rd St, Davenport, IA 52801, USA
Hotel Blackhawk, Autograph Collection/Facebook
This famously haunted hotel in Davenport is rumored to be haunted by several ghosts, including the ghost of actor Cary Grant, who is believed to have died on the 8th floor (he actually died in a nearby hospital). Apparently, Grant is now said to make appearances from beyond the grave, and has been spotted in the hotel hallways. Other reports say that a ghostly woman in a blue or red evening gown can be seen floating through the hallways. Get more info about Blackhawk Hotel here.
3. Hotel Ottumwa
Hotel Ottumwa, 107 2nd St E #2996, Ottumwa, IA 52501, USA
Joanna Poe/Flickr
Hotel Ottumwa in Ottumwa is another notoriously haunted hotel in Iowa. Guests have reported hearing strange noises, heavy breathing when no one is around, and even sightings of shadowy apparitions. Reportedly, the basement/former ballroom is haunted by a woman in a white gown, the halls are haunted by a man in a suit, and the face of a man has also been seen in the basement. Get more info about Hotel Ottumwa here.

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4. Klondike Hotel
Historic Happenings in Manilla/Facebook
332 3rd Ave, Manilla, IA 51454, USA
Historic Happenings in Manilla/Facebook
The historic Klondike Hotel in Manilla, which is open for paranormal investigations, is another reportedly haunted location in Iowa. EVPs have been captured, guests have had to leave the hotel because of headaches and heavy feelings, and rocking chairs are said to move when there is no one around. Learn more about Klondike Hotel in this previous article.
5. Hotel Greenfield
Hotel Greenfield/Facebook
110 E Iowa St, Greenfield, IA 50849, USA
Hotel Greenfield/Facebook
According to guests who experienced strange phenomena during their visit, the Hotel Greenfield in Greenfield is haunted. Apparently, while using the bathroom at the in-house restaurant, some guests have experienced creepy feelings, lights shutting off inexplicably, and even the ghost of a woman opening the door to the bathroom stall then disappearing. Get more information about Hotel Greenfield here.
6. The Franklin Hotel
The Franklin Hotel
102 Elkader St, Strawberry Point, IA 52076, USA
The Franklin Hotel
Apparently, The Franklin Hotel is haunted by the ghost of a prostitute from the 1920's. Many people have reported hearing strange noises, and sensing a presence when there is no one there. The co-owner reported that he once saw a woman in a lavender gown walking around, and when he went to tell her they were closed, she was gone. Click here to learn more!

Know of any more haunted hotels here in Iowa? Share them with us! And if you stay at any of these, be sure to let us know how spooktacular your stay was – we love to hear from you!

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Haunted Hotels in Iowa

Tori Jane | October 08, 2021

Where are some genuinely haunted places in Iowa? 

Iowa is not a state without its ghosts. There is many a place notorious for its ghosts here; no portion of the state seems to be immune. For example, the Villisca Axe Murder House is a super-haunted attraction in, well, Villisca, where eight people (including six children) were viciously slaughtered by an unknown axe-wielding maniac more than a whole century ago. Doors are said to open and shut on their own, lights flicker on and off, and it's got plenty of creepy cold spots, too. In Strawberry Point is the old Franklin Hotel, which is said to be haunted by two separate spirits – one a woman named Lily, and the other a merchant named Leo. There’s a haunted bridge in Fort Dodge, which is fitting, because it’s ridiculously creepy anyway, and the Oakland Cemetery in Park City is also well-known for its hauntings. Need more spookiness in your life? You might want to consider taking this haunted road trip to some of the most haunted places in Iowa!  

Where can I go ghost hunting in Iowa?  

With plenty of alleged hauntings come plenty of opportunities to go ghost hunting; some places and companies even offer ghost tours, where you’re bound to see some scary stuff. There are even some professional ghost hunting groups that come out and do it for fun and research! Some of the best places for ghost hunting in Iowa include the world-famous Edinburgh Manor, which offers overnight tours that are sure to terrify even the bravest of souls. Timberghost Lodge, in Sperry, is a location known for its ghosts that offers up some truly awesome ghost-hunting experiences, and the previously mentioned Villisca Axe Murder House is another (understandable) hot spot for the hunt for the paranormal, too.  

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