Like always, there’s plenty of haunted hayrides and haunted houses for our residents to check out this year that will take their autumn months to an entirely new and terrifying level. But what if strangers jumping out at you from nowhere, dressed up in creepy costumes isn’t quite the scary adventure you had in mind for this season? I personally prefer the idea of being around a friendly ghost as opposed to exploring inside some fun house pulled right out of my worst nightmares… which naturally leads us in the direction of the most haunted places in New York.

If you have the same kind of mind frame as I do and keep googling “haunted places near me,” or just enjoy chasing after all things paranormal, then you’re going to want to set aside a weekend to go on this haunted New York road trip. As usual, I focused on one region for this road trip to make things more reasonable. If you’re not close to these locations, then don’t be shy and let us know you want a part two that covers more haunted places in New York, possibly in another region.

Check out the entire mapped out trip on Google Maps
Google Maps
1. Fort Ontario - Oswego
Fort Ontario Road, Fort Ontario Rd, Oswego, NY 13126, USA
Ginger B R/TripAdvisor
Starting off the trip with a stop that overlooks beautiful Lake Ontario, this historic fort was burned down and destroyed three times throughout history. Yikes! Fort Ontario was originally built back in 1755 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. So what makes this fort so spooky? Those who work at the fort and museum will tell you that that experience unusual and paranormal activity on a regular basis, day or night. Many of the restless spirits that are supposedly haunting the fort not only come from the battles that were fought here, but also from the time during the mid 1940s that the fort was used as a place to house victims of the Holocaust!
2. Landmark Theatre - Syracuse
Landmark Theatre, 362 S Salina St, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA
John Hoey/Flickr
A theatre that's interior is so eye-catching and filled with detail it'll drop your jaw also has some other fascinating features inside the walls as well. According to local legend and those who have been here, the theatre is mainly haunted by the spirit of a woman named Clarissa. While her story varies depending on who you ask, many have reported seeing a woman in the balcony wearing a long dress. Supposedly Clarissa failed an audition at the Landmark Theatre and afterwards threw herself off of the balcony, falling to hear death.

To hear more stories and spine-tingling details about this theatre, watch the video below:
3. Wayside Irish Pub - Elbridge
Wayside Irish Pub, 101 W Main St, Elbridge, NY 13060, USA
Google Maps
Not only does this Irish pub have mouth-watering dishes, they also appear to have several ghosts haunting the restaurant! Stories of experiencing ghosts at Wayside Irish Pub have been told for over 50 years and to this day spark the interest of those attracted to the paranormal. The pub has been known to have one ghost that likes to pull women's hair and poke visitors while another is supposedly the spirit of a woman who killed herself on the third floor of the building back when it was an inn during the 1800s.

To hear ghost stories from one of the people who work at Wayside Irish Pub, be sure to watch the video below:

4. Belhurst Castle - Geneva
Belhurst Castle and Winery, 4069 W Lake Rd, Geneva, NY 14456, USA
Management/Trip Advisor
Michelle Rodriguez/Trip Advisor
A castle with a long and fascinating history, Belhurst Castle is reportedly haunted by the spirit of a woman in white. The long-told story goes that an Italian Opera singer by the name of Isabella fled her country so that she could get away from her husband to be with her new lover. Not long after they began staying at the castle did Isabella's husband track her down, filled with fury. In an attempt to once again escape from her husband, Isabella and her lover tried to go through a tunnel in the castle that sadly collapsed while they were inside. Now seen wandering the property with a broken heart, the spirit of Isabella has been seen at night on the front lawn.

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5. Spook Hill - Middlesex
Google Maps


An incredibly puzzling phenomenon in New York that fascinates nearly all of our residents, the gravity hill mystery that lies in Middlesex is one everyone should experience for themselves at least once. Drive out to Newell Road in Middlesex and place your car in neutral in a very specific location, and suddenly you'll find that your vehicle is moving uphill backwards. Known as Spook Hill, many believe that the reason your car defies the laws of gravity is because your car is being pushed by the spirits of Native Americans, or other upset spirits.
6. The Historical Museums - Palmyra
MabelMcGillicutty/TripAdvisor
A series of five buildings that are all right next to each other and make up the Palmyra Historical Museum, the main building is reportedly home to quite a few ghosts. A favorite place for many to visit if they're looking to encounter ghosts, the historic building that was once a general store is known to have the spirits of children linger around and cause mischief. Those who work at the museum claim the children move things around as well as make their presence known to those who are there and visiting. Some who have come here even claim to have seen the spirit of a cat walking around! If you're interested in exploring the option of taking a ghost tour here, then be sure to visit the website of the Historical Museum to check out more details on their website.

Hear the stories that surround the Palmyra museum in the video below, told by one of the women who works there and has experienced the uncomfortable activity for herself.

7. Rolling Hills Asylum - East Bethany
Jennifer Kirkland/Flickr
One of the most popular haunted locations that you can find in our state, Rolling Hills Asylum is home to the famous spirit named Roy. Just out past Rochester, this site was once the Genesee County Poorhouse, where residents of the county who were unable to take care of themselves were sent to live alongside those who were deemed to be lunatics. In one of the saddest stories told, Roy was only twelve years old and suffering from Gigantism when his father unexpectedly dropped him off at the poorhouse to live out the rest of his life. While many report angry spirits who claim to have suffered here at the poorhouse, Roy has always been known to be very friendly to visitors and never makes mention of experiencing bad behavior from the workers while he lived here. Today, Rolling Hills Asylum offers ghost hunts and tours of the building.
To see visitors interacting with the spirit of Roy, watch the hair-raising video captured below:

8. Iron Island Museum - Buffalo
Marlo C/TripAdvisor
Just one of the many reasons that prove Buffalo is the most haunted city you can explore in all of New York, this museum is said to be the home of an assortment of spirits. The original building served as a church in the late 1800's, eventually becoming a funeral home in the mid 1950s. One of the several identified spirits of the Iron Island Museum is that of a man who was cremated at the funeral home and never had his remains claimed by a loved one. Many also feel the presence of two six year old boys that had their services held here in the building.

To hear more about the incredibly spooky and historic building, watch the video below:

9. Buffalo Central Terminal - Buffalo
Dave Pape/Flickr
Tom Bastin/Flickr
Last but certainly not least, this historic building is a favorite of mine. Built in the 1920s, the train station seemed necessary at the time considering that Buffalo is one of New York's largest cities. The over the top station had trains running through it until 1979 and was built to be able to handle up to 200 trains per day. Sadly, after World War II, the station's activity heavily decreased, forcing the owner to put the station up for sale. Featured on an episode of Ghost Hunters, Central Terminal is said to be haunted by the spirits of soldiers who traveled through the station and left luggage behind.

If you’re ready to get on the road but struggling with what to pack, be sure to check out our ultimate road trip packing list.

Do you have any favorite haunted places in New York to go hunting for creepy and paranormal activity? If you loved this road trip to the most haunted places in New York, then you won’t want to miss reading about The Legend Behind New York’s Gates Of Hell That’s Incredibly Terrifying!

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More to Explore

Most Haunted Places In New York

Nikki Rhoades | August 18, 2019

What is the most famous ghost story from New York?

If you’re visiting New York, you’ll find that our spectacular state is full of charm, scenic landscapes, and a history of hauntings. As is true with many places, the ghosts in New York seem to linger around places of great emotion. We recommend visiting:

  • The Rolling Hills Asylum, which doubtlessly had tensions running high, and it’s one of several sites that spooks visitors in the modern age.
  • The Shanely Hotel, which is so haunted that only the bravest should dare to spend the night within its creepy interior.
  • The state also hosts one frighteningly haunted house that was declared legally haunted. Despite these infamous spooks and scares, some of the best New York ghost stories have yet to gain national attention. Ask around your community… you just might be surprised to learn that local lore is oftentimes creepier than any famous ghost stories.

What is the most haunted town in New York?

There is a great deal of haunted history here, and visitors adore visiting scary places in New York. Many scary places, you’ll find, are hiding right in plain sight! Buffalo is regarded by some as one of the state’s spookiest cities, but you’ll find an enormous amount of paranormal activity in smaller communities like Saratoga Springs. Not all communities are as haunted as these two infamously frightening haunted destinations, but many communities include a haunted site or two. Don’t believe us? We dare you to take a haunted road trip to the above destinations. You’ll surely spot a spooky building or two along the way!

What is the creepiest abandoned place in New York?

While New York is a state that’s often associated with modern history and a futuristic big-city style atmosphere, it’s one of the original thirteen colonies. As such, it has acquired a few towns over time that were doomed to fail:

  • Tahawus is endlessly creepy, and it was abandoned twice. The Cornish Estate was abandoned only once, but its incredible ruins are hiding in the Hudson Highlands State Park.
  • Doodletown, though fun to say, is an undeniably creepy place to visit. Alongside abandoned structures, you’ll find headstones and the ruins of former residents’ dreams.

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