The Definitive Guide To All Things Haunted And Creepy In Washington
Washington might not have the paranormal reputation that some of our other cities and states do, but rest assured, this state is not without its haunted places. From our haunted hotels to haunted houses and some seasonal scares like a good old-fashioned haunted corn maze, you’ll find all sorts of ways to spook yourself in the Evergreen State.
A place doesn’t have to be haunted to be creepy. If you were born and raised in Washington, you’ve probably encountered some spooky roads you feel strange driving at night or some abandoned buildings that seem a little sinister. Is it your imagination, or is there more to it? We can’t be sure. We’ve rounded up a list of some of our state’s top haunted places and scary spots for those interested in learning more about Washington’s haunting history.
The Most Haunted House In Washington
Port Gamble is a small community that sits on the northwestern shore of the Kitsap Peninsula. There's not much to the town itself. Aside from an old-fashioned general store and a historic museum, it's basically just a small neighborhood. But Port Gamble happens to be the home of the most haunted house in Washington. In fact, it's one of the most haunted places in the Pacific Northwest.
It is unclear as to what might have occurred to lead to so much paranormal activity. The mansion was built in 1889 for the mill's master mechanic William Walker, but no one has lived in the home since the town's sawmill shutdown in 1995. The spooky stories, however, are consistent. Female visitors report having their hair pulled or jackets tugged in the basement, guests suddenly smell a horrible stench that follows them out of the rooms, and some see two young children looking out the attic window from the outside. And those are just a few of the fairly frequent occurrences.
Many paranormal investigations have been held here, and sometimes private group tours are offered. Evidence of activity, from recordings to visions captured in photos, has been captured repeatedly over the years. There's definitely something spooky going on here.
It is unclear as to what might have occurred to lead to so much paranormal activity. The mansion was built in 1889 for the mill's master mechanic William Walker, but no one has lived in the home since the town's sawmill shutdown in 1995. The spooky stories, however, are consistent. Female visitors report having their hair pulled or jackets tugged in the basement, guests suddenly smell a horrible stench that follows them out of the rooms, and some see two young children looking out the attic window from the outside. And those are just a few of the fairly frequent occurrences.
Many paranormal investigations have been held here, and sometimes private group tours are offered. Evidence of activity, from recordings to visions captured in photos, has been captured repeatedly over the years. There's definitely something spooky going on here.
The Most Haunted Road In Washington (And Maybe America)
You'll find Marysville-Pilchuck Road in Marysville. It’s now called Marine Drive and Fire Trail Road. While the names of the street have changed, the eerie tales remain the same.
Many a driver has reported looking in their rearview mirror on this road and seeing the unmistakable sight of a person sitting in their backseat. But when the driver turns around or pulls over to investigate, that person is gone. Locals also claim to have seen apparitions of Native Americans on the side of the road (part of this area is on the Tulalip Reservation.) Some people have even reported seeing someone running alongside their vehicle at night, keeping pace even when they're driving 35 MPH.
Either Washington is home to the world’s fastest runners, or there’s something off about Marysville-Pilchuck Road.
Many a driver has reported looking in their rearview mirror on this road and seeing the unmistakable sight of a person sitting in their backseat. But when the driver turns around or pulls over to investigate, that person is gone. Locals also claim to have seen apparitions of Native Americans on the side of the road (part of this area is on the Tulalip Reservation.) Some people have even reported seeing someone running alongside their vehicle at night, keeping pace even when they're driving 35 MPH.
Either Washington is home to the world’s fastest runners, or there’s something off about Marysville-Pilchuck Road.
The 3 Most Haunted Places In Washington
1. In the early years of Washington's statehood, the Oxford Saloon in Snohomish was a known gathering place for drinking, enjoying life, and purchasing necessary dry goods. But it wasn't all fun and games at the saloon... it doubled as a brothel, and there were stories of violent fights and murders. That may be why it's one of the Evergreen State's most haunted spots to this day.
Customers and employees have reported seeing shadowy figures moving around, especially upstairs and down in the basement. Random cold spots are often felt throughout the building. And if you're a lady, stay alert when you use the restroom. Rumor has it that the spirit of a police officer who was killed at the saloon likes to hang out there. Some have even felt him pinching them!
Customers and employees have reported seeing shadowy figures moving around, especially upstairs and down in the basement. Random cold spots are often felt throughout the building. And if you're a lady, stay alert when you use the restroom. Rumor has it that the spirit of a police officer who was killed at the saloon likes to hang out there. Some have even felt him pinching them!
2. Located in Spokane, the Campbell House, which is now known as the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, dates all the way back to 1898. It was built for Ohio-born Amasa Campbell, a high school dropout who went on to make his fortune in mining. Unfortunately, this home is also the site of the brutal triple murder of three of Campbell's children. A fourth one was abducted and was never seen again.
When you're walking through this historic home, pay careful attention to the portraits, especially the one of Amasa Campbell. Some say the eyes will follow you around the room. Expect to have the feeling of being watched as you move from room to room. While it's unlikely you'll see a full-on apparition here unless you're alone, you never know.
When you're walking through this historic home, pay careful attention to the portraits, especially the one of Amasa Campbell. Some say the eyes will follow you around the room. Expect to have the feeling of being watched as you move from room to room. While it's unlikely you'll see a full-on apparition here unless you're alone, you never know.
3. The Black Diamond Cemetery was established in 1884 by the Black Diamond Coal Mining Company as both a community and a company cemetery. It serves as the final resting place for many immigrant coal miners and locals from the 19th century. It also happens to be one of Washington's most haunted places.
Apparitions of deceased coal miners and swinging lanterns have been spotted numerous times, mostly after dark. But visit any time of day and you just might hear the unmistakable sounds of eerie whistles. The cemetery also tends to stay foggy even when the rest of the town of Black Diamond is clear. Perhaps some of the cemetery's earliest residents never left.
Apparitions of deceased coal miners and swinging lanterns have been spotted numerous times, mostly after dark. But visit any time of day and you just might hear the unmistakable sounds of eerie whistles. The cemetery also tends to stay foggy even when the rest of the town of Black Diamond is clear. Perhaps some of the cemetery's earliest residents never left.
Washington's Freakiest Haunted Mental Institution
Northern State Hospital was once the largest facility for mental illness in Washington. From 1912 until 1976 when the state legislature cut off its funding, thousands and thousands of people came here for treatment. Many of those people received the help they needed and left feeling better... but unfortunately, many did not.
Roaming the grounds was illegal for years and the buildings are still off-limits - but now that it's officially a recreation area, you can go and explore. You might have a completely uneventful visit. However, a lot of paranormal activity has been reported over the years, making it impossible not to include it in our list. Some of the documented paranormal activity includes seeing the apparition of a nurse pushing a patient in a wheelchair, hearing screams and shouts when no one else is around, and seeing numerous shadowy figures. Yikes.
Roaming the grounds was illegal for years and the buildings are still off-limits - but now that it's officially a recreation area, you can go and explore. You might have a completely uneventful visit. However, a lot of paranormal activity has been reported over the years, making it impossible not to include it in our list. Some of the documented paranormal activity includes seeing the apparition of a nurse pushing a patient in a wheelchair, hearing screams and shouts when no one else is around, and seeing numerous shadowy figures. Yikes.
5 Creepy Facts About Washington
- Washington has been the home of some of the nation’s most prominent serial killers. Ted Bundy, Green River killer Gary Ridgway, and Robert Lee Yates all lived in Washington… although, to our credit, not all of them were born in the Evergreen State.
- Our state has also had quite a few UFO sightings… more than any other state. In fact, there were 194 reported UFO sightings in 2019 alone! Mount Rainier is thought to be the biggest UFO hot spot in the area.
- Seattle’s own Lake Washington allegedly has a lake monster – or monster fish depending on who you ask. Either way, there have been enough sightings of these lake creatures that we’d think twice before going for a swim in that particular lake.
- Prosser is home to Washington’s Gravity Hill, a natural phenomenon that defies logical explanation. At the base of a small incline on this road, if you shift your car into neutral you will inexplicably start to roll uphill. But here’s the truly creepy part: some people who have attempted this have looked at their cars afterward and seen tiny, children-sized handprints on them as if a small group of children helped push the vehicles uphill.
- We have, by far, the most Bigfoot sightings of anywhere else in the country. Whether or not you believe in Sasquatch, if the creature exists, Washington is its favorite roaming ground.
5 Creepy Photos In Washington
1. This photo of the Northern State Hospital property is perfectly chilling.
2. At first glance, this photo doesn’t look creepy. However, this is a picture of Starvation Heights, an old “health” sanitarium in Ollala where a deranged woman named Linda Hazzard starved her patients to death under the guise of detox and purification.
3. The Afterglow Vista, a memorial mausoleum on San Juan Island, is beautiful but chilling.
4. The Iron Goat Trail, located near Leavenworth, is considered one of the most haunted hikes in the country. This was the site of the Wellington avalanche, the deadliest avalanche in the history of the United States that took the lives of 96 people.
5. An abandoned bunker at Fort Worden, which is apparently Washington's most haunted state park.
The Scariest Haunted House In Washington
Washington's haunted houses are second to none. Each October, Washingtonians gather at the Georgetown Morgue in Seattle for a truly terrifying experience. The morgue itself has quite the sordid history, and when it's converted into a haunted house each year, it's absolutely chilling. This experience is not for the faint of heart!
The Best Haunted Corn Maze In Washington
Located in Olympia, the Rutledge Corn Maze is a family-friendly experience Washingtonians look forward to each autumn. But at night, the corn maze turns into a scary haunted adventure you won't soon forget. Adults, teenagers, and mature older children are best suited for this chilling experience.
Would you spend the night in this Washington haunted hotel?
There are plenty of Washington hotels with reported paranormal activity but nothing quite compares to the tales from The Palace Hotel in Port Townsend, Washington's Victorian seaport. This former brothel is haunted by some of the ladies who worked and lived here, as well as a few former patrons. The stories are too numerous to list and they include plenty of tales from skeptics turned believers. Would you spend the night at The Palace Hotel?
Washington certainly has plenty of spooky stories and chilling spots. If you’ve ever wanted to do some ghost hunting, now you know where to start.
