In the 19th century, miners looking to strike gold established settlements throughout the American West. Once bustling with people and businesses, these towns have long been abandoned, and their empty buildings and idle streets have become dusty time capsules of days gone by. Although many former mining boom towns have fallen into ruin, others are remarkably well-preserved. Below, discover the histories of seven of America’s most interesting ghost towns you can still visit today.

Bodie, California

Now one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the U.S., Bodie was once a booming gold town near the Nevada border. Prospector William Bodey discovered gold there in 1859, and within a few years, the area had a mill, stores, and a continual influx of would-be miners. By the 1880s, the town’s population had swelled to 10,000 residents.

Although some families settled there, Bodie also had its fair share of saloons (in 1877, there were reported to be 65 of them), casinos, and brothels where the miners could spend their earnings. This would lead to one local preacher referring to the town as “a sea of sin.” It was not, unfortunately for the miners, a sea of gold — there was only so much to be found, and by the 1890s, the town was starting to fade. Several fires destroyed much of what was left.

What remained of the once-bustling Bodie became a state park in 1962. The dry desert air has helped to delay any further decay of the 200 buildings that are still standing. The park is open year-round to visitors, but its mountain elevation means it is accessible only by snow vehicles in the winter months. If you do visit, be warned: It is said there is a curse on anyone who takes any mementos away from Bodie, so you’re advised to leave everything as you find it.

Garnet, Montana

Most of us tend to imagine ghost towns as dry, dusty, desert locales, but some had much greener surroundings. One such location is Garnet, Montana, which sits at 6,000 feet above sea level. Despite the fact that the town was named for a semi-precious ruby-colored stone, gold was what attracted people to set up claims in these remote mountains east of present-day Missoula. In fact, a lot of silver was discarded in the search for more valuable metal. When prospectors finally struck gold in 1862, a small town grew around the site.

Once the railroad came to a nearby town and allowed for easier movement of goods, the population started to boom, and by the 1880s, about 1,000 people called Garnet home. However, by 1905 that figure had shrunk to only about 200 residents. Fire destroyed many of the wooden buildings in 1912, and there were no attempts to rebuild, though the post office remained open until 1928.

The Bureau of Land Management has managed the site since 1970. Visitors can see the old jail (although records seem to show only one arrest), the town’s sole hotel, a saloon, a schoolhouse, and several homes. On the edge of Garnet, a walking trail passes through several mining areas, with explanations of the mining process. Those feeling adventurous can even spend the night here: Several cabins are open to overnight guests, but only in winter, so you’ll need to ski in and make do with propane and wood fires.

Chloride, Arizona

Although nowhere near as busy as it was in its heyday, Chloride, Arizona, stands out from the rest of the towns on this list as a sort of living ghost town. Among the abandoned buildings, there are still a handful of occupied residences and businesses, determined to keep going in this remote part of the Mojave Desert in northwest Arizona. The 2010 census listed its official population as 271. The town was named for the silver chloride mined there, although the area was also a source of lead, gold, zinc, and copper. Soon after it was settled in 1862, business boomed until World War II, when a lack of both workers and ore led to Chloride’s decline from its population peak of around 5,000 residents.

Today, Chloride has an eccentric funky vibe to it, largely due to the collection of junk art that is on display around town. After visiting the cemetery, jail house, former railroad station, and Arizona’s oldest continually operating post office, pick up a map so you can see all of the murals and sculptures that decorate the residents’ gardens. If you visit on weekends, mock gunfights are held in the main street. Before you go, be sure to stop by Digger Dave’s café and bar for a drink and a chance to admire the memorabilia that covers every inch of wall space.

Rhyolite, Nevada

Located just outside the boundaries of Death Valley National Park, Rhyolite, Nevada, is another example of a true boom-and-bust town. Gold ore was discovered in the area in 1904, and Rhyolite (named for the silica-rich volcanic rock in the area) was one of the mining camps established in the Bullfrog Mining District, about 120 miles northwest of Las Vegas. A significant amount was invested in the town — unlike Garnet, which had wooden huts, Rhyolite had multilevel concrete buildings, electricity, and a telephone system.

However, a financial panic in 1907 marked the start of the town’s decline. By 1916, the electricity was cut off, and by 1920, the former city of 6,000 was a ghost of its once-proud self, with just 14 residents.

Fortunately for visitors, the desert air and the solid structure of the buildings mean that the bulk of the town is still in good condition. Headstones in the nearby graveyard tell the stories of those who came here from far and wide. Also of interest are a bottle house, constructed entirely of empty beer bottles, and the ghostly sculptures at the Goldwell Open Air Museum on the edge of town.

Kennecott, Alaska

Situated in the heart of Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, America’s largest national park, Kennecott (or Kennicott, as it is sometimes spelled) is a National Historic Landmark. It is believed to be the best-preserved example of 20th-century copper mining.

Kennecott consisted of the copper mines and the nearby mill town where the mined ore was processed. Although the town itself was relatively small compared to other ghost towns (approximately 200 worked in the town and another 300 in the mines), Kennecott had its own hospital, store, skating rink, school, dairy, and other facilities. It is estimated that $200 million worth of copper was mined here between 1911 and 1938, making it the world’s richest copper mine.

Eventually, the Kennecott company opened more profitable mines in Chile, and the Alaska settlement wound down. By 1950, it was deserted, the buildings left to fall into decay. Now under management of the National Park Service, the town is being carefully restored so that visitors can continue to enjoy and learn for decades to come.

Frisco, Utah

In addition to the remains of old buildings and the cemetery containing Frisco’s former residents, one notable attraction alone makes Frisco worth visiting. The town, located in Beaver County in southwest Utah, is dotted with dome-shaped stone kilns that resemble giant honeybee hives. These kilns were used to process silver ore, and have earned the town its place on the National Register of Historic Places. Silver was first discovered here in 1875, and in its heyday, Frisco was home to around 6,000 people.

The decline of Frisco came earlier than that of most other mining towns, largely due to a mine collapse in 1885. The resulting earthquake was felt 10 miles away, and the town never quite recovered afterward. A few attempts were made to reopen the mines, but by the 1920s, hardly anyone was left to work in them.

Visitors today can walk among the old buildings and kilns, but less is known about Frisco than the other ghost towns on this list, something that adds to the eerie atmosphere of this once-booming place in the Utah desert.

St. Elmo, Colorado

If you want to visit a ghost town that still has a few ghosts of its own, you might want to head to St. Elmo, Colorado, one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the West. Located at about 10,000 feet above sea level near the town of Buena Vista, St. Elmo was, like so many other ghost towns, created around the mines. In this case, both gold and silver were discovered in the 1870s, leading to the town’s official founding in 1880. The town was originally called Forest City, but since another Forest City already existed, residents were forced to choose a different name. One decided on St. Elmo, after a novel he was reading at the time.

With the railroad passing through, the town was a popular supply hub for nearby settlements and prospectors. However, with decreasing demand, the railroad closed in 1922. By 1930, St. Elmo’s once-prosperous population of 2,000 people had fallen to just seven, enough to run the hotel and store. Many claim to have seen the ghost of one of these last residents, Dirty Annie Stark. In fact, ghost hunters say that St. Elmo is one of the most haunted places in the entire state of Colorado. Visitors to the town, which is open from May through September, can explore the former homes and other buildings, including the general store.

Hotels with rich histories add a layer of intrigue to any vacation. That’s especially true when those histories are of the paranormal variety — from ghosts that wake up guests just for fun to deceased hotel owners still said to roam the halls at night. Celebrate the spooky season with a stay at these 19 hotels with haunted histories… if you dare.

Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado

Most people know the Stanley Hotel as the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining, which he wrote after staying just one night at the property in 1974. The hotel opened in 1909 as an oasis in the Colorado mountain wilderness, boasting modern amenities for the time, such as electric lights, en-suite bathrooms, and telephones. But even before Stephen King’s arrival, the hotel had a reputation for paranormal activity.

Hotel owner F.O. Stanley, who died in 1940, has been a common sighting at the check-in desk since his death. There have also been reports of mysterious piano playing, laughter, shadowy figures, items moving on their own, and lights turning on and off. Ghost-goving guests at the hotel can book a special package guaranteeing them a stay on the most haunted floor, plus a ticket to the evening ghost tour.

The Langham Hotel – London, England

One of Europe’s first grand hotels, the Langham debuted in London in 1865 to much fanfare — even the Prince of Wales came to the opening. It has remained a posh place ever since, hosting illustrious guests such as Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Princess Diana.

But among those famous visitors, you can also find occupants of the ghostly kind — particularly in Room 333, considered to be the most haunted hotel room in London. It’s said to be home for more than a few ghosts, including one who likes to shake the bed just for fun, a Victorian doctor who stares into the distance, and a German prince in military dress. Throughout the hotel, you may also be greeted by a man with a wounded face, a footman in a powdered wig, a lost butler, or Emperor Napoleon III himself.

The Shelbourne – Dublin, Ireland

In the heart of Dublin, the Shelbourne is reportedly haunted by a ghost named Mary Masters, who loves to mess with water fixtures in one of the rooms. She died of cholera in the hotel, which opened in 1824, when she was just seven years old. Mary enjoys startling guests by opening and closing wardrobe doors, but her favorite thing to do is turn on the water. Guests regularly report the taps, shower, and tub being turned on unexpectedly. In fact, so many guests have recounted the same unexplained activities that the hotel had a staff member sleep in the room to see if the claims were true — it turns out, the staff member had the same experience.

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac – Quebec City, Canada

The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac towers over Quebec City, high up on a hill overlooking the old town and its European-style streets. It replaced a previous castle used as wartime headquarters, and though it’s styled to look much older, it has only been there since 1893 and has been a hotel the entire time. But even still, the hotel reportedly has ghosts roaming the halls. One is Louis de Buade, Comte de Frontenac, who mourns his lost love, and the other is a woman dressed in a nightgown who enjoys waking people up at night.

Crescent Hotel – Eureka Springs, Arkansas 

It doesn’t get much spookier than a hotel with an old morgue in the basement (now conveniently located right next to the spa). The Crescent Hotel, often deemed the most haunted hotel in America, originally opened in 1886 as a luxurious resort for wealthy train travelers making their way through Eureka Springs. It didn’t stay that way for long, though.

Within just a few years, the hotel fell into disrepair. It reopened as the Crescent College and Conservatory for Young Women in 1908 and operated as a college of some form until 1934. Then, in 1937, the dark history of the place began to take shape. A crooked “doctor,” Norman Baker, bought the property and turned it into a cancer hospital (hence the morgue). The problem was, he wasn’t offering actual treatment — instead, he was hawking natural spring water with flavoring as a bogus cure. After countless deaths, the hospital was shut down in 1940, and Baker was sent to prison. 

The hotel’s current iteration opened in the early 2000s, but ghosts of the past remain. Guests and paranormal investigators have reported seeing full-body apparitions of adults and children, and the hotel even offers ghost tours of the property.

Dragsholm Slot – Zealand, Denmark

Dragsholm Slot was originally built in 1215 as a palace. From there, it transformed into a castle, a prison, back to a castle, and now a hotel. It’s often considered to be one of the most haunted buildings in Denmark — legend says it’s home to more than 100 ghosts.

Three of them are more famous than the others. The White Lady was the daughter of one of the noblemen who lived in the building. She fell in love with a commoner — something her father viciously disapproved of — and as punishment, she was imprisoned and bricked into the castle walls. She’s reportedly seen wandering the halls wearing a white dress. The second famous ghost, James Hepburn, died in the dungeon in 1578 — now, his ghost tears into the courtyard on horse and carriage every night. The third ghost, the Grey Lady, is much happier than the others. She had a terrible toothache in life that was healed by someone at the castle. In death, she is said to traverse the halls looking for good deeds to do as repayment.

Hotel Monte Vista – Flagstaff, Arizona

According to the Hotel Monte Vista, more than seven ghosts haunt the halls of the property — and guests are encouraged to try to communicate with them. The hotel opened on January 1, 1927, just off Route 66 in Flagstaff. It’s connected to other downtown buildings through secret underground tunnels, and it was used as a speakeasy during Prohibition. Famous visitors have included Mary Costigan (who broadcast her radio show from there), Michael J. Fox, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Siouxsie Sioux.

But as far as ghostly guests, you can expect to meet a man who messes up the bed and turns on the TV at full volume, a rocking chair that moves on its own, a bellboy, a crying baby, a dancing couple, and a bank robber who rearranges the bar and wishes people a good morning.

First World Hotel – Pahang, Malaysia

The popular First World Hotel in Malaysia isn’t just a colorful favorite —  it’s also the world’s largest hotel, with more than 7,300 rooms. Guests with rooms on the 21st floor may find it a bit difficult to get to bed at night, however, as it’s rumored to be a cursed floor that the elevator skips. In other rooms at the hotel, visitors report seeing vanishing figures and being pushed while sleeping. The hotel has a built-in casino, which many say is the reason for the ghosts; supposedly people who have lost their fortune there decided never to leave.

Lord Milner Hotel – Matjiesfontein, South Africa

The Lord Milner Hotel opened in 1899 just as the South African War was beginning. During the war, it was a military hospital with a lookout tower. It reopened in 1970 after renovations, with 15 rooms decorated in old-world splendor. But it’s the hotel’s history as a military space that gave way to the ghosts reported to live there today.

One is Kate, a young nurse who used to play cards with soldiers as they recovered; she tends to walk up and down the staircase. Mary-Anne likes to jiggle the doorknob on Room 26. Lucy walks around in her nightgown. Olive hangs out in the gardens. British officers and soldiers congregate on the hotel balcony and spend time in the library. And with even more ghosts beyond that, the hotel certainly lives up to its legend as the most haunted hotel in South Africa.

The Queen Mary – Long Beach, California

In 1972, the first hotel rooms opened in the permanently docked Queen Mary, a former luxury ocean liner that also served as a troop ship for World War II. It now serves as a kind of floating museum in Long Beach, California, but even before the ship was permanently docked, people reported hearing knocking on doors and seeing full-body apparitions, flickering lights, mysteriously running water, a woman in a wedding gown, disappearing children, and ghostly crewmembers. Today, the hotel might just be one of the most haunted in America — curious visitors can take ghost tours to judge for themselves.

Le Château de Marçay – Marçay, France

Le Château de Marçay is a 15th-century castle that was converted into a 22-room hotel in 1973. A mysterious legend lies at the heart of the property’s rumored ghost encounters. It’s said that a former female resident of the castle turned into a werewolf every night, until she was shot by a terrified farmer. When the sun rose, the farmer realized he hadn’t shot a wolf at all, but instead a woman. He secretly buried her, in her white shroud, on the property. Now she’s seen every night, wandering the courtyard and the castle halls in her white dress.

Congress Plaza Hotel – Chicago, Illinois

The Congress Plaza Hotel opened in 1893 to house visitors to the World’s Columbian Exposition that same year. In the years since, president after president has stayed at the ornate hotel, including William Taft, Calvin Coolidge, and Franklin Roosevelt — a distinction that earned it the nickname “The Home of Presidents.” It’s also known, however, as the most haunted hotel in Chicago. Dozens of ghosts are said to walk the halls, from businessmen who perished in nearby Lake Michigan to roller skaters who played in the roller rink before it became a ballroom.

Dalhousie Castle Hotel – Edinburgh, Scotland

For more than 800 years, Dalhousie Castle has stood guard over the Scottish countryside. In the beginning, the fortress and castle welcomed knights suited up in armor, who crossed a moat to get into the building. The moat is still there, along with remnants of the original drawbridge, but its function has changed. The castle has been used as a fortress, a home, a boarding school — and, since 1972, a hotel. Dalhousie runs ghost tours for curious guests to see some of the famous specters — like the Grey Lady, a mistress of one of the former lairds who was locked in a turret by his wife around 1500, and Sir Alexander Ramsay, a former resident who died there in 1342.

The Pfister – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The most well-known ghost stories at the Pfister Hotel come from professional sports teams — some players have been so scared that they refuse to stay there again. Charles Pfister built the hotel in 1893, and since he passed away, there have been reports of his ghost wandering the hotel to make sure things are running properly. But when Major League Baseball players started staying there regularly, more stories began to surface. Colby Lewis said he saw a skeleton in his room. Matt Treanor heard tapping and a child shouting. Brandon Phillips had a radio in his room that turned on and off by itself. Carlos Gomez saw his iPod move across the bedside table on its own. The stories go on.

Taj Mahal Palace – Mumbai, India

The 1903 Taj Mahal Palace hotel has seen a lot of history. It has served as a military hospital, been the site of terrorist attacks, and welcomed illustrious guests including royalty and even Alfred Hitchcock — which is rather apt for how haunted the hotel is said to be. One main ghost haunts the property: its architect, W.A. Chambers. He designed the hotel, approved the plans, and then went on a short trip out of the country. When he returned, he discovered — to his horror — that the hotel had been built backwards. It was too far along in construction to start over, and Chambers stewed in the misery of it until he couldn’t take it anymore. Now his ghost looks after the hotel and fights off people trying to steal or damage the property.

Mermaid Inn – Rye, England

Though the original building from the spot is gone, the cellars at the Mermaid Inn date back to 1156. It was a hotel from the 12th century until 1770, welcoming sailors during the Middle Ages and smugglers in the early 1700s, the latter of whom built tunnels and secret cellars. When it finally reopened as a hotel in 1993, it welcomed famous guests including Charlie Chaplin. Ghosts from the building’s past might visit as well. There’s a lady in white sitting by a fireplace, a rocking chair that moves on its own, and smugglers who still roam the halls.

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel – Banff, Canada

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel was built in 1888 as a luxurious accommodation for those passing through the Canadian Rockies on the Canadian Pacific Railway. It has continued to grow and expand ever since, except for a brief three-year shutdown during World War II.

Ghost stories have grown with the hotel as well. Some specific rooms are considered haunted — though staff won’t reveal the exact room numbers — by ghosts that either push guests out of bed at night or wake them up with screaming. Elsewhere in the hotel, a ghost of a bride haunts the staircase where she fell and the ballroom where she never got to dance. And a bellman from the 1960s and 1970s named Sam roams the hotel looking for guests to help.

The Russell Hotel – Sydney, Australia

Carrying the designation of Sydney’s most haunted hotel, the Russell Hotel was built in 1887 on the site of Australia’s first general hospital in The Rocks, the city’s oldest neighborhood. Bubonic plague sufferers were treated there, and once the hotel was built, it was used as a sailors’ hostel and allegedly a brothel for a period of time.

Its long rocky past has given way to the ghosts of today. Room 8 is supposed to be the scariest, with a sailor appearing only to women at the foot of the bed and waking them up. A woman in white appears in the downstairs part of the hotel, footsteps with no person attached walk around the floors and up the stairs, and other paranormal activity happens regularly — like temperature changes and electronics losing power.

Chillingham Castle – Northumberland, England

Built in the 12th century with full battlements added in 1344, Chillingham Castle looks the same as it did when it struggled through battles, hosted royalty, and handled treason cases. Members of the current royal family still visit, continuing a long tradition of royals staying in private rooms at the castle. The hotel challenges guests, asking if they’re “brave enough” to stay the night at one of England’s most paranormal spots. At least four spirits are said to reside there: a frail woman in white in a pantry area, a ghostly sensation in one of the rooms, two men having a conversation in the chapel, and shadows in the courtyard.