Haunted Valentine’s Day Destinations: Spooky Spots for Lovers Who Dare
Valentine’s Day is often associated with candlelit dinners, heart-shaped chocolates, and romantic getaways. But for those who find traditional romance a bit too sweet, why not add a thrilling twist to your celebration? If you and your partner have a taste for the eerie, these haunted destinations offer a unique way to spend the most romantic day of the year—hand in hand, with ghosts lurking just around the corner.
1. The Crescent Hotel – Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Dubbed America’s Most Haunted Hotel, the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is a must-visit for couples who love a good ghost story. Originally built in 1886 as a luxurious retreat, the hotel has a dark past, including a stint as a fraudulent cancer hospital in the 1930s. The owner, Norman Baker, claimed to have a cure for cancer, but his patients met grim fates, leaving behind restless spirits.
Guests have reported seeing ghostly figures roaming the halls, including a Victorian-dressed woman in Room 3500 and a spectral cat that brushes up against visitors in the middle of the night. For the bravest of lovebirds, the Crescent Hotel offers nightly ghost tours—so you and your partner can hold each other close as you explore its chilling corridors. Check out the hotel here.
2. The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado
If you and your significant other are fans of Stephen King’s The Shining, then the Stanley Hotel should be at the top of your haunted Valentine’s getaway list. This historic hotel, nestled in the Rocky Mountains, is famous for inspiring the Overlook Hotel in King’s horror novel and its subsequent film adaptations.
Guests have reported eerie encounters with spectral chambermaids who continue their duties in the afterlife and ghostly children giggling in empty hallways. The fourth floor, in particular, is known for its high paranormal activity. Want to take your romance to the next level? Book Room 217, where Stephen King himself had his spine-chilling experience that led to the creation of his masterpiece. With its haunting beauty and chilling history, the Stanley Hotel is perfect for couples who enjoy a mix of luxury and the supernatural. Check out the hotel here.
3. The Pontchartrain Hotel – New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is one of America’s most haunted cities, and few places combine Old World luxury with as many resident spirits—up to 25!—as The Pontchartrain Hotel in the Lower Garden District. Originally opened in 1927, the hotel was the site of a massive fire in 1929 that claimed the lives of a husband and wife on the ninth floor. Some say they never left.
Among the hotel’s most famous ghostly residents are an elderly man, a pair of sisters who once lived in the building, and legendary pianist Tuts Washington, whose phantom tunes can still be heard in The Bayou Bar, where he regularly performed in the 1960s. Some claim that his ghostly music summons a well-dressed man in a tuxedo, accompanied by two elegantly dressed women, who appear from an unknown room before vanishing into thin air.
Beyond its haunted history, the Pontchartrain’s Hot Tin rooftop bar offers breathtaking panoramic views of the New Orleans skyline, making it a thrilling mix of romance and the supernatural. If you and your partner are looking for a ghostly getaway with Southern charm, this haunted hotel is the perfect destination. Click out the hotel here.
Love and Fear Go Hand in Hand
There’s something thrilling about exploring haunted places with the one you love. Maybe it’s the adrenaline rush, or perhaps it’s the excuse to cling to each other in fear. Either way, these haunted Valentine’s Day destinations offer an unforgettable way to celebrate your love while embracing the paranormal.
So, this year, ditch the cliché dinner reservations and head to a haunted getaway instead. Whether you’re encountering spectral guests, experiencing unexplained chills, or simply reveling in the ghostly legends, these destinations promise a Valentine’s Day adventure you’ll never forget.
