Are you excited for Halloween yet? It’s only a couple weeks away! If you’ve already picked out a pumpkin at one of our local pumpkin patches and now you’re ready to be completely terrified, then here are some eerie spots in the Northwest you can investigate…if you dare:
1. Western State Hospital, Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewood
The ruins of this abandoned sanitarium can be found in Fort Steilacoom Park and have been widely regarded as haunted. There was unethical research performed at nearby buildings for the hospital, including frontal lobotomies, experimental drugs and electro-shock treatments. This building in particular was the Hill Ward, which was built in 1932 as a dormitory for patients who also worked on the local dairy farm. After the ward closed in 1965, the building was left vacant for some time and explorers have described numerous ghostly experiences inside.
2. Greenwood Cemetery, Spokane
At this cemetery you'll find an old haunted staircase, also known as the Thousand Steps (more like 60-something) where you can travel around an area full of mystery and speculation. Several visitors have reported seeing and/or feeling ghostly phenomenon around the staircase, and supposedly, if you walk up the stairs without any light, you'll see faces of men, woman and children once you reach the top. Those who are brave enough to climb all the way up have also claimed they've heard shrieks and cries and felt something lightly brush their skin.
3. Grant House, Fort Vancouver
This mansion was home to Ulysses S. Grant, who was stationed here in the 1850s. It started off as a log cabin, then became a grand square building and today serves as a Folk Art Center with a restaurant - but that doesn't stop spirits from wandering! Many people have reported hearing and feeling the presence of an entity by the name of Sully, who likes to supervise around the eatery.
4. Capitol Theater, Yakima
Not only can you catch a great show here, but you might also be freaked out by the mischievous ghost that's been reported around the theater. The spirit has been widely known as Shorty and has supposedly been around for over 60 years. He has a habit of flicking electrical switches, opening and closing doors, lowering stage curtains, flushing toilets, stealing props, making sound systems cut out and playing many other pranks.
5. Georgetown Morgue, Seattle
This place has a tragic history of funeral preparations and holds what is considered to be one of the most horrifying unsolved crimes in Seattle history: nine staff members were forced into their crematorium chamber with no surviving witnesses or suspects ever identified. You can travel through their terrifying haunted house in the Georgetown neighborhood, which is one of the most popular haunted attractions in the whole city.
6. Scaregrounds Tri-Cities, Kennewick
If you're in the Tri-cities, this is the premiere haunted event to check out this Halloween! They have three different attractions (Project 13, Terror Behind the Screen, and Freakshow 3-D) all in one location at the Benton-Franklin Fairgrounds on Kennewick's east side! They'll be open Oct. 16-17, 23-24, and 28-31.
7. Billy's Bar & Grill, Aberdeen
Whether or not you believe in the supernatural, you can still dine on a great burger here and speculate about the possible haunting by an old serial killer named Billy Gohl. Employees have reported seeing glasses flying from shelves and paranormal research was even able to record a faint but noticeable voice.
8. Walker-Ames House, Port Gamble
While many homes in the Port Gamble area are thought to be haunted, this is probably one of the most famous. Visitors have reported experiencing all kinds of paranormal activity from feelings of dread to full bodied apparitions. Some have even noted seeing the attic light come on and off when there's nobody in the building. Because of these stories, the location's been investigated many times by ghost hunting clubs like Puget Sound Ghost Hunters (PSGH). Although they weren't able to find anything on recording, they did experience smelling a strange floral scent on the stairs as well as several other strange occurrences. If you're feeling brave this Halloween, then be sure to take the tour here!
These Haunted Places are sure to freak you out too! Where are some other creepy places to visit in our state this Halloween??
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