Bama’s Best: The 14 Most Haunted Places in Alabama
Are you looking for the most haunted places in Alabama? We were, and we found them.
‘Bama is home to some of the most haunted places in the country.
If you’re looking for a weird (in a good way!) adventure, Alabama has plenty of creepy places to visit.
Here are the 17 most haunted places in Alabama:
Redmont Hotel
Birmingham
The Redmont Hotel has seen its share of dark history since it opened in 1925. One of the most infamous events came in 1934 when two robbers and a detective had a shoot out in the lobby, leaving one thief dead, and the detective wounded.
Guests and staff over the years report strange activity: lights flicker in empty corridors, doors open or close on their own, and pieces of furniture or luggage sometimes shift without explanation.
People staying near Rooms 613 and 615 have heard the sound of children laughing or running through the halls, even when no kids are checked in. Some have also found small handprints on mirrors or heard light knocks on their doors late at night.
Then there’s the famous Woman in White, a pale lady seen on the upper floor, believed to be a guest who fell or jumped to her death. She shows up slowly walking down a hallway, a sudden chill hits, a soft voice whispers near your ear, then she’s gone.
Famous and dearly missed country singer Hank Williams is also to haunt the Redmont Hotel. While on tour in 1952, Hank slept the last night of his life in the hotel’s penthouse.
The next day, Williams was tragically killed in a car accident.
Since then, many sightings of him have occured.
The ghost of a former owner of the hotel, Clifford Stiles, is another manifestation. He’s said to be still checking in on things. Housekeeping finds sheets undone, cleaning supplies knocked over, and a faint presence near what used to be his penthouse suite.
Some people have seen a small phantom dog that used to belong to Stiles in life.
You can still stay at The Redmont Hotel, one of the most haunted spots in Alabama.
The Tutwiler Hotel
Birmingham
The Tutwiler Hotel, another historic hotel in Birmingham, is famed for its ghosts and creepies.
Guests at the Tutwiler Hotel say strange things happen all the time.
Bartenders have locked up for the night only to find every light turned back on in the morning and a full meal with candles set out on a table, like someone invisible had sat down for dinner.
People hear knocking on their doors late at night, but when they open them, no one is there. Room 604 gets the most attention, with footsteps echoing in empty hallways, cold air brushing past, and door handles jiggling on their own.
The star of the show is Colonel Tutwiler himself, the hotel’s founder, who many believe still checks in on the place. Staff find appliances and lights turned on after rooms were cleaned, and some guests swear they’ve seen a tall man in old-fashioned clothes standing in the lobby before he suddenly disappears.
Others have heard a friendly voice humming or felt a light tap on the shoulder when no one was behind them.
The Tutwiler is open to the public, offering both a comfortable stay and a potential paranormal experience at one of the most haunted places in Alabama.
The Drish House
Tuscaloosa
The Drish House in Tuscaloosa is a historic mansion known as one of the most haunted places in Alabama. Built in the 1830s, it’s haunted by its former owner, John R. Drish and his wife, Sarah.
According to legend, before Sarah died, she made her servants promise that her funeral would be lit by the same candles used at her husband’s service years earlier.
When she passed away, no one could find them, and her dying wish went unfulfilled. Not long after, people in town began seeing flames flickering in the third-story tower, like candles or a fire burning inside.
Firefighters were called multiple times, but no fire was ever found. Many believe those phantom lights are Sarah’s spirit, angry about her funeral candles.
Dr. Drish is also seen He was known for a fiery temper and for going crazy late in life. Visitors and caretakers have reported cold spots, faint footsteps on the stairs, and the feeling of being watched from the upper windows.
The Drish House is open for tours, allowing visitors to explore its haunted history!
Sloss Furnaces
Birmingham
Sloss Furnaces is a historic iron furnace in Birmingham that’s said to be haunted by the spirits of former workers who died on the job.
Workers at Sloss Furnaces faced grueling 12-hour days with low pay known as scripts, which were only redeemable at the company store. Imagine if you got paid by your employer in a currency that was only accepted by your employer… that is true evil.
Still, workplace accidents were what workers feared most.
Some fell into the molten steel and incinerated, while others got sick from the silent poisoning of carbon monoxide or the violent, sudden bursts from steam pipes.
Every inch of Sloss Furnaces was dangerous for the workers.
Slag
The most famous ghost is that of James “Slag” Wormwood, a foreman who met a gruesome end, when a worker on his lunch break leaned too close to a flywheel, which caught his clothing and slowly pulled him into the gears.
Horrified witnesses could only watch as, with each turn of the wheel, a little less of their coworker remained.
Today, visitors to Sloss Furnaces have reported hearing footsteps, seeing ghostly figures, running into cold spots, and being suddenly overcome with anguish.
Take a self-guided tour of Sloss Furnaces.
Lucas Tavern
Montgomery
Lucas Tavern, a historic building in Montgomery, is haunted by the ghost of its former owner, James Lucas.
The tavern once welcomed travelers, and some of them might have never left. People who visit say they’ve heard soft footsteps walking across the old wooden floors when the building is empty and seen rocking chairs moving on their own.
Lights flicker, doors creak open without reason, and a woman’s voice has been heard humming near the upstairs rooms.
Some guests have seen a faint figure dressed in old-fashioned clothes looking out one of the front windows. The ghost is believed to be one of the tavern’s former keepers.
Today, you can still visit Lucas Tavern. It’s been restored and moved to Old Alabama Town in Montgomery, where it serves as the visitor center for the historic district. The building is open to the public during regular museum hours, and you can walk through, learn about its history, and hear stories about its hauntings from staff.
Bill Sketoe’s Hole
Newton
Sketoe’s Hole, a legendary landmark, is tied to the tragic Civil War-era lynching of Bill Sketoe.
Accused of desertion while on his way home to care for his sick wife, Sketoe was hanged by members of the Dale County “Home Guard.”
His final words were a prayer for forgiveness, but his feet touched the ground, preventing death until one of his captors dug a hole beneath him to ensure the hanging.
After Sketoe’s body was removed, the hole beneath him wouldn’t stay filled. Locals tried to cover it with trash, but it would be mysteriously swept clean by the next morning.
After Bill Sketoe’s death, his body was briefly displayed in Newton as a warning before his family buried him at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Echo, Alabama.
Though Sketoe’s Hole became infamous for never staying filled, it was finally destroyed by the Choctawhatchee River flood of 1990. Tons of rock were placed under the modern Newton bridge to prevent erosion, burying the hole forever.
Today, a reconstruction of the hole and an informative sign stand near the original site at the riverside park by the Highway 123/134 Bridge in Newton.
You can easily spot the park just across the bridge from town.
Visitors to the site have felt ‘off’, heard strange sounds, and experienced the sensation of being watched.
Gaines Ridge Dinner Club
Camden
The Gaines Ridge Dinner Club in Camden is not just a restaurant; it’s one of the most haunted places in Alabama.
The club doubles as a Southern restaurant, but locals known its haunted.
Diners and staff report a screaming woman who floats past the windows, a crying baby that no one can find, and a room that suddenly fills with the strong smell of pipe smoke even when no one is smoking.
People also see a tall, gaunt man in black with a long beard in the mirrors, thought to be early owner Reverend Ebenezer Hearn, while cold spots roll through the dining rooms and laughter breaks out when the place is quiet.
Staff tell stories of a thunderous crash in the bathroom that shook the door, yet nothing had fallen, and of freezer doors flying open and objects ejecting as if yanked by unseen hands.
Yes, The Dinner Club has fine dining and ghosts, so definitely add it to your AL bucket list.
Highway 5 Ghost
Lynn
The Highway 5 Ghost is a legendary spirit that is said to haunt a stretch of highway in Lynn.
Locals say the ghost is that of a former truck driver who died in a tragic crash on the highway.
Drivers have seen a ghostly figure on the side of the road or in their rearview mirrors. There have also been accounts of vehicles experiencing unexplained malfunctions and drivers feeling an angry presence.
Which is super creepy. Imagine having sudden car trouble, pulling over, and feeling like you’re being watched the entire time!
Fort Morgan
Gulf Shores
Fort Morgan in Gulf Shores has long been considered one of Alabama’s most haunted places. Built in the early 19th century, the Fort is still guarded by the ghosts of soldiers who died during the several battles fought there.
Many have heard phantom footsteps echo through the brick tunnels and gun chambers long after closing.
Some have caught the sound of distant cannon fire or men shouting orders in the dark. The most common manifestation is said to be that of a woman who was attacked and killed inside the fort in the early 1900s; her screams for help are still heard near the old barracks.
Soldiers in Civil War uniforms have been seen standing guard at night, only to fade when approached. Cold spots, flickering lantern lights, and the smell of gunpowder are common, especially around the fort’s tunnels and the powder magazine.
Today, Fort Morgan is open to the public and offers tours that explore its military past and general creepiness.
Jack Cole Road
Hayden
Jack Cole Road in Hayden is a remote dirt road that cuts through dense woods and has been linked to more than 60 mysterious deaths dating back to the 1940s.
Manifestations:
The Lost Hospital: Locals say the hauntings on Jack Cole Road began after a cholera outbreak in the early 1900s. A small makeshift hospital once stood nearby, and nearly 60 patients reportedly died there. Visitors claim to see flickering lights moving through the trees where the hospital once stood.
The Hitchhiker: Drivers traveling late at night often spot a man standing on the roadside waving for help. When they slow down, he disappears. Others say he appears in the backseat of their car for a split second before vanishing.
Shadow Figures: People walking or driving down the dirt road at night have seen dark, human-shaped shadows dart across the path or standing still just beyond their headlights.
Unsolved Murders: The road has a violent history beyond disease. A mummified woman was found inside an old cabin, and a local fruit grower was killed with an ax in the 1960s. Both murders remain unsolved and locals say their spirits are still haunting the area.
USS Alabama (BB-60)
Mobile
The USS Alabama, a historic battleship docked in Mobile, is said to be haunted by the spirits of former sailors.
The Alabama was completed in 1942 and impressively served over 3 years without a single fatality from enemy fire.
However, “friendly fire” proved less friendly and more fire, when a malfunction in one of the guns’ safety features led to the deaths of 8 crew members.
Visitors report hearing doors slam shut by themselves, lights flicker, and cold drafts sweep through sealed compartments deep below deck. People have heard men’s voices calling out orders or laughing near the mess hall, and some have seen shadowy figures in uniform standing at attention before vanishing.
Apparitions have also been spotted in the officers’ quarters and the cook’s galley, making it clear that some spirits on board are still hungry for attention.
Many believe these are the spirits of crew members who died during World War II, still guarding the ship they once called home.
Boyington Oak Cemetery
Mobile
In 1834, Mobile was marked by Charles Boyington.
Boyington, a gambler who had recently fallen for the wealthy Rose de Fleur, found himself out of a job and tangled in high-society drama.
Things took a darker turn when Boyington’s friend, Nathaniel Frost, was found brutally murdered near the Church Street Graveyard. With Boyington seen with Frost shortly before his death and caught fleeing town, everyone blamed the murder on him.
Boyington was tried, sentenced, and hanged. His last words promised that an oak tree would grow from his grave to prove his innocence.
Sure enough, the Boyington Oak stands tall today.
Legend has it that Boyington’s ghost haunts the area. Visitors have heard creepy whispers, feeling an overwhelming feeling of sadness and seeing shadowy figures watching them near the tree.
The cemetery is open to the public; please show respect when visiting.
Old Cahawaba
Orrville
Old Cahawaba is a historic ghost town that’s haunted by the ghosts of former prisoners, and one of the most haunted places in Alabama.
During the Civil War, the Confederate government took control of the town’s railroad, and a prison was put in place to house over 3,000 captured soldiers.
Cahawba’s very first ghost appeared during the Civil War, known as the Pegues’ Ghost.
In 1862, a young couple was out for a romantic moonlit stroll behind Colonel C. C. Pegues’ house when—bam!—a glowing ball of light popped up in front of them.
The curious couple almost touched it before it vanished into the bushes, only to pop up beside them seconds later. When the man tried to reach for it, it disappeared!
To this day, creepy voices, weird shadows, and the Pegues’ Ghost make sure that Old Cahawaba remains one of the most haunted places in Alabama.
Village of Bashi
Bashi, Clarke County
The village of Bashi in Alabama is a small, unassuming community in Clarke County.
Bashi is best known for the ghostly legend of the Bashi Creek.
The creek is haunted by the ghosts of Native American tribes and early settlers who once lived in the area.
Visitors have heard distant Native languages or war-cries drifting across the water, even though no hikers or boaters are around. Others claim to see flickering lights just above the creek, like lanterns moving aimlessly in the woods, and have felt sudden, strong cold spots near the water’s edge.
Another recurring experience is a shadowy figure standing on the opposite bank, watching before disappearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top haunted attractions to visit in Alabama?
If you’re looking for a good scare, there are plenty of haunted attractions to visit in Alabama.
Some of the top ones include Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham, Fort Morgan in Gulf Shores, and Gaineswood Mansion in Demopolis.
Are there any haunted hotels in Alabama where you can stay overnight?
Yes, there are several haunted hotels in Alabama where you can stay overnight (and possibly meet a ghost!).
Probably the most famous is The Tutwiler Hotel in Birmingham. Other haunted hotels include The Malaga Inn in Mobile and The Redmont Hotel in Birmingham.
What are some haunted places in Alabama open to the public?
Many of the haunted places in Alabama are open to the public, and some even offer ghost tours.
Some of the most popular ones include the USS Alabama Battleship in Mobile, the Old Cahawba Archaeological Park in Orrville, and the St. James Hotel in Selma.
Are there any ghost towns in Alabama?
Yes, there are a few ghost towns in Alabama that are worth visiting.
Some of the most famous ones include Old Cahawba, which was once the state capital, and the abandoned village of Bashi, which was once a thriving coal-mining community.
Haunt Us
Did you recognize any of these haunted places in Alabama? Have an Alabama ghost story of your own? Don’t let your ghost stories go untold. Share your experiences in the comments below, visit the forums, read others’ stories, and become part of our haunted community.
