AL's Most Haunted Places Revealed In New Rankings

Alabama has no shortage of places with ghostly reputations, but only a handful can back up their spooky stories with reports of paranormal activity.

The 2026 HauntBound Index, a new national ranking of more than 6,000 supposedly haunted places, examines decades of published accounts rather than simply recycling the same old ghost stories.

The list by HauntBound, a Michigan-based website specializing in haunted travel and historical ghost lore, includes historic homes, hotels, cemeteries and other places where visitors have reported seeing things that have no earthly explanation.

Some are open for tours, some offer overnight accommodations, and others are best admired from a safe distance. Whether any of them actually have ghosts is another matter entirely.

According to HauntBound's state-by-state index, Alabama has 100 documented locations associated with paranormal activity.

Here's a look at the top 10, as ranked by HauntBound

1. Maple Hill Cemetery — Huntsville

"Established in 1822, Maple Hill Cemetery is Alabama's oldest and largest burial ground, containing more than 80,000 graves, including those of five governors and five U.S. senators. Visitors have reported seeing figures dressed in 19th-century clothing near older monuments, experiencing unexplained cold spots around family burial plots and hearing a woman crying near the cemetery's Confederate graves."

2. Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark — Birmingham

"Sloss Furnaces operated as an iron-producing facility from 1882 until 1971, with workers enduring dangerous conditions and extreme heat. At least 47 workplace deaths were documented during its operation. Visitors have reported phantom whistles, mysterious voices ordering workers back to their jobs and unexplained physical contact near the old casting shed. One popular legend involving a foreman named Slag Wormwood has been identified by historians as a fictional creation for a haunted attraction."

3. The Redmont Hotel — Birmingham

"The historic Redmont Hotel has developed a reputation for unexplained activity, with published accounts describing mysterious apparitions and objects apparently moving without human intervention. HauntBound identified three distinct published accounts of alleged paranormal activity at the Birmingham hotel, with reports spanning several decades."

4. Sturdivant Hall — Selma

"This historic Selma mansion has been associated with reports of ghostly apparitions and mysterious voices heard throughout the property. HauntBound identified three distinct published accounts of alleged paranormal activity at the home, with historical documentation extending into the 19th century."

5. Cry Baby Hollow Bridge — Hartselle

"Cry Baby Hollow Bridge has long been associated with local ghost stories and unexplained encounters. Visitors have described feeling mysterious touches or pushes while exploring the area. HauntBound identified three distinct published accounts associated with the outdoor location, with reports extending into recent years."

6. The Alabama Theatre — Birmingham

"The historic Alabama Theatre has developed a reputation for paranormal activity, with reports of mysterious apparitions and objects moving without explanation. HauntBound identified three distinct published accounts of alleged supernatural activity at the Birmingham performance venue, with documentation spanning several decades."

7. Bill Sketoe's Hole, Choctawhatchee Bridge — Newton

"Methodist minister William Sketoe was seized and hanged by Confederate Home Guard troops near the Choctawhatchee River in December 1864 after being accused of desertion, although historical records do not establish that he served in the Confederate military. According to local legend, a hole dug beneath his feet during the execution mysteriously emptied itself whenever residents attempted to fill it. Some believed Sketoe's ghost returned nightly to drag his feet through the dirt. The original site was destroyed by flooding in 1990, but a memorial at John Hutto Park preserves the story."

8. The Tutwiler Hotel — Birmingham

"The historic Tutwiler Hotel, now operating as the Hampton Inn & Suites Birmingham-Downtown-Tutwiler, has been associated with reports of ghostly apparitions and mysterious voices. HauntBound identified three distinct published accounts of alleged paranormal activity at the hotel, along with four later publications repeating the stories."

9. Auburn University Chapel — Auburn

"Completed in 1851, Auburn University Chapel served as a Confederate hospital during the Civil War. According to campus legend, a British-born Confederate soldier named Sydney Grimlett died there in 1864 following a leg amputation, although details of his identity remain disputed. When the building housed the Auburn Players theater company, performers reported glowing orbs, disappearing props and unexplained electrical problems. Some students reportedly left candy for the supposed spirit in hopes of preventing disturbances."

10. St. James Hotel — Selma

"Opened in 1837 along the Alabama River, the St. James Hotel served merchants and travelers during Selma's prominence as a cotton-shipping center. The building survived Union cavalry raids during the Civil War and was restored as a hotel in 1997. Over the years, guests and visitors have reported seeing apparitions dressed in period clothing, a mysterious woman near a rear stairwell and shadowy figures moving through upper corridors."

Why Is This List Different?

There are plenty of websites and apps to help people find a good Halloween scare. HauntBound digs into something different, exploring places with reputations for being haunted long before Halloween decorations became a multimillion-dollar industry.

Instead of ranking locations by popularity or how often a ghost story gets repeated, HauntBound examines the number of independently published accounts, how thoroughly the claims have been documented, and how far back the reports go.

The index doesn't attempt to prove ghosts exist. It measures the documentation behind claims that they do.

“We do not attempt to determine whether paranormal phenomena are real, and we never count a source that only establishes a building’s history as evidence of haunting claims,” the site says.

Haunted, But Can You Visit?

The index covers 6,041 locations across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., including 5,718 classified as family-friendly and 1,983 listed as bookable.

Each location includes a family-suitability rating and information about whether visitors can tour the property, book an experience or spend the night. A place may have a terrific ghost story but be privately owned, closed to the public or otherwise off-limits to curious visitors.

HauntBound also identifies each state's oldest documented haunted site, the location with the most published accounts, a recommended haunted overnight stay, and a particularly family-friendly destination.

The rankings are based on research through Sept. 15, and the national index was updated Sept. 29 to remove private homes, operating hospitals and locations with nothing left to visit.