I Live for the Creepy
It’s true. I love creepy, odd, and some might say macabre. My interest in the afterlife and the supernatural in general always has me on the lookout for the next creepy element of my life. When you live a boring, every-day life, you need to look for ways to be weird. That’s what I tell myself, at least. Keep reading to enjoy some of the creepiest destinations in the world, one of which I have visited, and all of which I need to have on my bucket list.
1. Aokigahara Forest, Japan
Also known as the “Sea of Trees”, this forest is located at the northwest base of Mount Fuji in Japan. It’s also colloquially referred to as “The Suicide Forest” because of the number of individuals whom have perished by their own hands in this location. It also has a little smidge of a reputation as being the home of the dead, so there’s that. It’s known for being unnaturally silent due to the density of the trees. People claim to hear whispers or see ghostly figures among the trees.
Creepy Fact: Compasses don’t work properly here due to volcanic magnetic iron deposits.
There have also been several stories and films that have spawned from it, including this one below from 2016’s “The Forest”.
2. Poveglia Island, Italy
This little known nook of an island doesn’t have any tourists come to it. Only ghost hunters and those who absolutely need to go there are its inhabitants. It’s actually illegal to visit there without permission.
Some History: Poveglia Island was where thousands of refugee black plague victims were sent, serving as a quarantine island for those who were even suspected of harboring the bacteria. After time, the bodies of the dying and deceased covered the land. Fisherman ignore the waters because bones still wash up. The island remains one of the most haunted places in Italy.
Creepy Fact: The island still serves as a great place to grow grapes, despite the soil of the island being 50% composed of human ash.
3. Edinburgh Vaults, Scotland
Beneath the surface of the South Bridge in Edinburgh, Scotland, rest 120 rooms, or “vaults”. The vaults, during and after the Industrial Revolution, became home of the destitute and lost. There was no running water nor sanitation. Today it remains as a resting place for the undead and lost souls. Many Paranormal TV shows have visited the vaults. Paranormal investigators are never left unsatisfied upon their travels to the Edinburgh vaults.
Creepy Fact: A ghost named “Mr. Boots” is said to be a not-so-friendly inhabitant of the vaults. He’s growled, scratched and even shoved people. He makes it clear this is not a place for visitors.
4. Hoia Baciu Forest, Romania
Ah, another forest. What is it with forests? Is it just the universal fear of getting lost in the woods? This forest is west of the city of Cluj-Napoca, near the open-air section of the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania. Yes, Transylvania. The one and only. Vlad the Impaler and all that goof stuff. But the forest has its own mercurial elements. The forest is mostly known for UFO sightings, spontaneous burns, and people gone missing. Many who visit the forest experience physical effects such as anxiety, migraines and losing time. The forest was even featured on TV shows like “Ghost Adventures” and “Destination Truth”.
Creepy fact: Locals avoid the “clearing” where nothing grows—it’s considered cursed. The forest is known as the “Bermuda Triangle” of Transylvania. Take a look at an actual photo below of the forest and its trees:
5. The Paris Catacombs
How can any list of creepy destinations not include the Paris Catacombs? This is truly on my bucket list if I ever get to Paris. Beneath the busy streets is a mass burial ground of human remains. 6 million people of remains to be exact (sort of exact). The city was overflowing with cemeteries and starting in 1778 bodies were transferred down into the catacombs to save space. Reports of voices and footsteps are abound when one visits the empire of death under the city of lights. When one is honored enough to make it down there, they are literally exposed to walls of bones and skulls and dimly – lit walkways. Ghost Stories are plentiful down here.
Creepy Fact: In the early 90s, a video camera was found there by those who illegally travel the dark city. The video showed a man walking the halls alone. He was anxious and disoriented down there, dropping breadcrumbs so that he didn’t get lost. Panicked, he suddenly starts running with echoing voices surrounding him. He then drops the camera with no more footage. The man is never seen again. And here’s the footage!
6. Winchester Mystery House, USA
The Winchester Mansion in Santa Cruz, CA, is said to inhabit at least 13 spirits, but possibly dozens or more. Sarah Winchester, the widow of William Winchester, is said to have been haunted by them. The reason? William Winchester was the heir to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, who made rifles. Sarah believed the victims whom have succumb to the Winchester were chasing her. She continued to build extension after extension in the house once her husband died. Her goal was to confuse the ghosts so she could elude them. There are doors to nowhere and staircases leading to the wall. Why did she think this? Blame the medium that told her the whole family was cursed because of the rifles. I bet Sarah didn’t tip her very well after that reading.
Creepy Fact: There’s only one, real working bathroom in the entire mansion—out of 13. The others? Decoys to fool ghosts. Wait, ghosts use the bathroom?
7. Island of the Dolls, Mexico
In the canals of Xochimilco, Mexico, there rest an island unlike any other. The island is swarming with rotting old dolls, hanging from trees. You just can’t miss it. Some history: in the 50s, a man named Don Julian Santana Barrera abandoned his family and left for this island. While there, he found a little girl whom had drowned in the canal. Saying to be haunted by her spirit, he started to collect and hang these dolls as an appreciation (or offering) to her. He claimed each one was made to calm her soul. Years later, Don Julian passed away in the very same canal as the mysterious girl. This has to be one of the creepiest places to travel. People come there to give offerings of dolls to the girl.
Creepy fact: Visitors say the hanging dolls “come to life” with whispering voices and open eyes.
8. The Stanley Hotel, USA
What can we say about the Stanley? Well, it’s famous for being the inspiration behind Stephen King’s “The Shining” after he spent a night there. What else? Well, guests see apparitions, especially in Room 217. In 1911, a gas explosion occurred, harming the housekeeper. She survived, but there are so many reports now of clothes being folded by themselves, lights turning on and someone tucking them into bed. That’s really nice of her in her afterlife now to still take care of the guests. The piano in the lobby is said to play by itself. There are shadow figures and disembodied voices surrounding the halls of the the Stanley. Stephen spent that one night in room 217 and had nightmares, thus sparking his epic novel.
Creepy Fact: I will make it to this place if it’s the last thing I do! I will book a stay there even if I go alone, I don’t care. Need to see.
9. Gettysburg, USA
I chose this one for last because I’ve actually been here – nine times. Nestled in the farmlands of PA, Gettysburg was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War in 1863. It was the home of over 8k deaths and 50k casualties. With all that loss and tragedy, there’s bound to be unrested spirits there. Have I seen them myself? No, but I’ve seen the shadow figures. I’ve smelled there pipes as I travelled the small streets behind the school. It was near this site, that my wife and I had heard the sound of canons firing and horses snarling. I shit you not. Many times, when we go, we stay at the Farnesworth House. This house stood over 150 years ago when the battle occurred. Soldiers even fired shots from the attic of the Farnesworth, killing a woman, Jenny Wade, who was baking bread at the time, as legends go. Both the Farnesworth and the Wade house are very haunted. Upon our first visit to Gettysburg, my wife and I stayed in the Lincoln Room at the Farnesworth. I, unfortunately had nothing occur to me. My wife, though, reported having her hair touched while in the jacuzzi (I was across from her). The whole time, though, I felt like I was being watched.
Creepy Fact: At Gettysburg college nearby, there are reports of doctors performing surgery on wounded soldiers, as this college was used as a field hospital during the battle.
Note: Pay attention to the center of the screen in the video below. Rewatch if you have to do so.
So which was the creepiest? Comment below!
