Top Ten Haunted Places to Visit in Canada
If you are up for such a thrilling adventure to experience something you believe is beyond ordinary, you should visit the spine-chilling haunted locations situated in the country of Canada.
Most people find haunted places fascinating, as the supernatural sparks curiosity. Regardless of age, the unknown invites exploration beyond the human world. The allure of eerie locations continues to captivate many. Till today, there is no factual evidence about the existence of ghosts or spirits. This only triggers our curiosity further and feeds our imagination.
We have grown up listening to several myths, fairy tales, folktales and supernatural incidents that are perhaps not true but definitely manages to thrill us. When friends or cousins reunite after a long time, they often gather in groups and exchange horror stories. Most of these tales originate from imagination rather than real events, but they spark excitement and create lasting memories. Many locations carry eerie legends, where unexplained events fuel beliefs in curses or spiritual presence. From ancient castles to abandoned villages, mystery surrounds these places, keeping speculation alive across generations.
These places are a melting pot of mysteries. People often travel to such locations to look for their own share of truth. If you are up for such a thrilling adventure to experience something you believe is beyond ordinary, you should visit the spine-chilling haunted locations situated in the country of Canada. Before you travel to the destinations mentioned below, would you not like to have background knowledge of the places you have planned to visit? With a background story in your mind, you will be able to relate and understand the place better for who knows what it is to come!
It is always wise to have at least a bleak idea of what story the place holds within itself. What cries, what curses, what damsels and distress in encircles! If you wish to play it safe, you can choose to visit the locations during the daytime, otherwise, you can be an adventurer they show in films and visit the place during the evening or night.
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Alberta was built around the year 1888 near the Canadian Pacific Railway. If you believe that the Bates Motel in the film Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock was the palace of nightmares, you should totally visit this hotel which is surely going to erase your sleep at night. It has been claimed that there have been several ghost sightings within and outside the hotel premises. Witnesses report seeing the ghost of a bride who tragically fell and died on the hotel stairs. Her spirit allegedly haunts the stairways at night, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the location.
Many people report sightings of Sam McAuley, a hotel bellman who remains devoted to his duties even after death. Witnesses describe him appearing in full uniform, still attending to guests as if he never left. His presence adds to the eerie atmosphere, leaving visitors both intrigued and unsettled. Imagine running into this man in the corridor late at night while he carries hot trays around.
Keg Mansion, Toronto
Have you ever wondered where films like Conjuring, Paranormal Activities, Psycho, Grudge and others get inspiration for their plots? It is hotels and houses like these where an accident so dark took place that the curse of it still looms in the air of the place. Today, this location operates as the Keg Steakhouse Franchise. Previously, it served as the home of industrialist Hart Massey and his family. The transformation reflects the site’s evolving history and significance.
Stories from this mansion suggest that in 1915, after the passing away of Massey’s only beloved daughter, one of the maids named Lillian killed herself because she could not take the burden of grief. However, some accounts claim that Lillian may have been involved with a male family member. Fearing exposure and its impact on her and the family’s reputation, she allegedly chose to end her life by hanging. This perspective adds a layer of intrigue to the narrative. Many have seen the dangling image of the dead maid in the mansion; it seems she is now a permanent member of the Massey family.
Tranquille Sanatorium, Kamloops
Built in 1907, The Sanatorium treated tuberculosis patients before becoming a mental asylum. Over time, eerie sounds—shrill cries and unsettling laughter—filled its halls, adding to its haunted reputation. It was after this that the place finally got shut and abandoned. From then on the place was home sweet home to eerie moans,eerie waves of laughter, spine-chilling screams and everything that was not human. Reports describe eerie voices and cries echoing at odd hours. Locals claim to have witnessed unsettling paranormal events, adding to the site’s haunted reputation. The unexplained phenomena continue to spark curiosity and fear.
The place is now in absolute ruins and is a standing nightmare. Before the pandemic hit the world, the place was one of the most famous horror destinations. For those explorers who are way too curious to know the truth and are daredevils at heart, the place also offers lodging in the escape room in the stygian tunnels that connect various buildings on the campus. Be ready to encounter dead-ly personalities around the corners!
Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria
Craigdarroch Castle weaves a fascinating tale of an intriguing family
This majestic castle built in the 1890s, for the family of coal miner Robert Dunsmuir has become the chilling spot for ghosts for years now. This Victorian-era castle preserves its grandeur and aesthetics. Today, it stands as one of Canada’s most haunted locations, drawing eerie tales and unsettling encounters . Witnesses claim a ghost resides in the mansion, passionately playing the piano. Many observe him deeply immersed in his melodies, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the place.
There also lives a woman who haunts the castle in her flowy white gown. A classic plot for a horror film it seems but spookily enough it is, perhaps, true. People are of the opinion that this is the state of the mansion because of the untimely death of the owner, just a year before the completion of the castle. Perhaps Mr. Dunsmuir decided if I could not live here during my lifetime, I will surely reign this place after my death.
The Old Spaghetti Factory, Vancouver
Ghosts in trains and planes are unparallel to the ones found in the dungeon or in the storehouse of old worn-down houses. These are the ones that will straight jump on your faces and you have nowhere to go! You are practically stuck with them in a metallic carriage. One such ghost is known to inhabit this famous eatery which is built on the ruins of an old underground railway cable. This ghost was perhaps the conductor of one of the many trains of that route and makes his existence felt by deranging tables, miraculously dropping the temperature of the restaurant and instilling a dark force in the place.
To make matters worse (or more exciting), the owner of the restaurant has put up a picture of a decommissioned trolley from the 1950s where you can clearly see the blurred image of the deceased conductor standing on the last steps of the trolley . When you visit this place, do not forget to carry your ticket. We are sure you do not want the conductor running after you, do you?
Plains of Abraham, Quebec City
Wars are not only tragic when they take place on the ground and in the minds of the warriors, but sometimes, the tragedy continues to live its legacy. The war-cries and the damage sometimes linger in the place they were born in. Such is the story of The Battle of the Plains of Abraham. In 1759, Major General James Wolfe led British forces in a three-month siege at Quebec City. This effort culminated in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, a decisive conflict that shaped Canada’s colonial history. This was one of the most famous and dynamic battles to have taken place in Canada’s history.
No wonder people still witness soldiers walking around the plains, lost and bloodied. Ghostly sightings of wounded soldiers have also been seen in the tunnels. Both Major General Louis-Joseph de Montcalm and Wolfe were martyred in the battle. It still wonders us whether their ghosts are still at war on the battleground or are finally resting in peace. We might never know! And we can’t help but wonder whether their spirits are still battling it out to this da or have decided to settle with peace!
Maritime Museum of British Columbia, Victoria
Okay, this one is quite interesting to note. This museum is often called the place of the newly-wed and the dearly-dead. The peculiar nomenclature is because of the history the museum carries within itself. Some people remain deeply attached to certain places, even beyond life. Their presence creates lingering connections, sparking beliefs in hauntings or supernatural existence. This phenomenon persists across various locations worldwide. The Maritime Museum of British Columbia stands in Victoria’s renowned Bastion Square, where history lingers in the air. Many believe that spirits of the past roam the halls, adding an eerie charm to its historical significance. This place was once the city’s jail and gallows and must have witnessed criminals of the highest order.
Stories suggest that if someone looks through the windows of the museum’s entrance, they might find a shadowy slender-looking Van Dyk-bearded dark figure smoothly getting down the stairs. Matthew Baillie Begbie, known as Victoria’s infamous “Hanging Judge” earned his reputation for delivering harsh sentences. Many believe his ghost still lingers, tied to the city’s judicial past. His presence adds an eerie layer to Victoria’s haunted history. Do not forget to maintain law and order when you are at this place. The law seems to be unforgiving here!
Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto
Legend has it, not all love stories die with the death of the lovers, especially if the story was left incomplete. Along with the tale, the lovers too sometimes stay behind to narrate their untold stories. One such tale which is still narrated to the world is of Dorothy, the Lonely bank teller. Before the Hockey Hall of Fame was built, the ground was serving as a branch of the bank of Montreal.
The story goes with Dorothy’s romantic proposals to the branch’s manager who continually rejected her pleas resulting in Dorothy killing herself. Dorothy’s sad ghost now looms around the very famous Hockey Hall of Fame and some visitors have complained that they often hear the wails of a woman crying within the building. Do not know if a crying child at a museum is worse or the wailing of a dead woman!
West Point Lighthouse, O’Leary, P. E. I.
Those eerie tales certainly heighten the mystery surrounding lighthouses! From unsettling films like The Lighthouse to chilling stories in Conrad’s works, the supernatural lurks within these isolated beacons. Their ominous presence capturesthe imagination, making every flickering light feel more like a spectral warning than a simple guide. There’s something so dark and disturbing about the crashing waves at the foot of a gigantic lighthouse that it needs no other climatic effect to bring forth horror.
Rumours about one such lighthouse of Canada have long loomed the country. Many believe that Willie, the first lighthouse keeper, continues to guard the illuminated beacon even after death. His presence allegedly lingers at the West Point Lighthouse Inn, where visitors report unexplained sightings and eerie encounters. One of the most peculiar hotels in Canada, offering all kinds of services at all times. Willie will perhaps make sure that the lights guide you home!
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Some of the oldest castles in Canada date as far back as the 1700s, which create an absolute joyful experience to revisit the times and the ways of living from the industrial era with restored artworks and costumes interpreters ready to welcome its visitors. Learn more at Guide to Top Castles in Canada.