Some places cling to memory long after you’ve left — places that seem to hum with their own haunted history. Whether you’re creating AI art, writing horror stories, or designing eerie game environments, the world is full of real-life locations that spark the imagination.
In this post, we’ll explore five famously haunted locations and share ideas for how you can turn their ghostly atmospheres into your next project.
1. Eastern State Penitentiary (Philadelphia, PA)
Once home to thousands of prisoners, this crumbling prison is known for its oppressive silence, endless cell blocks, and stories of spectral figures in the dark.
💡 Prompt idea:
“A decaying stone prison lit by shafts of moonlight, empty cells stretching into the distance, shadowy figures just out of sight.”
2. The Stanley Hotel (Estes Park, CO)
Famous for inspiring The Shining, the Stanley is all grand staircases, flickering chandeliers, and endless halls that echo with ghostly piano music.
💡 Prompt idea:
“A grand old hotel lobby at midnight, flickering lights, worn red carpet, faint outline of a figure at the top of the stairs.”
3. The Catacombs of Paris (Paris, France)
Miles of underground tunnels lined with skulls and bones — a true labyrinth of the dead.
💡 Prompt idea:
“A dark tunnel lined with ancient skulls, the air thick with dust and silence, only the sound of dripping water.”
4. The Queen Mary (Long Beach, CA)
This retired ocean liner is said to be haunted by crew and passengers who never left. Narrow corridors, creaking floors, and locked doors that rattle on their own.
💡 Prompt idea:
“A deserted ocean liner corridor, polished wood walls, low red lights, strange reflections in portholes.”
5. Aokigahara (Japan)
Known as the “Sea of Trees,” this forest at the foot of Mt. Fuji is infamous for its eerie quiet, dense foliage, and tragic history.
💡 Prompt idea:
“A dense forest shrouded in mist, twisted trees, and an old, forgotten trail leading deeper into the shadows.”
🌕 Bring These Places to Life
Whether you’re using AI tools, traditional art, or words, haunted locations like these provide the perfect starting point for unsettling scenes.
👉 Looking for ready-to-use AI prompts to create your own liminal or haunted spaces? Check out my Haunted Locations Prompt Pack or Liminal Spaces Generator.
