As October rolls in, it’s the perfect time to get into the Halloween spirit by diving into tales of some of the most haunted real estate properties across the United States. While many people picture creaky old mansions and eerie hotels, there are many commercial properties with spooky stories like prisons, warehouses, and even pizza joints that shouldn’t be overlooked! These commercial properties, rich with history and strange events, have become infamous for mysterious sounds, flickering lights, and ghostly sightings. Whether you’re a ghost hunter or just love a good tale, these haunted locations are sure to get your heart racing.
The Eastern State Penitentiary (Special Purpose property) – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Once one of the most famous prisons in U.S. and reportedly one of the most expensive to construct in the world, Eastern State Penitentiary is now a popular destination for those seeking a haunting experience. The prison opened in 1829, with a new philosophy for prisoners to alter their behavior—solitary confinement for all. Prisoners were kept in solitary cells for 23 hours a day, equipped with “feed doors,” and in the brief time they could spent outside their cell walls, they were forced to wear masks and hoods to prohibit communication. It’s said that the souls of prisoners, including notorious criminals like Al Capone, continue to roam the prison’s crumbling cell blocks. This imposing structure, now open for public tours, is famous for eerie sounds, shadowy figures, and chilling whispers.
The Driskill Hotel (Hospitality property) – Austin, Texas
The Driskill Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in Texas, has a long-standing reputation for being haunted. Yelp! dubbed the hotel the most haunted spot in Texas in 2022 and those eager to experience paranormal activity stay on the hotel’s fifth floor. Built in 1886, it’s rumored that guests catch a whiff of cigar smoke (in the smoke-free hotel) near the portrait of the hotel’s founder, Colonel Driskill. Another eerie experience for some reported hearing the sound of a little girl giggling, and a ball bouncing down the stairs—connected to the death of Samantha Houston, falling down the hotel’s grand staircase chasing a bouncy ball. Two women, both either about to be married or on their honeymoons, took their lives on the hotel’s fifth floor, 20 years apart. Guests have since reported sightings of the unfortunate brides including strange occurrences in room 525, where at least one death occurred. Annie Lennox once claimed that one of the spirits helped her choose a dress.
The Soap Factory (Industrial property) – Minneapolis, Minnesota
This former soap manufacturing warehouse, now known as the Soap Factory, has long been rumored to be one of Minnesota’s most haunted buildings. Spanning, at its peak, 48,000 square feet on the riverfront, the warehouse was historically used to produce soap—allegedly made from animal fat sourced from thousands of stray dogs and cats—and artificial limbs. In more recent years, the building was transformed into an art gallery and became a popular haunted attraction during Halloween. Actors participating in the haunted house reported unsettling occurrences, while paranormal experts exploring the site captured electronic voice phenomena (EVPs), noted strange acoustics, unexplainable temperature shifts, objects inexplicably moving, and lights flickering on and off.
The Brewery Blocks (Retail property) – Portland, Oregon
Want to eat a slice of pizza with a ghost? What used to be the Henry Weinhard Brewery, a massive industrial complex dating back to the 1800s, has since been turned into an office and retail space known as the Brewery Blocks. One business in the complex, Old Town Pizza & Brewing, is built directly above Portland’s infamous Shanghai tunnels which used to house kidnapped sailors during the early 1900s. The pizzeria’s resident ghost, named Nina, is sometimes seen watching over diners and wandering around the basement below. Diners have reported feeling a presence behind them or a faint smell of perfume.
Retailers Gear up Early for Spooky Season
American shoppers are expected to spend less on Halloween in 2024 compared to last year with a total spend of $11.6 billion compared to $12.2 billion in 2023. Retailers have adjusted with a longer sales season—in some cases starting as early as July or August. Spirit Halloween, the pop-up Halloween retail chain, which takes over storefronts for 8-12 weeks, is planning to open a record-breaking 1,525 stores for the 2024 season, marking its largest expansion yet. Spirit Halloween is set to hire over 50,000 seasonal employees, an increase from last year’s 40,000 employes. With stores popping up in vacant malls, former department stores, and even warehouses, this expansion will ensure that Halloween enthusiasts can get everything they need for the spooky season, no matter where they are in the country.
Haunted real estate can be thrilling for some and eerie for others, but whether you’re searching for ghostly encounters or simply stocking up on spooky decor, the spirit of Halloween is alive and well in 2024!
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