As Halloween approaches, discerning travelers seek escapes that go beyond the ordinary, and there is an undeniable thrill in combining indulgent accommodations with eerie histories and uncanny atmospheres. Travelers seeking more than just comfort often look for places that tell a story, and few stories are more captivating than those tinged with the supernatural. Across the world, a select number of vacation rentals lean into their eerie pasts or embrace theatrical design to create unforgettable stays. Some are steeped in centuries of tragedy, whispered hauntings, or dark legends, while others are deliberately styled to immerse guests in a ghostly world of flickering lights and shadowy corridors. Each property promises not only the privacy and comfort of a luxury rental but also the thrill of a chilling escape, where history and imagination blur. In the past, we have shown you haunted luxury hotels; now, we present a curated collection of frightening vacation rentals from around the world for those who dare this spooky season.
The Ghoulish Sanctuary
Kissimmee, Florida
Just minutes from Walt Disney World, this vacation rental is styled as an immersive haunted mansion. Its interiors feature themed rooms, flickering sconces, eerie portraits, and theatrical details that give the impression of living in a storybook of ghostly lore. Families appreciate the balance between whimsical chills and modern comfort, with full kitchens, comfortable bedrooms, and resort amenities nearby. The design is dramatic but thoughtful, ensuring that children and adults alike can enjoy the experience without compromising on livability. At night, the home transforms into a cinematic stage set where shadows deepen and every corridor hums with anticipation. Theatrical lighting cues and subtle illusions heighten the sense of mystery, yet the property remains grounded in convenience. Guests can prepare meals, relax in cozy living spaces, and retreat to quiet bedrooms, making it as functional as it is fantastical. The appeal lies in its ability to serve as an imaginative escape, with meticulous theming and atmosphere on full display.
Blairquhan Castle
Ayrshire, Scotland
Blairquhan Castle is a nineteenth-century Regency-style estate in South Ayrshire, Scotland, built in 1824 on the site of earlier castle structures. The castle incorporates stonework and fragments from previous fortifications, lending it an architectural lineage that stretches back centuries. Within the estate grounds stands an ancient sycamore tree believed by some historians to have served as a dule tree, or gallows tree, in the sixteenth century. This detail adds a shadow of solemnity to the otherwise stately atmosphere, reminding visitors that even the most elegant estates often carry darker chapters in their history. The castle offers fifteen bedrooms within the main residence, each individually designed with period character and refined comfort, as well as eight additional holiday cottages across the estate grounds that together can host larger gatherings. The silence of its expansive rooms and the weight of its ancestral heritage combine to create an atmosphere that feels charged with memory and a spooky timelessness.
Ghostly Retreat
Orange County, California
Another Haunted Mansion-inspired estate, this private residence near Disneyland elevates haunted living into interactive theater. Guests are greeted with sound effects, moody lighting, and illusions designed to simulate the presence of ghosts. The home itself is fully equipped with bedrooms, a hot tub, and a modern kitchen, ensuring that its theatrics do not come at the expense of practicality. It is especially popular with families and friend groups looking for a unique way to celebrate Halloween. The result is a stay that is equal parts art installation and comfortable holiday rental. As evening falls, the ghostly illusions come alive, transforming the space into a dynamic environment that feels alive with unseen presences. The experience is immersive, yet the design remains elegant and livable, blending spooky playfulness with cozy amenities. Guests report that gatherings often stretch late into the night, as the home itself becomes the entertainment.
The Manor
Saint Paul, Minnesota
The Manor was built in 1883 and has stood for generations as one of the most intriguing homes in Saint Paul. Once voted the most mysterious house in the city by the Pioneer Press, it carries an unmistakable aura of history and eccentric charm. Much of the residence has been refinished and decorated with antiques and curiosities, with friends of the owner remarking that it always feels like a work in progress, even as most of the home has now been lovingly restored. The master chamber is spacious yet cozy, with tall ceilings, an abundance of sunlight, and a private bath and laundry that add convenience to period character. The Manor is no stranger to whispers of the uncanny. Its long history, paired with its eccentric design and reputation for mystery, makes it a natural setting for paranormal intrigue.
Lilburn Mansion
Ellicott City, Maryland
This Victorian Gothic castle mansion in Maryland is one of those rare properties where architecture and legend are inseparable. Built in 1857, the original home was reportedly destroyed by fire, with conflicting accounts that either the owner’s wife and children perished in the blaze or that they escaped only to later take their own lives. Whatever the true history, the house carries an aura of tragedy that has woven itself into its reputation as a haunted residence. The mansion today is restored and beautifully appointed, with two bedrooms, a ballroom, a library, and a pool, and has played host to multiple film and TV crews. The exterior rises with dramatic Gothic flair, while the interiors balance period character with practical comfort, offering guests the opportunity to live amid grandeur touched by lingering lore. Stories from visitors and caretakers point to unusual phenomena that heighten its reputation. Some claim to have seen the apparition of a child suspended from a chandelier, while others speak of chandeliers swaying without explanation and windows shattering in still air.
Warren Bothy Cottage
Shropshire Hills, England
This off-grid stone cottage, hidden in the Shropshire Hills, is as much an exercise in atmosphere as it is a vacation rental. Without Wi-Fi or neighbors, silence dominates, amplifying every creak of wood and sigh of wind into something uncanny. Guests describe the cottage as profoundly atmospheric, especially as dusk falls and mist curls around the hills. By day, the simplicity feels restorative; by night, the isolation transforms it into a stage for the imagination. The result is a hauntingly serene experience. Inside, the cottage offers only the essentials: a log stove, a modest kitchen, and a simple sleeping space. Yet this absence of distraction enhances the eerie ambiance, leaving nothing between you and the atmosphere of the place. Guests often speak of vivid dreams, sensations of presence, and an emotional connection to the landscape. For those willing to trade opulence for authenticity, Warren Bothy provides one of the most memorable haunted stays in the UK.
Brannen-Devine House
Flagstaff, Arizona
The Brannen-Devine House is a beautifully preserved Queen Anne-style cottage dating from 1892, standing as a local architectural gem in Flagstaff, appealing to couples or small groups seeking a haunted escape that feels deeply personal. Inside, the spaces are intimate and reflective: tall ceilings, woodwork, vintage touches, and well-chosen furnishings guide the eye to both comfort and nuance. Its brick walls with stone foundation and ornate period details lend the house a quiet dignity that naturally evokes the patina of history. For those who favor haunted nuance over theatrical drama, the Brannen-Devine House offers a sublime balance of historic weight and private warmth. By night, the silence of the neighborhood intensifies each subtle sound (floorboards settling, wind through eaves, distant echoes…), and the sense of connection to generations past becomes palpable. Guests often report a resonance of ambience more than overt apparitions, the kind that lingers in shadowed corners and unsettles only by quiet suggestion. As a rental, the house supports longer stays with a full kitchen, cozy bedrooms, and vaulted living areas, all while retaining its vintage character.
Parks-Bowman Mansion
New Orleans, Louisiana
In the heart of the Garden District, the Parks-Bowman Mansion stands as a quintessential spooky New Orleans estate. Built in the nineteenth century, this haunted rental is a striking Victorian mansion with carved cypress staircases, stained glass windows, high ceilings, and hardwood floors that preserve its historic character. Guests are invited to stay in one of several distinctive rooms, including the Haunted Bedroom, the Library, and the Red Room, each infused with its own personality and charm. Lore surrounding the mansion is part of what has made it one of the most memorable rentals in the city. Guests and caretakers alike speak of a young woman in a yellow dress who has been spotted in the dining room, as well as apparitions that appear on the grand staircase. The Haunted Bedroom in particular has become known for playful disturbances, with sounds and movements reported during the night. The owners themselves embrace these stories, presenting the mansion as a place where the living and the spectral share space with respect.