Writer and paranormal researcher Jeff Belanger has compiled a list of the ten most mystical tourist routes in the USA, according to his perspective.
Topping the list is the Gifford Pinchot National Forest (Skamania County, Washington). Witnesses often report hearing strange sounds there and seeing animals unknown even to the Discovery Channel.
The second route on the list is the “Witch House” in Salem, Massachusetts. In the 17th century, the town gained fame for its infamous witch trials. Since then, witchcraft has become an integral part of the town’s identity: a witch on a broomstick is the emblem of the local police department, and numerous shops offer magical supplies, potions, and enchanted crystals. Visitors can also consult local fortune-tellers.
The third mysterious route encompasses the American states of New York and Vermont, as well as the Canadian province of Quebec. Lake Champlain, which these areas surround, is rumored to be home to a plesiosaur or some other giant creature. Locals have even named their resident dinosaur “Champ.”
Ranked fourth is the cruise liner Queen Mary, docked in the harbor of Long Beach, California. During World War II, the ship transported prisoners of war, many of whom died from dehydration or committed suicide. Tragedies continued on Queen Mary even in peacetime, and many believe the ship is haunted. The engine room, the second-class deck, and the swimming pool are considered the most active paranormal areas.
The “Pirate’s House” in Savannah, Georgia, attracts numerous visitors as well. Ghost hunters can enjoy a glass of rum and a hearty meal in a tavern built in 1753. Many pirate legends surround this building, the most famous being about a drunken pirate who died right in the tavern while ordering a drink with his last breath.
The sixth route leads to Roswell, New Mexico. Since July 1947, when an unidentified flying object reportedly crashed there, debates between paranormal enthusiasts and skeptics about whether it was a weather balloon or part of a flying saucer have only intensified. The incident even gave rise to conspiracy theories, and Roswell has become a pilgrimage site for UFO enthusiasts.
Seventh on the list of mystical routes is the White House in Washington, D.C., which is said to be teeming with ghosts. The most active apparitions include Abraham Lincoln’s ghost in the second-floor presidential bedroom, an English soldier in the North Gallery, and First Lady Abigail Adams in the East Room.
Eighth place is occupied by the Hockomock Swamp and Freetown Forest in the “Bridgewater Triangle,” Massachusetts. In the towns forming this triangle—Abington, Rehoboth, and Freetown—paranormal activity is reportedly at its peak. Locals often see ghosts, bright flashes in the sky, and UFOs.
Ninth is the “St. Louis Cemetery” in New Orleans. To see a ghost, just leave a fine cigar and a glass of white rum on the grave—Marie Laveau’s spirit, for instance, is said to appear in exchange for such offerings. Other noteworthy haunted sites include the “Ashley House,” which served as a hospital during the Civil War, and the Beauregard-Keyes House, a museum of Confederate General Pierre Beauregard.
Finally, the last spot on the list goes to farmland in eastern Nebraska, writes USA Today. It was there, in 1990, that the mysterious crop circles, later celebrated in Hollywood, first appeared. Mystics believe they were created by a flying saucer, while skeptics attribute them to pranksters with plenty of free time.
