California might be famous for its sunshine, beaches, and movie stars, but behind the glitz and glamour lies a much darker side.
A new study from Hard Rock Bet has officially crowned California as the most haunted state in the United States, with more ghost sightings, haunted places, and paranormal activity than anywhere else in the country. From eerie ghost towns to creepy haunted houses, the Golden State has earned its spooky crown just in time for Halloween 2025.
👻 Why is California so haunted?
According to the study, California scored a spooky 78.98 out of 100, landing the #1 spot on the list of the most haunted states in the U.S. Researchers analyzed four chilling factors (haunted locations, ghost towns, UFO sightings, and average haunted house ratings) to see where the scares are strongest.
California topped the charts thanks to:
- 16,969 UFO sightings – the highest number in the country.
- 136 haunted locations – second only to Ohio.
- 273 ghost towns – proving California’s past is as eerie as it is historic.
- Haunted house ratings averaging 8.42/10 – showing the state knows how to do spooky season right!
From the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose to the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California’s haunted hotspots attract thrill-seekers from all over the world. Even its abandoned desert towns and forgotten mining camps tell ghostly stories of California’s darker history.
👻Who else made the haunted list?
While California takes the top spot, other states have their own spooky stats to brag about.
- Texas ranks #2, with more ghost towns (550) than any other state and the highest haunted house rating (9.63/10) in the nation.
- Florida comes in at #3, thanks to 120 haunted locations and 8,757 UFO sightings, proving the Sunshine State has plenty of shadows too.
- Ohio and Pennsylvania round out the top five with hundreds of hauntings, abandoned buildings, and eerie folklore.
👻How was the study conducted?
To find the most haunted states in America, Hard Rock Bet analyzed data from four spooky categories:
- Haunted attractions from thescarefactor.com
- Ghost towns from batchgeo.com
- UFO sightings from the National UFO Reporting Center (nuforc.org)
- Average haunted house ratings based on user reviews
Each category was normalized into a “spooky score” out of 100, then ranked to reveal the ultimate list of haunted hotspots across the U.S.
👻The Final Fright
With nearly 17,000 UFO sightings, hundreds of haunted locations, and enough ghost towns to fill a horror movie, it’s safe to say the Golden State has more than a few skeletons in its closet. Even in the land of endless sunshine, it turns out California’s ghostly side is impossible to ignore.