From the Cecil Hotel to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, L.A. is no stranger to curses, paranormal activity, urban legends, and creepy places with an obscure reputation. But some spots stand out more than others when it comes to planning a Halloween visit, the perfect time of year for those chasing an adrenaline rush and that cold sweat running down their spine.
That’s why USA Today 10Best analyzed thousands of votes from people across the country with one goal: to determine the best haunted destination in America. Landing in second place, just a scare away from the top, the Queen Mary in Long Beach secured its spot.
An ocean liner filled with history
Launched in 1936 for the Cunard Line, the Queen Mary was an opulent transatlantic liner known for its Art Deco elegance, speed, and luxury accommodations, Encyclopedia Britannica says.
During World War II, it was pressed into service as a troopship and carried thousands of soldiers across the seas. After decades of cutting-edge voyages, the ship made its final crossing in 1967 and arrived in Long Beach, where it was permanently moored and transformed into a museum, hotel, and tourist attraction.
A haunted and floating giant…
The legend of the spirits roaming the Queen Mary comes both from its wartime history and several tragic incidents on board. One of the most cited is the infamous Door 13 in the engine room, where an 18-year-old crew member was reportedly crushed during a safety drill in 1966, Legends of America explains.
For decades, guests and staff often report strange activity in the first-class swimming pool (closed for years now), while visitors claim to see women in the 1930s swimsuits, hear children laughing, splashes with no water, and wet footprints that lead to the changing rooms… When no one is there.
One of the ship’s most notorious ghosts is “Jackie”. This entity is said to be the spirit of a little girl wandering near the second-class pool and adjoining hallways. People have reported hearing her laughter, her voice calling for her parents, and even seeing her holding a teddy bear.
The suite B-340 seems to be another hotspot for odd activity. Considered the most haunted room in the hotel, here guests have described flickering lights, sudden drops in temperature, strange noises, faucets turning on by themselves, objects moving, and shadowy figures looming near the bed.
Exploring the Queen Mary
The countless stories collected over the years have turned this place into one of the most haunted in the country. At the same time, its many attractions that explore this eerie side have made it a favorite for thrill seekers and one of the top destinations in the U.S.
All of this is thanks to its “paranormal attractions,” which include ghost walks and haunted encounters tours where visitors can dive deeper into its history and, with a little luck, catch a glimpse of some of the ship’s many alleged spirits.