New York is more than bright lights, Broadway, and bagels. If you’re someone who’s drawn to the strange, eerie, or downright spine-chilling, the Empire State has a treasure trove of creepy and macabre spots worth exploring.
From haunted mansions and morbid museums to forgotten cemeteries and serial killer relics, here are 11 things to see in New York if you’re into the darker side of history and mystery.
1. The House of Death – Manhattan
Located at 14 West 10th Street in Greenwich Village, this brownstone has earned its nickname because of the numerous deaths and alleged hauntings tied to it.
Some say the ghost of Mark Twain still walks its halls, while others claim to have seen shadowy figures and heard eerie voices. It’s one of New York City’s most famously haunted homes.
2. Sleepy Hollow & the Old Dutch Church – Sleepy Hollow
Yes, the real Sleepy Hollow exists—and it’s just as spooky as Washington Irving described. Visit the Old Dutch Church and its graveyard, where you can take lantern-lit tours through old headstones, including Irving’s own resting place. Come around Halloween for full haunted village vibes.
3. H.H. Richardson Complex – Buffalo
This massive, castle-like former insane asylum is chilling even from the outside. Once known as the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane, the building is partly restored but still holds an air of unsettling energy. You can tour parts of it today—and yes, there are ghost stories.
4. Merchant’s House Museum – Manhattan
This preserved 19th-century home is not only a historical museum—it’s also one of NYC’s most haunted places. Staff and visitors have reported cold spots, sudden noises, and sightings of Gertrude Tredwell, the home’s last resident, who supposedly never left.
5. Rolling Hills Asylum – East Bethany
Once a poorhouse, orphanage, and mental asylum, Rolling Hills has seen it all—and it shows. Known as one of the most haunted locations in the country, it offers ghost hunts, overnight stays, and creepy tours where people have reported screams, footsteps, and unexplained touches.
6. The Morbid Anatomy Library – Brooklyn
This quirky museum and research center explores death, anatomy, and forgotten medical history. Inside, you’ll find antique funeral photos, taxidermy, books on occult rituals, and odd relics from around the world. It’s weird, educational, and fascinatingly dark.
7. Fort William Henry Ghost Tours – Lake George
Built during the French and Indian War, Fort William Henry has a brutal past. Today, you can join nighttime ghost tours through the grounds, where actors and guides retell stories of war, bloodshed, and unexplained activity. Perfect for history lovers with a taste for the supernatural.
8. Hart Island – The Bronx
New York’s mass burial site for over a million unclaimed and unidentified bodies. For years, it was off-limits to the public, but now limited guided tours are offered. The island’s quiet, solemn atmosphere and tragic history make it one of NYC’s eeriest spots.
9. Amityville Horror House – Long Island
The real house behind the Amityville Horror legend still stands in Long Island. Though it’s a private residence (no trespassing!), fans of the paranormal often drive by to catch a glimpse. The gruesome 1974 DeFeo family murders gave rise to stories of demons, hauntings, and infamous books and movies.
10. The Sagamore Hotel – Lake George
This luxurious lakeside hotel might look fancy, but it has a reputation for ghostly guests. People report seeing a ghostly boy who throws golf balls, a phantom lady in white, and strange occurrences in the hallways. Stay overnight if you dare.
11. The New York City Marble Cemetery – Manhattan
Tucked between buildings in the East Village, this hidden cemetery is one of NYC’s oldest, with marble vaults buried underground instead of headstones. It only opens occasionally to the public, making it an even more mysterious place to visit.
Whether you’re chasing ghost stories, fascinated by dark history, or just love that eerie, goosebump-inducing vibe, New York has plenty of creepy and macabre spots to satisfy your curiosity.
From haunted homes to forgotten cemeteries and offbeat museums, the Empire State proves that the spooky side of travel is just as rich and exciting as the sunny side. So grab a flashlight and your sense of adventure—the darker corners of New York are waiting.
