Los Angeles Ranks Among Nation's Spookiest Cities
A new analysis by Vivint places LA in the top 10 for hauntings, ghost sightings, and paranormal attractions.
Los Angeles has been recognized as one of the most haunted cities in the United States, securing the ninth position on a recent list compiled by Vivint. The analysis examined 74 U.S. cities, considering factors such as reported ghost sightings, the prevalence of haunted locations, funeral services, haunted house attractions, psychics and astrologers, spiritual shops, and online searches related to spooky topics.
LA recorded the highest number of haunted places among the surveyed cities, with 61 documented spooky spots. Notable locations contributing to this figure include the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, often referred to as the "suicide bridge" due to its history during the Depression. Another significant site is the Cecil Hotel in Downtown LA, which has a well-documented past involving suicides, disappearances, and unexplained deaths, including the case of Elisa Lam in 2009. The Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, the former estate of Edward Doheny Jr. and the site of a 1929 murder-suicide, is also cited as a haunted landmark.
While Los Angeles earned a spot in the top 10, the city of Virginia City, Nevada, located approximately 40 miles from the California border, was named the spookiest city in the country. It led in categories such as haunted houses, spiritual shops, and the volume of spooky-related online searches per capita.
Tombstone, Arizona, secured the second position overall and had the highest concentration of psychics and astrologers per 10,000 residents.
The study also indicated a broader increase in public interest in paranormal activities. Searches for "haunted hotels" saw a significant rise of 315% between 2023 and 2025. Additionally, searches for "ghost tours near me" increased by 7%, "ghost towns near me" by nearly 6%, and "haunted buildings near me" and "haunted places near me" both rose by approximately 3%.
