PHOTOS: The most haunted places in metro Atlanta

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The Fox Theatre A mainstay in midtown Atlanta, the Fox Theatre was built in 1928, and originally intended to be the headquarters for the Atlanta Shriners. It was eventually leased to movie mogul William Fox, who converted it into a movie palace. Today, theatre is home to concerts and stage shows off all kinds, Among the features of the theatre is the infamous organ. An old organist who used to play in the theatre had his ashes scattered there after they died and is said to still linger behind. Over the years, employees of the Fox have said they can hear him play his favorite tunes after hours. That is just one of many reasons why people say the Fox Theatre is haunted. (PHOTO: The Fox Theater)

The Ellis Hotel Before it became the Ellis Hotel, the building along Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta was known as the Winecoff Hotel. Built in 1913, the hotel was supposed to be “fireproof.” “In 1946, packed with 300 guests, the hotel caught fire, killing 119 people. Firefighters could only reach eight of the 15 stories, and there are images of people jumping from windows. Frank Winecoff, the hotel’s namesake, was among the dead,” Explore Georgia said about the event. With its tragic past, hotel patrons still report smelling smoke and hearing fire alarms going off around the time that the fire initially started years ago. (Sandra Parrish)

Lake Lanier One of metro Atlanta’s most popular recreational spots is Lake Lanier. “The lake was created in the 1950s by flooding valley communities that contained a cemetery, fueling beliefs that it’s cursed. Historians say some unmarked graves and other structures were swallowed up by its waters,” CNN said in an article about the belief that the lake is haunted. Because the land was never cleared before it was flooded, whole structures remain intact under the water. “Over the years, divers have reported creepy sightings beneath the murky waters. Some tell stories of freaky catfish as big as a Volkswagen. YouTube is filled with divers showing videos of sunken houseboats and piles of debris,” CNN said. “One of Lake Lanier’s most popular urban legends involves a car wreck. According to the story, a Ford sedan carrying two women careened off a bridge in April 1958 and tumbled into the lake. Some say the ghost of one of the women, dubbed the ‘Lady of the Lake,’ wanders the bridge at night in a blue dress, lost and restless.” (Debra Johnston-Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties)

Historic Lawrenceville jail Right in the middle of downtown Lawrenceville, is the Historic Lawrenceville Jail. It is believed to be haunted. “Urban legend has it that a slave named Elleck was attacked by his slave master, and to escape the scuffle, Elleck is rumored to have tried to escape by climbing up a ladder to his quarters. The slave master tried to follow him but ended up falling off the ladder and plunging to his death. Opting to tell the truth about the matter, Elleck is said to have confessed the entire situation to the courts in good faith, but rather than seeing that it was merely an accident, the courts sentenced Elleck to death. After a failed escape attempt, Elleck was chained up and immobilized until his hanging, and legend suggests that he would sing a sorrowful song dedicated to his wife Betsy while awaiting his fate,” Thrillist said. To this day, visitors to the jail claim they can hear Elleck singing to his wife. (PHOTO: Kate Awtrey / themoonlitroad.com)

Barrington Hall "Barrington Hall was built in 1842 by Barrington King and several generations of the family have lived (and died) there.According to staff members, a lady in period dress has been spotted around the property and have even shown up in photographs taken in the garden. Other paranormal activity that is commonly reported includes phantom footsteps, unexplained aromas of cigar smoke, and even disembodied voices," Hauntedrooms.com reports. (Scott Flynn)

The Highland Inn The Highland Inn may often be overlooked by tourists.t is by no means a chic boutique hotel and is very much at the lower end of the accommodation scale. However, it is popular with a certain kind of guest – those with a keen interest in the paranormal," Hauntedrooms.com said. "The hotel has been around since 1927 and has seen various modifications over the years which have turned it into something similar to a labyrinth of corridors and staircases! This all lends itself to making The Highland Inn an ideal location for a haunting. Not too much is known about who is haunting the hotel, or why they linger there, but various guests have comments on cold spots, strange noises, and shadows. Room 130 in particular seems to be a hotspot and guests have captured strange anomalies in photographs taken in that room." (PHOTO: Explore Georgia)

Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse “Some of the paranormal activity that has been reported here includes things like hearing disembodied voices, unexplained light anomalies, and even shadow figures. There are 3 apparitions which are seen with some degree of regularity although there are believed to be many others haunting the building,” hauntedrooms.com said. “The three who have made themselves known include a young boy wearing a blue velvet suit, an older man in period clothing and a woman who often takes it upon herself to rearrange things. She has been known to move items in the dressing rooms, switch props, close doors and even knock down parts of the set.” (PHOTO: The Atlanta Shakespeare Company)

Rhodes Hall Rhodes Hall is affectionately known as ‘the castle on Peachtree’ thanks to its grand appearance. The building was constructed back in 1904 by Amos Rhodes,” Hauntedrooms.com said. “The majority of the paranormal activity that goes on here has been attributed to the wife of Amos Rhodes who actually died in the property. She is said to play with the lights and there are reports of unexplained footsteps and disembodied voices. “Some visitors to the house have reported seeing apparitions of giggling children and the basement is said to be home to a much more malevolent presence which witnesses have described as a dark and evil shadow figure.” (PHOTO: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Kennesaw House and the Marietta Museum of History Kennesaw House is a museum these days, but during the Civil War era, it did serve as a hospital and later a morgue which is almost always a recipe for some spooky goings-on. Several witnesses have, at separate times, claimed to see a complete hospital scene in the basement of the building with soldiers being operated on by surgeons,” Hauntedrooms.com said. “The other reports of paranormal activity are not quite as disturbing. There is said to be a female apparition, believed to be the original owner’s wife, who appears frequently and waves to visitors before disappearing.” (PHOTO: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

October 19, 2023 at 3:57 pm EDT

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