13 scary places in Maryland

Feeling spooky this Halloween season? Here are 13 of the scariest places in Maryland that you can visit.

Fletchertown Road (Bowie) - The Goat Man Story

Some say the Goat Man was a goat farmer who went crazy after teens killed his goats. Others say he's the result of a human-animal experiment at the Beltsville Research Agricultural Center gone horribly wrong. He's been seen in several different areas -- but it all started on Fletchertown Road in Bowie. Visitors have seen a half-goat, half-man covered in blood. He's been known to decapitate dogs and scare teens parked in deserted areas. 

Fort McHenry (Baltimore)

You've probably heard of Fort McHenry. It was the place where Francis Scott Key was inspired to write The Star Spangled Banner. But do you know about the building's haunted past? Several soldiers lost their lives during the attack on the fort. Now visitors claim they've seen a man dressed as a Confederate soldier marching as if he's still on duty. Others have sensed feelings of dread in the dungeon, where many people were locked up in cells. Occasionally, the smell of gunfire wafts through the compound and marching drums can be heard in the distance. If you're curious to see what you might experience, plan a visit.

Jericho Covered Bridge (Kingsville)

Some people say they've seen ghosts swinging from the rafters of this bridge, or sometimes there's a woman dressed in Amish clothing walking on the bridge. There's a specific routine visitors have followed at night: 1. Drive over the bridge and turn around at the dead end. 2. Drive back over the bridge and stop in the middle. 3. Put the car in park and have everyone look through the back window. 4. Have the driver step on the brakes. What will you see?

Antietam National Battlefield (Sharpsburg, MD)

Thousands of soldiers died in the Battle of Antietam, and it happened right here on Maryland's soil. September 17, 1862, was known as the bloodiest day of the Civil War. Now those whose lives ended there continue to roam on in the afterlife. Whether you visit Bloody Lane, the Pry House or Burnside's Bridge, you're bound to run into a ghostly soldier or smell gunfire. Screams can be heard from St. Paul Episcopal Church, and a Gaelic battle cry lingers out in the field. Many have said the battlefield is the most haunted place in Maryland because of its history, but is it haunted enough to give you the chills?

Witch's Grave (Annapolis)

Legend has it that a witch once lived in what is now Truxton Park in Annapolis. She was hanged for being a witch and was buried in the woods past the third baseball field near a slanted tree. Apparently, the witch escaped from her grave and killed her executioners. On past Halloweens, some say they've seen her victims' apparitions hanging from the same tree she was buried under.

Point Lookout State Park and Lighthouse (Scotland)

There's a lot of history on these grounds. Point Lookout once hosted a hospital during the Civil War. Its an eerie place with a mysterious atmosphere that makes it easy to understand why so many people go looking for hauntings here. A ghost dressed in Civil War clothing has been seen on the grounds. Footsteps and slammed doors have been heard in the Lighthouse, despite the witness being alone. The park is a beautiful area by day -- and a creepy place by night. Feel free to explore. 

Jonathan Hager House Museum (Hagerstown, MD)

It's the original home of Jonathan Hager, the founder of Hagerstown. He died in a building accident and the house was passed on to other families. At least 13 people died in the house and now several spirits haunt its hallways. Visitors have seen a man in black on the back porch, heard children running on the stairs and smelled tobacco in strange spots. The workers here admit there's something a bit more paranormal going on -- they'll take you on a nightly ghost tour.

Miller's Church Road, Hagerstown

Rumor has it that in the 1930s, Satanic worshippers took over a Catholic church on this road and sacrificed young girls there. But the church burned down -- and now there's just a big oak tree. A couple parked here one night and their car refused to start. The boyfriend went to get help -- and left his girlfriend alone in the car with all the windows locked. When he returned, he found her hanging from the tree. Nowadays, visitors say they've seen a ghostly figure in the area, and some people have even seen mysterious cars that disappear into the night.

Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House Museum (Waldorf, MD)

After John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln, he broke his leg jumping from a balcony. He went to Dr. Mudd to get help, and he set his leg and allowed him to stay with him for a few days. Later, Dr. Mudd was sent to prison for it, and the incident forever tarnished his reputation. Today, visitors at the house say they've felt cold presences and heard unexplained knocking. Sometimes the bed that Booth slept in is all messed up -- even though nobody is allowed to touch it. The house was featured on Ghost Hunters and they picked up a strange voice saying, "I am innocent." So the question remains: is the house really haunted? And who is haunting it -- John Wilkes Booth or Dr. Mudd? See for yourself.