Full Survey Results
Key Findings
Northeast graveyards are among the most dreaded.
The oldest states tend to have the eeriest cemeteries. New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania appear multiple times in the top 30.
It’s not just age – it’s atmosphere. These Northeast states are marked by colonial-era graveyards and old churches, making some of these haunted spots scarier than Hollywood fiction.
History and tragedy go hand in hand.
Places marked by mass loss – Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, Shiloh in Tennessee, and Vicksburg in Mississippi – all rank high.
These are not only burial grounds but emotional flashpoints where the nation’s conflicts still echo.
Hollywood and pop culture play a role.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery in LA is the only site where “fame” and “fear” meet head-on. Its inclusion shows how cultural lore can turn glamor into something spectral.
Southern graveyards are among the most still feared.
The region’s mix of faith, folklore, and history seems to amplify every haunting.
Western graveyards are empty and eerie.
The farther west you go, the graveyards tend to become emptier and eerier.
Places like Tombstone’s Boothill Graveyard or Nevada’s Tonopah Cemetery are examples of sparse graveyards that are among the most feared for visiting.
Many of these cemeteries belonged to miners, drifters, and outlaws with no descendants to remember them. This gives them a uniquely desolate feel.
Not all hauntings are tragic.
Some cemeteries – particularly in the Midwest – show up because locals simply enjoy their mystery.
In Illinois, Kentucky, and Wisconsin, the legends lean more toward “weird” than “dark,” with stories of phantom lights, laughter, or disappearing dogs.
The Midwest may be the most good-naturedly haunted region of all.
Final Thoughts
What is notable is not which graveyards made the list, but rather why they were included.
Many of those graveyards mentioned don’t necessarily have bloody or haunted reputations, but they are the ones where stories linger.
People might laugh off ghost tales in daylight, but at night, history tells a different story.
Whether it’s the Headless Horseman in Sleepy Hollow or soldiers pacing Gettysburg, these graveyards remind us that imagination has its own afterlife – and it’s very much alive.
Methodology
This study is based on an online panel survey of 3,004 respondents, conducted to determine which hidden gem cemetery in America is considered the most beautiful. The survey sample was designed to reflect a balanced mix across age, gender, and geography.
To ensure statistical reliability, internal data sources were used to establish national population benchmarks, and a two-step process was applied: stratified sampling followed by post-stratification weighting. This ensured the results accurately represent the broader U.S. population. The survey was conducted in September 2025.
- Nationally licensed life insurance agent with over 15 years of experience
- Personal annual production that puts him in the top .001% out of all life insurance agents in the nation.
Anthony Martin is a nationally licensed insurance expert with over 15 years of experience and has personally served over 10,000 clients with their life insurance needs. He frequently authors entrepreneurial and life insurance content for Forbes, Inc.com, Newsweek, Kiplinger, and Entreprenuer.com. Anthony has been consulted as an expert life insurance source for dozens of high-profile websites such as Forbes, Bankrate, Reuters, Fox Business, CNBC, Investopedia, Insurance.com, Yahoo Finance, and many more.
