US Ghost Adventures Dominates: 6 USA TODAY 10Best Wins Shocks Paranormal World
US Ghost Adventures Scores Six Nominations in USA TODAY 10Best Awards
Your guide to the spooky sites and tours up for America’s favorite haunted honors
What’s the Big News?
US Ghost Adventures—a company that runs ghost tours and operates historic haunted properties—just landed six nominations in the 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
Think of these awards like the “People’s Choice Awards” for travel: a panel of experts picks the nominees, but regular people like you vote for the winners.
Important Callout
Voting is open NOW through September 30!
- You can vote once per category, per day
- Must be 18+ to vote
- Vote at: 10best.usatoday.com
- Winners announced Wednesday, September 30
The Six Nominations at a Glance
| Category | Nominee | Location | Fun Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Ghost Tour | DC Ghosts | Washington, D.C. | Walks past the White House & Capitol |
| Best Ghost Tour | Colonial Ghosts | Williamsburg, Va. | Set in America’s colonial capital |
| Best Haunted Destination | Villisca Axe Murder House | Villisca, Iowa | Unsolved 1912 murders of 8 people |
| Best Haunted Destination | McInteer Villa | Atchison, Kan. | Queen Anne mansion, acquired in 2026 |
| Best Haunted Destination | Lizzie Borden House | Fall River, Mass. | Infamous 1892 double murder site |
| Best Haunted Hotel | Lizzie Borden House | Fall River, Mass. | You can sleep overnight in the murder rooms |
Meet the Haunted Heavyweights
Lizzie Borden House — Fall River, Massachusetts
- Double nominee! Up for Best Haunted Destination AND Best Haunted Hotel
- Third year in a row on the ballot
- Built in 1845 (Greek Revival style)
- Site of the 1892 axe murders of Andrew & Abby Borden—one of America’s most famous unsolved cases
- Today: Bed & breakfast + museum—guests stay in the actual rooms where the Borden family lived and died
Villisca Axe Murder House — Villisca, Iowa
- Third straight year nominated for Best Haunted Destination
- 1912 tragedy: Six Moore family members + two young guests (sisters Lena & Ina Stillinger) murdered with an axe
- Still unsolved after 100+ years
- Operates as a museum & overnight stay
McInteer Villa — Atchison, Kansas
- Third consecutive nomination for Best Haunted Destination
- Ranked 3rd in this category in 2024
- Beautiful Queen Anne Victorian home
- US Ghost Adventures acquired it in 2026
- A favorite for ghost hunters & architecture fans alike
The Ghost Tours: History, Not Hocus-Pocus
US Ghost Adventures runs walking tours in 250+ cities nationwide. Two made the cut this year:
1. DC Ghosts — Washington, D.C.
- Stroll past the White House, Capitol, Lafayette Square
- Stories pulled from court records, newspaper archives, property deeds—not made-up campfire tales
2. Colonial Ghosts — Williamsburg, Virginia
- Explore the historic capital of colonial Virginia
- Tales rooted in real documents & local history
Did You Know?
The company’s tours are research-first. Guides use primary sources—old court cases, death certificates, land records—so you’re hearing documented history with a spooky twist, not fiction.
Who Visits These Places? (Spoiler: Not Just Ghost Hunters)
The audiences are surprisingly diverse:
- Preservationists — love the historic architecture
- Architecture enthusiasts — Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Colonial styles
- True crime followers — real unsolved cases
- Paranormal curious — book overnight stays for ghost hunts
- Families & travelers — unique, memorable experiences
How to Vote: Step-by-Step
- Go to 10best.usatoday.com
- Find the “2026 Readers’ Choice Awards” section
- Locate these three categories:
- Best Ghost Tour
- Best Haunted Destination
- Best Haunted Hotel
- Click your favorite in each category
- Submit — you’re done!
- Come back tomorrow — you can vote once per day, per category until Sept 30
Why This Matters (In Plain English)
“Earning six USA Today 10Best nominations is an incredible honor, especially because they recognize so many different parts of what US Ghost Adventures does… From ghost tours in Washington, D.C., and Williamsburg to historic properties like the Villisca Axe Murder House, McInteer Villa and Lizzie Borden House, these nominations reflect the experiences our teams work hard to create and the history we’re committed to preserving and sharing.”
— Kelli Bloomquist, Communications & PR Director, US Ghost Adventures
Translation: This isn’t just about “scary stuff.” It’s about preserving real history, telling true stories, and giving people unforgettable experiences—whether they want a history lesson, a thrill, or both.
Quick Summary
- 6 total nominations across 3 categories
- 4 states + D.C. represented
- Lizzie Borden House = only double nominee (Destination + Hotel)
- 3 properties = 3rd straight year on ballot
- Voting open daily through Sept 30 at 10best.usatoday.com
- Winners announced Sept 30
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Do I have to pay to vote?
Nope! Voting is completely free. Just visit the website and click.
Can I vote for more than one in a category?
One vote per category, per day. But you can vote in all three categories each day.
Are these places actually haunted?
That’s up to you to decide! They’re historically documented sites where tragic events occurred. Many visitors report odd experiences; others just love the history.
Can I stay overnight at these places?
Yes! Lizzie Borden House, Villisca Axe Murder House, and McInteer Villa all offer overnight stays. Book early—they fill up fast, especially around Halloween.
What if I can’t travel? Can I still support them?
Absolutely. Voting is free, online, and takes 30 seconds. It helps these historic sites get national recognition—and funding for preservation.
Final Thought
Whether you’re a history buff, a true crime junkie, or just someone who loves a good ghost story, these nominations shine a light on real places with real stories. Your vote helps keep that history alive.
So go vote—daily until September 30—and maybe plan a spooky staycation for later this year!
Article based on press release distributed via EIN Presswire, August 25, 2026.