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Twenty-three percent of American adults say they've seen a ghost or felt the presence of one. See more ghost pictures.
Some people might be hesitant to admit that they believe in ghosts. But if you've ever heard a chilling bump in the night when you're home alone, ghosts might not be such a leap of faith. In fact, just over a third of American adults believe in ghosts [source: Adweek]. Perhaps more surprising is that 23 percent of adults polled said they'd personally seen or felt a ghost [source: Adweek].
Every October, thousands of people pay to walk through commercial haunted houses, in which costumed actors stand in for otherworldly spirits. Customers can get the adrenaline rush of scary "monsters" popping out at them for a few minutes without any risk of getting their souls stolen or becoming possessed. But real-life haunted houses are a different story. Sure, there are plenty of paranormal enthusiasts who intentionally stay in haunted hotels and hunt for ghosts. But what if ghosts found their way into your home? If the poll results mentioned above are accurate, these uninvited guests aren't such an uncommon occurrence.
According to the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena (ASSAP), there are some things to pay attention to if you suspect your house is haunted. You may have some brooding banshees or bothersome bogeymen on your hands if you experience the following: see apparitions, hear weird sounds, smell odd odors, feel "cold spots" within a room, notice objects that have been moved or observe your pet acting agitated [source: ASSAP]. The five places on the following pages have certainly filled that bill, becoming the world's most notorious real-life haunted houses.
