Funeral homes, morgues and autopsy rooms: Halloween fans seek the ‘real’ thing on paranormal tours

As Halloween approaches, thrill-seekers are seeking out spine-chilling experiences that promise to send shivers down their spines. For some travelers, the allure of paranormal encounters is a key factor in their holiday plans. According to a survey by Booking.com of over 28,000 travelers across 32 countries and territories, 65% expressed interest in paranormal experiences, while 48% would seek an experience in hopes of speaking to someone on the "other side".

Half of the respondents were curious about exploring questions around the afterlife, death or spirituality.

In the US, paranormal tours are already a popular choice, particularly around former psychiatric hospitals and funeral homes. These sites are attracting many visitors who want to experience the "real" thing, beyond actors dressed in spooky costumes at makeshift haunted houses.

At the Eloise Asylum, a former psychiatric hospital in suburban Detroit, guests can embark on guided paranormal investigations or explore the facility on their own with rented equipment, such as a handheld electromagnetic field (EMF) meter. Justin Cox, founder of Michighost Paranormal, leads tours of the asylum's upper floors, where patients were once treated. He believes that trauma leaves energy, which creates hauntings, and that this place is "super haunted" due to the many tragedies that occurred there.

The Eloise Asylum's Kay Beard Building, a five-story, red-brick structure that remains standing, is the heart of the paranormal investigation. Guests can even stay overnight in the building, and some have reported experiencing the paranormal firsthand, such as being touched, grabbed, or whistled at.

Another popular paranormal destination is the former Urbanski Funeral Home in Toledo, Ohio, now known as Mortuary Manor. This 5,580-square-metre building served as a funeral home museum and more. Visitors can check out the embalming and autopsy rooms, as well as the morgue, where they can take pictures of themselves lying on a slab in the basement.

Mortuary Manor also hosts its first wedding on Friday the 13th, and guests who spend $200 can spend the night in a five-room suite. Operations manager Cory Leibenguth highlights the modern amenities of the building, setting it apart from other abandoned locations, and notes that there aren't many funeral homes available for investigation.