5 Spooky & Fascinating Haunted Places in Fairbanks, Alaska

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Fairbanks, Alaska enjoys great weather and long days during the summer; but the cold, dark winter lasts more than six months of the year – and this gives plenty of time for equally dark stories about Fairbanks’ past to take root in the imagination.

I’ve been to Fairbanks a few times – most recently in March 2020 and again in August 2021. While I didn’t go with the intention of learning about the spooky history of the city, it didn’t surprise me when I discovered it anyway. Many people are surprised to learn that I believe in paranormal activity, but when my introduction to Alaska all those years ago included a ghost story – how could I not? I’ve always been fascinated by ghost stories and haunted hotspots, and there are some great ones across The Last Frontier – and plenty of haunted places in Fairbanks.

The most notoriously haunted places in Fairbanks are a bit different that what you might find in other cities: sure, there’s a cemetery and a hotel – but there’s also a stretch of popular road and an equally popular restaurant. If you’re ready to learn about the most haunted places in Fairbanks, read on!

In this post, I promote travel to a destination that is the traditional lands of the Tanana peoples. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to explore Native Land.

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Birch Hill Cemetery

It’s undeniable that, haunted or not, cemeteries are spooky places in their own right. However, Birch Hill Cemetery not only has that eerie vibe all around but actually is rumored to be one of the most haunted places in Fairbanks.

The cemetery is home to restless ghosts who can’t seem to find peace and like to play tricks on us mortals. Some guests claim to have seen a little girl wearing an early 1900s white dress, while others swear they’ve witnessed strange shadows winding through the tombstones.

Chena Hot Springs Road

If your idea of a road trip includes visiting spooky locations, then Chena Hot Springs Road should be on your itinerary.

It turns out that Chena Hot Springs Road is one of the most haunted spots in Fairbanks. Locals and road trippers have reported that between miles 8 and 12 you can spot glowing orbs in the sky. Some even argue that the lights merge together and follow your car. Luckily, this phenomenon seems to be seasonal as it only happens during wintertime and if you drive the road past 7 p.m.

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital

Like cemeteries, hospitals have an eerie atmosphere and are places where ghosts Eem to hang around. The Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is cited as one of the most haunted places in Fairbanks. The staff here has seen and heard it all: sudden equipment malfunctions, unexplained noises, faucets turning on and off on their own, unbelievably cold spots. Some nurses also say that mysterious spirits appear in the nursery wing of the Fairbanks Hospital when a child or baby patient is close to death, so they can guide the children to the next life.

Pump House Restaurant

Haunted Places in Fairbanks - Pump House - Kuruman via Flickr

The Pump House Restaurant is famous for offering fancy dining options in Fairbanks. But very few know that the restaurant is also home to a couple of ghostly presences.

The restaurant’s structure was originally a pump station to send water upstream during the Gold Rush days. As you may know, miners had a difficult life, full of loneliness and strenuous work; some even lost their lives. It seems that the ghosts of a few miners have stuck around to scare the kitchen staff. A waitress claimed to see a white figure coming out of the kitchen doors. Other workers have heard ghostly voices when they’re cleaning the premises.

Westmark Hotel

At a glance, the Fairbanks Westmark Hotel looks like a lovely hotel to spend a few days in Fairbanks – and it is, if you don’t mind a bit of paranormal company.

The same thought is shared by the ghost of a man, who calls the hotel home and has haunted the building since its opening. According to locals and hotel guests, this ghost resembles a huge man and likes to spend the night in Room 227. He lets others know he’s there by slamming doors, pushing the beds, and poking people in the shoulder.

Have any questions about these haunted places in Fairbanks? Let me know in the comments!