Downtown Birmingham is no stranger to spine-tingling tales and eerie encounters. Though these stories echo louder in the crisp October air, ghoul groupies and ghost hunters know the city’s haunted history lingers all year long.
From phantom footsteps in historic hotels to shadowy figures glimpsed in once-bustling theatres, the Magic City offers a smorgasbord of thrills and chills that are perfect for anyone hungry for a fright. So, sink your fangs into these spooky morsels of local lore — just don’t be surprised if the city’s spirits bite back.
The Redmont, Birmingham’s oldest operating hotel, opened its doors in 1925 — and, according to many, some of those doors are never fully closed. Guests and staff alike have reported ghostly apparitions, flickering lights and the unnerving feeling of being watched.
But it’s the legend of country music icon Hank Williams Sr. that adds a melancholic chill to the hotel’s haunted history. In the final hours of 1952, Williams checked into The Redmont before setting out on what would become his last road trip. He was scheduled to perform in Canton, Ohio, on New Year’s Day 1953, but never arrived. Found unresponsive in the backseat of his Cadillac in West Virginia, he was later pronounced dead at only 29 years old…