Cover Whether as setting for dark comedy or prestige horror, haunted hotels offer television writers the perfect canvas for lingering supernatural stories (Photo: IMDb)
Whether as setting for dark comedy or prestige horror, haunted hotels offer television writers the perfect canvas for lingering supernatural stories (Photo: IMDb)
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From cartoon chaos to blood-soaked horror, these six distinct television series bring haunted hotels vividly to life
The realm of television has long maintained an obsession with spectral lodgings. Whether framed as terrifying portals to the underworld or quirky sites for workplace comedy, haunted hotels offer writers an ideal structure: a rotating cast of transient guests, a fixed set of lingering residents, and a rich history trapped within four walls. Stories set in haunted hotels strip away the familiar safety of temporary lodging, converting a place of rest into a hub of tension, history, and uncanny encounters. From high-concept adult animation to prestige anthology horror and documentary series, television creators frequently return to these supernatural inns to explore themes of regret, legacy, and human mortality. Below is a detailed examination of six distinct television series that focus on haunted hotels, detailing how each production approaches the concept of eerie hospitality.
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‘Ghosts’
Above A charming British sitcom where an chaotic ensemble of historical spirits must co-exist with the living couple attempting to turn their inherited estate into a bed-and-breakfast
Originally created for British television before expanding into an American adaptation, Ghosts centers on a young couple who unexpectedly inherit a sprawling, dilapidated country estate called Button House. Upon arrival, Alison and Mike plan to renovate the decaying property into a luxury bed and breakfast. Their commercial ambitions are interrupted when Alison suffers a near-death accident, leaving her with the ability to see and interact with the spiritual entities trapped on the grounds.
The estate is home to a varied group of deceased souls from distinct historical epochs, ranging from a prehistoric caveman and a Georgian noblewoman to an overly enthusiastic scout leader and a disgraced politician. As the couple attempts to launch their boutique lodging business, the spectral inhabitants present continuous obstacles, often interfering with renovations and terrifying potential guests. Rather than relying on jump scares, the narrative focuses on the logistical headaches of managing live-in phantoms while exploring the emotional histories of the ghosts trapped in the house.
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‘Haunted Hotel’
Above An irreverent adult animated comedy following a family's attempts to run a rundown mountain lodge overflowing with bizarre, resident phantoms
Created by Matt Roller and produced by Titmouse, Haunted Hotel is an adult animated supernatural sitcom that leans into absurd horror comedy and fast-paced cartoon mayhem. Set inside the crumbling Undervale hotel, the plot follows Katherine, who moves her two children, Ben and Esther, to the lodge after inheriting the property from her newly deceased brother, Nathan. The twist arises when Nathan returns as a ghost himself and takes the side of the resident phantoms, believing their chaotic ideas for running the hotel are genuinely brilliant.
The series blends family sitcom tropes with dark supernatural satire, pairing the daily operational strain of hotel management with bizarre afterlife bureaucracy. Alongside Nathan's ghost, the family must contend with an ensemble of demonic entities and unearthly creatures, including Abaddon, an ancient immortal demon trapped inside the body of a 1700s colonial boy who offers dubious assistance for a price. From slasher killers on hotel grounds to ancient time-traveling tablets, the show uses its animated medium to deliver high-energy visual gags while the family attempts to profit from their haunted hotels.
‘American Horror Story: Hotel’
Above A stylized, blood-soaked anthology season set inside a labyrinthine Los Angeles Art Deco establishment governed by immortal creatures and trapped spirits
The fifth season of Ryan Murphy’s anthology franchise shifts focus to the Hotel Cortez in downtown Los Angeles, an Art Deco labyrinth designed in the 1920s by a sadistic killer to trap and butcher guests. The story follows Detective John Lowe as he investigates a series of gruesome murders that lead him directly to the establishment’s corridors, where the line between the living and the dead remains blurred.
The establishment is governed by The Countess, an immortal fashion icon who feeds on human blood to sustain her youth. The narrative weaves together multiple timelines, showcasing how the structure serves as a purgatory for anyone who dies on its grounds. The ghosts residing within the Cortez range from former Hollywood stars to violent offenders, each bound to the property and doomed to repeat their personal tragedies for eternity.
‘Hotel Paranormal’
Above A chilling documentary-style series hosted by Dan Aykroyd that details real-life supernatural encounters experienced by guests and hotel staff around the world
Narrated by Dan Aykroyd, Hotel Paranormal approaches spectral lodgings through a non-fictional, documentary style. The series details real-life accounts from guests, hotel staff, and paranormal investigators who claim to have experienced unexplainable activity inside various inns, bed and breakfasts, and historical hotels across the globe.
Each episode features multiple self-contained stories, utilizing dramatic reenactments alongside archival footage and expert analysis to examine each encounter. Topics range from unseen forces disturbing guests in their sleep to sudden temperature drops and shadowy figures captured on security cameras. By grounding its narrative in the firsthand reports of ordinary workers and travelers, the show highlights how real-world haunted hotels impact the hospitality industry.
‘Widow’s Bay’
Above A bleak, satirical comedy-mystery where an island mayor's tourism push collides with maritime curses and an unsettling seaside inn
Set on a remote New England island, Widow’s Bay presents a bleak, humorous look at local government, isolation, and maritime folklore. While the broader series encompasses an entire island suffering under a centuries-old curse, lodging lies at the very heart of the story. The narrative follows Tom Loftis, the pragmatic mayor of a declining coastal town, who attempts to revitalize the local economy by promoting its historic landmarks to mainland tourists. Central to his promotional efforts is the Breakwater Inn, a seaside lodging house burdened by decades of tragic history and local superstition.
To prove to skeptical travel reporters and townspeople that the town is safe, Mayor Loftis agrees to spend a night alone inside the inn’s reportedly haunted rooms. The series traces his rising panic as he confronts terrifying, unexplainable incidents inside the building, including localized temporal distortions and disturbing visions experienced by overnight guests. Even as paranormal occurrences spread across the island, the inn remains the narrative grounding point for the town’s dark history, earning its place among television’s most unsettling haunted hotels.
‘Hazbin Hotel’
Above A vibrant animated musical following the Princess of Hell as she opens a rehabilitation lodge aimed at redeeming chaotic demonic souls
Created by Vivienne Medrano, Hazbin Hotel offers a unique variation on the supernatural lodging trope by setting its story directly in Hell. The narrative follows Charlie Morningstar, the Princess of Hell, who opens the Hazbin Hotel as a rehabilitation facility for demonic souls. Her goal is to reform sinful residents through gentle guidance, allowing them to ascend to Heaven and peaceful resolution, thereby mitigating the severe overpopulation crisis in the underworld.
Assisted by her devoted partner Vaggie and funded by the enigmatic Radio Demon, Alastor, Charlie must convince her cynical clientele that redemption is achievable. The show combines musical numbers with dark comedy, examining whether immortal beings trapped in a chaotic, afterlife hotel can truly alter their character and find redemption.
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Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
