The best Ghost Adventures episodes capture why paranormal shows have become a mainstay on television. Beyond sating the demand for fear-based entertainment, their attempt to demystify the inexplicable taps into people’s inherent curiosity about the supernatural. Ghost Adventures might offer insight into some viewers’ quest to grasp unexplained mysteries, but the show’s greatest appeal lies in the age-old question — are ghosts real?

The Travel Channel series premiered to the delight of paranormal enthusiasts in October 2008. This was after Zak Bagans and Nick Groff’s 2007 eponymous documentary investigated two of Nevada’s infamous haunted locations—the Old Washoe Club and Goldfield Hotel—igniting a craving for more content built around spooky ghostly experiences. The series returned for Season 28 in May 2024 on Discovery+. Although the show hasn’t put the debates about ghosts to rest, some episodes have come quite close. Here are the 7 best episodes of Ghost Adventures.

1. Terror on 25th Street, Season 28, Episode 2

From the wild footage captured to the singing voice recorded, “Terror on 25th Street” might’ve convinced some ghost skeptics about forces beyond the physical. The Ghost Adventures episode follows the ghost-hunting crew’s investigation of two buildings in Ogden, Utah, rumored to be a den for paranormal entities. According to people living in the area, one of the buildings was a brothel and the owner seems to have found a way to keep her business running from the grave. Ghost Adventures  Season 28, Episode 2, has a 9.1/10 rating on IMDb.

2. Stone Lion Inn, Season 17, Episode 1

At 8.8/10, “Stone Lion Inn” is one of IMDb’s top-rated Ghost Adventures episodes. The Season 17 episode is set at the Stone Inn in Guthrie, Oklahoma — a Victorian mansion with an alleged dark past that dates back to the 1900s. The original owner Fred Houghton lost his 8-year-old daughter in the house, which was later used in the 40s and 50s as a funeral home.

With several claims of supernatural experiences, including sightings of Houghton’s daughter, the building is rumored to be a haven for restless souls. While the Ghost Adventures crew investigates the claims about Stone Inn, they also attempt to uncover the truth about what happened to Elmer McCurdy after he died. The notorious outlaw was killed in a shoot-out with the police in October 1911, but a television crew discovered his mummified body in December 1976.

3. Industrial District of the Damned, Season 17, Episode 12

“Industrial District of the Damned” takes the Ghost-hunting team to a warehouse in Salt Lake City. The occupant of the century-old building invited the crew after discovering the remnants of a satanic ritual in the basement following a break-in. The adventurers contend with a portal to hell while dealing with several supernatural entities roaming the edifice. The episode is also rated 8.8/10 on IMDb.

4. Hell Hole Prison, Season 15, Episode 8

The premise of this Ghost Adventures episode revolves around the Yuma Territorial Prison, which was shut down in 1909. Nicknamed the Hell Hole because of its hot temperature, the prison was notorious for its hostile surroundings and the harsh disciplinary measures inflicted on inmates. The destination is believed to house the spirits of prisoners who died there and the ghost hunters are out to make contact with them. “Hell Hole” has an 8.7/10 IMDb rating.

5. Upper Fruitland Curse, Season 18, Episode 2

Rated 8.6/10 on IMDb, “Upper Fruitland Curse” follows Bagans and his crew’s efforts to help a family allegedly troubled by the ghost of a faceless boy. This time, the group travels to Upper Fruitland, New Mexico. The episode features a variety of paranormal activities ranging from strange noises and visual sightings to moving objects. Apart from capturing a chair moving on its own in the family’s kitchen, the cameras caught humanoid figures alongside voices that scream, snare, and growl.

6. Season 20, Episode 3, The Washoe Club: Final Chapter

“Final Chapter” follows the ghost-hunting team as they return to the Old Washoe Club in Nevada where their adventures began in 2007. Again, the group encounters several strange incidents, including eerie voices, ghost-like appearances, and communication with spirits. At some point, the camera captures a form walking down the hall while Zak Bagans claims an entity has taken control of him. But can Zak be trusted? The Ghost Adventures episode has an 8.6/10 rating on IMDb.

7. Seson 14, Episode 3, Manresa Castle

“Manresa Castle” also has an 8.6/10 IMDb rating. The Ghost Adventures episode is set in the historic castle in Port Townsend, Washington, where the group investigates claims of malicious supernatural disturbance. They picked up on several ghostly entities that expressed themselves in various ways. Doors opened without anyone controlling them and unexplained noises were heard while a being trails Aaron Goodwin. Check out the rankings of The Last Thing He Told Me episodes.