Lore-tripping trend drives interest in haunted and legendary destinations

A growing trend in travel, often termed ‘lore-tripping,’ sees tourists seeking out destinations defined by legends, curses, and paranormal reputations rather than traditional scenery.

In the United States, the Crescent Hotel and Spa in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, has gained fame as ‘America’s Most Haunted Hotel.’ Its history includes a period in 1937 when Norman Baker operated an unlicensed cancer clinic on the premises, leading to the deaths of over 40 patients. The site is also associated with the 1886 death of an Irish stonemason.

In India, travelers are increasingly drawn to sites like Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan, where a 17th-century curse legend has led the Archaeological Survey of India to prohibit entry after sunset. Other notable locations include the abandoned village of Kuldhara and Roopkund, a Himalayan lake known as ‘Skeleton Lake’ due to the human remains revealed when ice melts.