Is the Lizzie Borden House Really Haunted? What ‘Monster’ Viewers Should Know
The fourth season of ‘Monster‘ has pulled viewers right back into Fall River, Massachusetts, and one question keeps coming up. Is the Lizzie Borden House haunted? All eight episodes of the season arrived on Netflix worldwide on September 17.
The real home where the murders happened is now a destination in its own right. Andrew and Abby Borden were killed there with an axe in 1892, and the residence is now billed as America’s Most Haunted House. With the Netflix drama reviving the legend, the ghost stories are getting a fresh audience.
Is the Lizzie Borden House Haunted, According to the People Who Run It?
The people who run the property lean into the reputation. The official site describes a meticulously restored inn and museum that is open daily from morning until midnight and known for unexplained activity. The house sells itself as both a history lesson and a haunt.
The folklore is specific, too. US Ghost Adventures says the spirits of the Borden family linger, and that Andrew seems especially restless, with tour guides claiming he has punched them in the back. The same account says guests sleeping in his room are supposed to leave a monetary tribute to keep his money hungry spirit calm.
Visitors can also try to catch something themselves. Ghost hunts take place on the first floor and in the basement, and admission includes ghost hunting equipment that guests share within their group. It is a very hands on way to test the legend.
Lizzie Borden House Hauntings Reported by Guests and Staff
The reported encounters range from subtle to strange. Patrons, staff and ghost hunters describe unexplained footsteps and shadowy figures more than a century after the killings. Most of these accounts come from the house’s own promotional channels, so they are best read as part of the attraction.
Some stories are more vivid. One guest who stayed in March 2024 found a doll lying facedown on his bed that had not been there before. Another account describes a photograph flying off a table in the front parlor and spinning in mid air before landing at guests’ feet.
The cast of alleged ghosts is surprisingly large. A Time Out writer noted that both victims are said to haunt the house, along with Lizzie, the maid Bridget Sullivan and a few child ghosts tied to the house next door. It is a full ensemble, which fits a story this famous.
Not every paranormal voice is a true believer, though. According to an investigator writing in an excerpt from Novel Suspects, the activity feels like a residual haunt rather than active ghosts, and it may be fed by visitors who arrive full of expectation.
Stay Overnight at the Lizzie Borden House If You Dare
If you want to see whether the house lives up to the hype, you can sleep there. The home has been renovated for comfort and paranormal investigation, with tours and overnight stays offered. That makes it one of the rare true crime scenes you can book for the weekend.
One recent traveler found the experience intense. A writer from New York slept on a Murphy bed in the basement washroom, which was described as the most haunted part of the house, because official rooms were sold out during the October rush. The trip was framed as equal parts thrill and regret.
The details of the house feed the mood. A Time Out writer described a cast iron kitchen stove that recalled the original one where Lizzie reportedly burned a dress after learning she was a suspect. Little touches like that turn the visit into a walk through the case file.
How ‘Monster’ Reframes the Lizzie Borden Murders
The Netflix season gives the legend a very different flavor. Variety describes a playful, vibrant tone, with Ella Beatty as Lizzie, Rebecca Hall as her cruel stepmother, Charlie Hunnam as her detached father and Vicky Krieps as the new maid Bridget. In this version the two women plot the killings so Lizzie can find freedom and safety.
The creative team says the show is about more than shock. Creator Ian Brennan says the season explores misogyny, gender roles and the pressure placed on Victorian women, and it is the first in the anthology to center on an alleged female killer. Critics are split, since Rotten Tomatoes reported a 50% approval rating based on 12 reviews.
Beatty has talked about the psychology behind the role. In an interview with Netflix Tudum, she said every season of ‘Monster’ is an exercise in understanding a person’s psychology and asks whether they are born or made. That question sits comfortably next to the ghost stories, since the real case remains unresolved.
That uncertainty is a big part of why the house still fascinates people. Lizzie was never actually found guilty of murdering her parents. If the show has you curious enough to consider a night in the basement where the Borden legend feels loudest, would you rather trust the ghost hunters, the skeptics or ‘Monster’ itself to tell you who really haunts that house on Second Street?
