Featured on WRAL-TV's Tar Heel Traveler!

Featured on WRAL-TV's Tar Heel Traveler!

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The Hotel
The Hotel

Painted Smiles Asylum is a labyrinth of dread, where every corridor hums with the brittle laughter of clowns long forgotten. Guests step into a rotting institution, its walls stained with fading murals of warped grins that seem to shift and follow in the dim light. The air carries the metallic tang of rust and the weight of dust, while overhead bulbs flicker like dying stars, casting jagged shadows across broken furniture and twisted relics. Behind fractured mirrors and peeling wallpaper, grotesque figures linger—half-patient, half-jester—waiting to ensnare the unwary in their deranged performance. This is no ordinary nightmare chamber; it is a prison of painted smiles, where terror masquerades as joy and every laugh curdles into a scream.

The Hotel
The Hotel

From all of us, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season. But don’t get too comfortable… the fear returns in January!

The Hotel

Haunted Attraction

Open October - March

Voted as the #1 haunted attraction in North Carolina on NorthCarolinaHauntedHouses.com, The Hotel isn’t just a haunted attraction — it’s a full-throttle descent into fear itself. From the moment you enter, you’re no longer a guest — you’re a participant in a living nightmare. Each season brings a fresh wave of terror, with new storylines, environments, and psychological twists that ensure no two visits are ever the same. This isn’t just about jump scares. It’s about immersion. You’ll navigate dark corridors, encounter unpredictable characters, and face challenges that blur the line between fiction and reality. The fear is tailored, the experience is personal, and the horror is relentless.

Unique and unpredictable, The Hotel pushes you to new heights of dread. Whether it’s a whisper in the dark or a hand from the shadows, physical contact is part of the experience. You won’t just witness the horror… you’ll feel it.

An extreme experience is available for those who can brave a more demanding experience! (Available for ages 18 and up only)

Ghost Tours

Paranormal Investigations

Open all year.

Enjoy an evening of ghost stories, combined with paranormal investigation!

Armed with professional ghost-hunting equipment, you and your small group will explore the darkened halls and forgotten corners of the hotel, searching for signs of lingering spirits. Cold spots. EMF spikes. Disembodied voices. You won’t just hear the stories — you’ll chase the evidence.

Tours are intimate, immersive, and unpredictable. They are conducted in small groups to heighten the experience — and the tension. You’ll be guided, but never truly safe. The spirits here don’t perform. They respond! Whether you're a seasoned investigator or a curious thrill-seeker, this experience is guaranteed to leave a mark. What happens inside… is very real.

Psychic Readings

Connect With Spirits

Open all year.

A private psychic reading at the historic Garrett Hotel is more than just fun — it’s a journey into the unknown. Conducted by one of our gifted, natural-born psychic mediums, each session offers a rare opportunity to connect with spirit guides and energies from the other side. These aren’t vague impressions. Our psychics specialize in delivering specific, validating messages — insights that often reveal hidden truths, personal revelations, and connections to loved ones long passed. Whether you’re seeking clarity, comfort, or curiosity, your reading will be tailored to you and your spiritual path.

The Garrett Hotel has seen tragedy, triumph, and things that defy explanation. When you sit down for your reading, you’re not just exploring your own path… you’re stepping into a place where the veil is thin, and the past is never silent. Now it’s your turn to experience the energy that lingers within. What will they say to you? Only one way to find out!

The Hotel: 2025-2026 Season


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