The hook works by combining a clear value proposition (a list) with a specific, high-interest niche (haunted places) and a specific location (Utah).
Slide Text
Top 7 most haunted places in Utah
Visual
A dramatic, high-contrast sunset over a rustic wooden barn in a desert landscape.
All Slides
@1700bones carousel breakdown
Happy Nightmare
Here’s a visual preview of some of Utah’s spookiest spots—from ghost towns to haunted mansions to abandoned retreats #utah #haunted #scary #halloween #fyp
Effectiveness score
9/10
Views
332.5K
Likes
24.7K
Saves
7.7K
Engagement
10.9%
Hook
Top 7 most haunted places in Utah
Goal
grow-following
Offer
entertainment
CTA
none
Caption
Here’s a visual preview of some of Utah’s spookiest spots—from ghost towns to haunted mansions to abandoned retreats #utah #haunted #scary #halloween #fyp
Strategic Summary
This carousel leverages localized curiosity by listing specific, verifiable locations rather than vague 'scary stories.' The high save rate (3.9x norm) indicates users treat this as a travel bucket list, while the high comment rate (2.2x norm) is driven by locals correcting the list or sharing personal trauma tied to the buildings. The inclusion of a newspaper clipping (Slide 3) adds archival authority that generic AI images lack, forcing users to dwell to read the text.
The Winning Formula
Hyper-local listicle + archival aesthetic + intentional list gaps that invite community correction.
What's working
- •Slide 1 uses a beautiful golden-hour landscape rather than a scary dark image, broadening appeal beyond just horror fans to travel photographers.
- •Slide 3 breaks the pattern with a dense newspaper clipping, signaling 'true crime' legitimacy rather than internet rumor.
- •The list omits famous spots (like Skinwalker Ranch mentioned in comments), intentionally triggering locals to comment corrections.
- •Mix of B&W historical photos and modern color photos creates a 'then vs now' timeline without explicit text.
What's not working
- •Slide 3 newspaper text is too small for mobile reading, causing frustration referenced in comments ('I need stories bro not just pictures').
- •The numbering skips from #5 to #3 (Slide 5 to Slide 6), which looks like an error and breaks the listicle flow.
- •No explicit call-to-action on the final slide beyond the location name; misses a chance to prompt tags.
Viral lesson
Specific geographic targeting creates higher engagement than broad topics because it mobilizes a specific community to defend or correct the information.
Can a small creator replicate this? Any creator can replicate this by choosing a specific city/region and listing 'Top X' locations, but they must have access to authentic historical photos to match the archive aesthetic.
Structural Formula (steal-the-format)
Structure pattern
8-slide listicle: 1 Hook (Scenic), 6 Content (Mix of B&W/Color/Document), 1 Finale (Top Pick).
Copy formula
Numbered list (#7 to #1) + Location Name overlay on every slide.
What to swap (concrete remixes)
- •Swap 'Haunted Places' for 'Best Dive Bars' for a nightlife audience.
- •Swap 'Utah' for 'Your City' to replicate the local gatekeeping engagement dynamic.
- •Swap 'Historical Photos' for 'User Submitted Photos' to increase community submission requests.
What NOT to copy
Do not skip numbers in your list (e.g., jumping from #5 to #3) unless it's a deliberate 'glitch' aesthetic; here it looks like an error that reduces credibility.
Aesthetics
Historical archive dossier mixing B&W film scans with modern digital travel photography.
Color palette
What it conveys: The mix of beautiful landscapes and decaying buildings creates a sense of 'melancholy exploration' rather than pure fear.
Slide-by-slide forensics
1hookwide shotwarm curiosityworks:yesgrab:85/100aesthetic:90/100Top 7 most haunted places in Utah
Top 7 most haunted places in Utah
Visual description
A scenic landscape photo featuring a wooden barn in the foreground with large red rock cliffs in the background under a pink and orange sunset sky. A wooden fence runs diagonally from bottom left.
Scene setting
Utah rural landscape at golden hour
Visible objects
Predicted audience reaction
Utahns will recognize the landscape immediately; outsiders will be drawn by the beauty + spooky text contrast.
Verdict: The beautiful image disarms the viewer, making the 'haunted' claim feel more like travel inspiration than horror.
2step in listmedium shotabandonmentworks:yesgrab:60/100aesthetic:70/100#7 - St. Anne's Retreat
#7 - St. Anne's Retreat
Visual description
A dark, moody photo of a large cabin-style building nestled in pine trees. The sky is overcast and grey. There are boarded up windows.
Scene setting
Forest retreat exterior
Visible objects
vs prior slide
Style: Shift from warm golden hour to cold overcast tones signals a mood shift to spooky.
Story: Begins the countdown promised in hook.
Predicted audience reaction
Recognizes the location or Googles it immediately.
Comments reacting to this slide
- "st anne's retreat happened to one of my really good family friends"
Verdict: Sets the tone for the list, though it requires the next slide to validate the 'haunted' claim.
3proofscreenshoturgencyworks:partialgrab:80/100aesthetic:60/100Scare still haunting teens
Youngsters tell of gunshots, death threats and now therapy
By Phil Jensen staff writer
St. Anne's Retreat
Scare still haunting teens Youngsters tell of gunshots, death threats and now therapy By Phil Jensen staff writer St. Anne's Retreat
Visual description
A black and white scan of a newspaper article. The headline is large. There is a small grainy photo within the article. Text is dense and columns are visible.
Scene setting
Newspaper archive
Visible objects
Other text elements
- •Herald Journal, Vol. 88 NO. 247
- •Wednesday, Oct. 15 1987, Page 1
- •A 1993 photo shows the swimming pool at St. Anne's retreat in Logan Canyon
vs prior slide
Style: Drastic shift from photo to document scan; breaks visual rhythm to add authority.
Story: Provides the 'lore' missing from Slide 2.
Predicted audience reaction
Users will zoom in to read; high dwell time but potential frustration at readability.
Comments reacting to this slide
- "I need stories bro not just pictures"
Verdict: High value content but poor mobile legibility; drives saves but also complaints.
4step in listmedium shotclinical eerieworks:yesgrab:65/100aesthetic:75/100#6 - Old Tooele Hospital
#6 - Old Tooele Hospital
Visual description
Black and white photo of a mid-century modern institutional building with a curved facade and a tall chimney stack. Sky is cloudy.
Scene setting
Hospital exterior
Visible objects
vs prior slide
Style: Returns to B&W architectural photo style from Slide 2.
Story: Continues countdown.
Predicted audience reaction
Locals recognize 'Asylum 49' immediately.
Comments reacting to this slide
- "Asylum 49 is quite insane"
- "My mom and grandma were both born in the old Tooele hospital before it turned into asylum 49"
Verdict: High recognition factor for locals drives the comment section personal stories.
5step in listmedium shotisolatedworks:yesgrab:70/100aesthetic:80/100#5 - Rock Canyon
#5 - Rock Canyon
Visual description
Color photo of a wooden trail sign post in a canyon. Autumn foliage (yellow aspen trees) in background. Dirt road leads into mountains.
Scene setting
Mountain trailhead
Visible objects
Other text elements
- •ROCK CANYON DRY FORK TR. NO. 060
- •FOREST RD. 057
- •BIG SPRINGS TR. NO. 059
vs prior slide
Style: Returns to color photography like Slide 1, but mood is overcast.
Story: Continues countdown.
Predicted audience reaction
Hikers and locals recognize the trail sign.
Comments reacting to this slide
- "Rock canyon is real.. I saw a little girl crying in the dried up river bed.."
- "What happened at rock canyon I live like right at the mouth of the canyon and I'm scared"
Verdict: Specific trail names validate the research, encouraging locals to share their own encounters.
6step in listwide shotdecayworks:partialgrab:60/100aesthetic:75/100#3 - Devereaux Mansion
#3 - Devereaux Mansion
Visual description
Black and white historical photo of a large Victorian-style stone mansion with twin gables. Looks abandoned or dilapidated. Street in foreground.
Scene setting
Historic street
Visible objects
vs prior slide
Style: Back to B&W historical archive style.
Story: Jumps from #5 to #3, skipping #4.
Predicted audience reaction
Confusion over missing #4, or just scrolling past.
Verdict: The numbering error disrupts the listicle satisfaction; otherwise a strong historical image.
7step in listwide shotnostalgiaworks:yesgrab:75/100aesthetic:85/100#2 - Ben Lomond Hotel
#2 - Ben Lomond Hotel
Visual description
Black and white photo of a tall historic hotel building on a city corner. Vintage cars (1950s era) and a bus are on the street.
Scene setting
Downtown city street (historical)
Visible people
Visible objects
Other text elements
- •HOTEL
- •Esquire LOUNGE
- •Top o' the town
- •COFFEE HOUSE
- •UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD
vs prior slide
Style: Consistent B&W historical aesthetic.
Story: Approaches top of list.
Predicted audience reaction
Ogden locals recognize this landmark immediately.
Comments reacting to this slide
- "I have a ben Lomond hotel story! 100% haunted."
- "the ben lomond hotel is just the Bigelow"
Verdict: High recognition landmark drives the 'I have a story' comments.
8revealwide shotgrandeurworks:yesgrab:70/100aesthetic:80/100#1 - Rio Grande Depot
#1 - Rio Grande Depot
Visual description
Color photo of a large historic train depot building with arched windows and a red tile roof. Blue sky. 'Rio Grande' sign on top.
Scene setting
Downtown Salt Lake City
Visible objects
Other text elements
- •Rio Grande
- •STOP
vs prior slide
Style: Returns to color for the #1 spot, distinguishing the winner.
Story: Completes the list.
Predicted audience reaction
Validation of the #1 spot, or debate that another place should be #1.
Comments reacting to this slide
- "Rio grande is def haunted"
Verdict: Clear endpoint to the carousel; the color distinguishes it as the 'current' top choice.
Commerce intent
Objections (from comments)
- •As a native Utahn I'm underwhelmed by this lore
- •Southern Utah actually exists... many more
Comment ethnography
Locals are gatekeeping the 'haunted' title, correcting the creator on names and locations, which ironically boosts the algorithm through debate.
Comments that characterize the audience
- "As a native Utahn I'm underwhelmed by this lore"
- "My mom and grandma were both born in the old Tooele hospital before it turned into asylum 49"
- "I saw bare human foot prints in the snow in rock canyon one time"
Pain points revealed
- •Lack of depth in the stories provided
- •Exclusion of Southern Utah locations
- •Desire for more specific lore vs just names
Aspirations revealed
- •To visit these locations for photography or exploration
- •To be recognized as a local expert on Utah lore
Top questions asked
- •What happened at rock canyon?
- •What about the skin walker ranch?
- •I need stories bro not just pictures
Objections
- •benson grist mill? I live right there and it's not haunted
- •the ben lomond hotel is just the Bigelow
Diagnostics
Hook deep-dive
Top 7 most haunted places in Utah
The specific geographic claim ('Utah') locks in locals and travelers immediately; they need to see if their favorites made the list.
Engagement read
Bookmark rate is nearly 4x the library norm, indicating this is being used as a reference list rather than just entertainment.
Mechanics
Numbered countdown creates completion bias, though the skip from 5 to 3 may confuse.
Brand & funnel
Brands visible
Buying-journey moment: Discovery phase where the user is identifying potential locations to visit or research.
Ideal Customer Profile
People who live in or are planning to visit Utah who have an interest in true crime, urban exploration, and local folklore.
Age
18-24
Gender
neutral
Readability
simple
Interests
Pain Points
Aspirations
Emotional Profile
Primary Emotion
curiosityIntensity
Effectiveness
Emotions Evoked
Emotional Arc
curiosity → unease → validation → anticipation
Why It Lands
The content moves from a standard travel hook to a genuinely disturbing historical anecdote, creating a 'thrill' that keeps the user swiping to see if the other locations are as 'scary' as the first.
Writing Analysis
Style
listicle
Tone
authoritative
Hook Type
listicle
Quality
The writing is sparse and punchy, allowing the visuals to do the heavy lifting. The use of a newspaper clipping on slide 3 adds a layer of 'found footage' authenticity that elevates the writing from simple listicle to investigative storytelling.
Effectiveness
Goal Achievement
The high number of bookmarks (7,702) proves the content achieved its goal of being a 'must-save' resource. The engagement rate is well above average for the niche.
Why It Spread
seasonal timing (Halloween)
high-utility 'saveable' content
local pride/curiosity factor
the 'creepy' factor of the newspaper clipping
Content DNA
The creator missed an opportunity to drive followers by not including a 'Follow for more spooky Utah spots' CTA on the final slide.
Narrative Arc
Attention peaks at slide 3 (the newspaper clipping) and stays steady through the list, ending with a desire for more.
Psychological Blueprint
Why It Spread
The carousel format combined high-utility local information with a 'spooky' aesthetic that is highly shareable during the Halloween season. By including a mix of well-known landmarks and a deep-cut, genuinely unsettling newspaper clipping, the creator provided both 'watercooler' trivia and a 'save-for-later' travel guide. The 10.91% engagement rate is driven by the high bookmark count, as users save the post to reference for future road trips or date nights.
Framework
listicle revelationPrimary Tactic
curiosity gapTactics Used
curiosity-gap on slide 1 (the promise of a 'top 7' list)
pattern-interrupt on slide 3 (switching from standard photography to a grainy, authentic newspaper clipping)
social-proof-stack (the high number of bookmarks indicates high utility/save-ability)
tribal signaling (using location-specific landmarks to bond with Utah residents)
Cognitive Biases
Zeigarnik effect: the list format forces the user to swipe to the end to 'complete' the set
Availability heuristic: associating Utah with 'spooky' rather than just 'outdoorsy' changes the viewer's mental model of the state
Tribal Markers
Trust Signals
Slide Breakdown (2 analyzed)
Hook Analysis
The hook works by combining a clear value proposition (a list) with a specific, high-interest niche (haunted places) and a specific location (Utah).
Text
Top 7 most haunted places in Utah
Visual
A dramatic, high-contrast sunset over a rustic wooden barn in a desert landscape.
Visual Elements
Color Palette
Copy Analysis
Power Words
Open Loop: yes, the list format creates a need to see the remaining 6 items.
Visual Psychology
Attention: The bold white text centered on the image.
Emotional cue: The dramatic, moody lighting of the sunset.
Composition: Symmetry and contrast to establish authority.
Text
#7 - St. Anne's Retreat
Visual
A dark, ominous-looking wooden lodge in a forest setting.
Visual Elements
Color Palette
Copy Analysis
Power Words
Open Loop: yes, the image implies a story behind the location.
Visual Psychology
Attention: The text box overlay.
Emotional cue: The dark, desaturated color palette.
Composition: To create a sense of foreboding.
Comment Intelligence
Sentiment
PositiveResonance
Intent
grow-following
Audience Vibe
The comments are a mix of locals confirming the stories and people tagging friends to plan trips.
Standout Quotes
“I've been to St. Anne's, it's actually terrifying.”
“Adding these to my bucket list for October.”
“The newspaper clipping is wild, I had no idea.”
Top Comments
As a native Utahn I’m underwhelmed by this lore
I need stories bro not just pictures
Rio grande is def haunted
what about the skin walker ranch 💯👍😁😁
Asylum 49 is quite insane