Arkansas Hauntings

Altus - Ozark High School Stage - The stage used for musicals and plays is supposed to be haunted by a student who longed to be in a production. The director never cast him and the boy told the director that one day he would be on stage. He later moved from the district and eventually died in a car wreck. They say about a week before a production, things are misplaced and missing but he never disturbs anything on performance nights.

Arkadelphia- Henderson State University - A great example of a campus ghost would be Simon, who haunts the theater in Arkansas Hall. He is particularly fond of the balcony section, where he flips seats, giggles, and makes footsteps. He is also known to drop harmless objects, such as newspapers, onto the stage from the ceiling.

Arkadelphia - Henderson State University - The legend of the Lady in Black is told to the freshmen each fall. Many years ago, a Henderson girl fell in love with a boy at Ouachita Baptist University. They dated for a long time, but he left her for another Henderson woman. Dressed in black mourning clothes, the girl jumped off the bluff overlooking the Ouachita river, thus killing herself. Since that time, the young girl's ghost, dressed in black, roams the halls of the freshman dorms every year at homecoming. She is said to be looking for revenge on the girl who stole her boyfriend.

Arkadelphia - Ouachita Baptist University - there have been claims of orbs in the basement, eyes in=2 0the corners, blood on walls of most of the dorms, and windows of the dorms (especially girls' dorms) breaking at night with no explanation as to why they are broken. Hauntings seem to happen mostly at night, although people have spotted orbs in the basement night and day.

Bald Knob - Shady Grove Cemetery - When you first walk in the entrance you are greeted by a cold burst of air even in the night the crickets don't go there. On Halloween you can hear voices trying to get to there holy resting place.

Batesville - Liberty Baptist Church/Cemetery – Over the years, there have been mysterious lights in the cemetery. Also, an old woman can be seen, usually during the summer months, in a rocking chair in the upstairs window. The gravel road in front of Liberty is also rumored to be haunted by a young woman who had been killed in the early 1900's. A little boy has also been seen in the cemetery and has been captured in photos taken in the cemetery. Lights turn on and off mysteriously in the church.

Batesville - Lyon College - Footsteps of a girl who killed herself in one of the dorms can still be heard. Many ghosts have been discovered lurking in the halls, calling out names and saying "Help me! Help me!". Lyon College was once an old orphanage and burnt down in the early 1900's. It is said that late at night in the chapel, you can hear what sounds like a chair rocking back and forth. On a certain night the w alls of the auditorium appear to be burning. Around the chapel there are 4 posts and there's only a shadow of 3.

Bauxite - Bauxite Historical Association Museum - Built in 1927 by Alcoa and it's employees, this building was used as the community center for years. Recently it was taken over by the Historical Assoc. and converted to a museum housing photographs and artifacts from the days when Bauxite was a bustling mining town. Some have reported footsteps in the old Masonic Lodge above when no one is in the building. As one employee was leaving after a long night, she felt a ghost jump onto her back as if to say, "Don't go!"

Beebe - Arkansas State University - Beebe Princess Hall - Second Floor – Several incidents happened here. Someone or something was heard running down the hall and screaming. Some unknown being nudged a resident’s bed followed by a scratching on the desk next to her. The roommate didn’t hear any of this. One resident reported someone trying to open their door forcefully. When she got up to investigate, no one was there. Immediately after checking the door, the air conditioner that had never made funny noises suddenly began making creepy knocking sounds.

Bentonville - Peel Museum - Haunted by the former owner, the museum, open to the public, has light poltergeists and corner of the eye apparitions.

Benton - Saline Memorial Hospital - The smell of foul20odors occur in the hallways of the sixth floor. Also doors slam without notice. Water sometimes drips from the ceiling even though it is not raining outside. Cries for help can be heard coming from rooms that are not occupied.

Berryville - Berryville High School - The old gym of Berryville high school is supposedly haunted by kids. Weird sounds have been heard there.

Bigelow - old gym – The old gym has supposedly been haunted since 1932. The story is that a little boy was playing basketball. He threw the ball up and it broke the glass. When he went to retrieve the ball, a piece of glass pierced him and he died. You can hear a boy screaming when you go into the attic. The sounds of piano music have also been heard.

Bono - Bono Bridge - If you stand on the bridge and look down the railroad tracks underneath it the train supposedly looks as if it is about to hit you before it goes under the bridge, this is what its famous for. Also there are many rumors of satanic rituals being preformed out there, spawning apparitions and unknown noises at night.

Camden - Burkett's House - Established in late 1800's, in the French port community near Camden. Home to a young girl that was allegedly beaten by parents, locked in her upstairs room until dying of starvation during the civil war era. Tales from travelers swore of ghastly sounds coming from the home and strange mishaps have occurred to passing v ehicles even to this present day. The young girl is supposedly buried in an unmarked grave across the road from the house in Jones Cemetery. The Cemetery itself has its own reports of strange occurrences such as if you turn your vehicles motor off, it may not start again and missing mechanical parts to vehicles after entering the Cemetery's gate.

Cave City - Witches Hollow - Its called Witches Hollow by the townspeople because legend has it that in the abandoned like village houses, a witch practiced her magic and it is said that she murdered her husband and died later. Many people have reported seeing her walking along the road...you can still visit the old village and houses.

Clarksville - American Legion Hall - It is said if you sleep under the American Legion Hall (camp) you will see and hear ghosts of the old stronghold.

Charlette - Charlette Baptist Church - A worker has been found hanging in midair with chains around hi neck. Strange noises have been heard in the church as well as the cemetery. Children's voices have been heard in the schoolroom when empty and an apparition of a preacher that passed away has been seen at the pulpit.

Conway - Hendrix College - Galloway Hall - Rumor has it that a ghost of a young woman nicknamed the "Galloway Virgin" resides in the attic. Cold rushes are frequent. The sounds of someone walking in the attic have been heard and feelings of sadness have been experienced when walking up the stairs toward the locked attic.

Conway - University of Central Arkansas - Hughes Hall - Room 219 - References to activity in this room include appliances turning on by themselves and the water faucet turning on when no one is near the sink. Things are misplaced and objects have flown across the room. A presence has been felt in the room and more than one resident experienced the sensation of having someone lay down next them. One resident reported feeling someone pull her belt loop!

DeQueen- Avon Cemetery- A baby can be heard crying from the well. Legend says that the mother sat her baby down on the edge of the well as she was drawing water. The baby fell in and drowned. It is said that she can be seen running through the graveyard near the site of a burned down church.

Eureka Springs - Crescent Hotel - The hotel was finished in 1886 and over the years it has also been the Crescent College and Conservatory for Young Women and a Cancer Clinic in 1937. One purported haunting is by a ghost named Michael, a stonemason who worked on the hotel roof during its construction and died on the second floor in what is now room 218. He is purportedly a prankster who plays tricks with lights and the Dresser Mirror in the room. The ghost of a nurse in white is said to haunt the third floor and there have been claims of both seeing her apparition and hearing a gurney she pushes. A man in Victorian clothing is said to haunt the lobby often seen at the bottom of the stairs or sitting at the lobby bar. The ghost of Dr. Baker who operated the Cancer Clinic purportedly haunts the Hotel as well. Other paranormal activity is said to occur in room 202 and 424.

Fairbanks - Westmark Hotel - In Room 277- Guests experienced small unexplainable noises when no one was staying in the next room including what sounded like a person running their finger along the carpet. One guest experienced being poked on the shoulder and a light pushing sensation on the bed.

Fort Smith - Judge Parker Court House – It is said that the ghost of Judge Isaac Parker, haunts the courthouse where he hanged around 80 people. It is said that those that were hanged also haunt the courthouse. as well as the close tthat hanged around 80 people here haunts the court house (that is now a museum) as well as the people he hanged. You can sometimes see the ropes at the gallows sway back and fourth with no wind. Also, you can hear the banging of Parkers gavel in the courthouse.

Gurdon - Railroad Tracks - Railroad Tracks - The mystery of the Gurdon Light could date back to 1931 when railroad foreman, Will McClain, was murdered near the railroad tracks. McClain and fellow worker, Louis McBride, got into an argument and McBride beat McClain to death. According to records McBride was sentenced to death and electrocuted on “Old Sparky” in Little Rock 1932. A yellowish-white light and sometime a red going to blue white can be seen. Local-Legend states that it is the ghost of Will McClain walking the tracks, swinging his old-fashioned railroad lantern. Another popular scientific theory is the "peizoelectrical effect" that has to do with the abundance of quartz crystals located there interacting with seismic activity (the New Madrid Fault line runs through the area). The pressure and activity would cause an energy build up in the crystals which would finally be released in sparks.

Harrison - Crooked Creek- It seems that ghosts most often walk in the place where they were murdered or died without warning. On November 21, 1912, Ella Barham was out riding, but her horse returned without her. Hunters that same night spotted suspicious looking objects under a pile of rocks near an abandoned mine shaft. The objects turned out to be the corpse of Ella, butchered into several pieces by a saw. Rumor had it that she had spurned the advances of a young man named Odus Davidson. Being suspected of the crime he fled into the woods with the posse behind him. He peppered his socks to keep the bloodhounds from trailing him, but he was caught, none the less. He admitted that he had been cutting wood near the place Ella had last been seen and that she had even come through his yard. He was found guilty and hanged just before the Arkansas death penalty was changed to electrocution. Odus was the last man legally hanged in Arkansas. Although the body of the victim had be en cut up horribly, the ghost of a young woman dressed in white wandering near the mine shaft is always seen in one piece.

Hickory Valley - Hickory Valley Church- At night, if you listen carefully, it is said the sounds of hymns being sung emmanate from the Church.

Hot Springs - Malco Theater - This historical theater now operates as the Maxwell Blade Theater of Magic. The show focuses on the haunted history of the theater. The magician, Mr. Blade, and others who work in the theater attest to much ghostly activity at this location. A ghost tugs on Mr. Blade's coat tail before each performance.

Hot Springs - The Poet's Loft - said to be haunted by the ghost of a young lady who was a former worker there. She died tragically before her time in a motor cycle accident in Hot Springs.

Hot Springs - Hell's Half Acre- Just one quarter mile off of Mill Creek Road is a area quite out of place with its surroundings. Although it is called Hell's Half Acre, it is actually an acre or more of huge rocks, with no trees, plant growth and is an utter mystery to geologists. As far back as the 1870's, it was public anomaly. Some say that the gully of rocks is the crater of an extinct volcano that heats the thermal hot springs in the nearby city. Geologists acknowledge this as a natural formation, but deny that it was once a volcano. It is said that the Devil himself lives below this bizarre, barren site. Indian legend was that th e Great Spirit had placed his thumb upon the area.

Jonesboro - Craighead Co. - formerly known as the Strand Theater - Built in 1926 it was one of the largest Theatres in the region. There is a resident ghost named Charlie seen by many people including play cast and personnel. He has been seen in the attic, the catwalk, the boiler room, the balcony as well as the projection room. It is said he has appeared wearing different clothes during various sightings. Other activity has been reported of a poltergist nature, one of these occurred as workers were unloading a new grand piano. When the workers left the room on thier break,the piano began playing a recognizable tune while still inside its packing crate. It was not a player-piano.

Jonesboro - Keller's Chapel - Strange sounds like that of a baby crying have been heard coming from the chapel. Nine of the Keller's babies died and were buried there.

Leola - Jenkin's Ferry - Reports of battle sounds from the surrounding woods. This was the third battle in the famous Red River Campaign fought in Arkansas. The majority of the old battle site is now private property

Little Rock - The Empress of Little Rock formerly Hornibrook Mansion-was built for James H. Hornibrook, in Little Rock in 1888. Shortly after the mansion was completed at Mr. Hornibrook died at it’s front gate. His widow died two years later. In 1897, the mansion became the States first Women’s College, namely Arkan sas Women's College. The Ghost of Mr. Hornibrook is said to still play cards in the Tower Room, just as he did in life.

Little Rock - Old State House - Thought to be haunted by various politicians. Most notably, a ghost of a man dressed in a frock coat walks down the aisles of Central Hall on the second floor. It is thought he is the former speaker of the house John Wilson. Wilson stabbed a man to death in a scuffle on the floor of the chamber. Wilson was acquited

Little Rock - Quapaw Quarter - Macarthur Park - This area was a military training ground starting in the 1830's. It is the site of a Civil War conflict, and a 16 year old boy was hung there by Federal troops in 1864. The Old Arsenal Building (built 1830's) claims to have ghosts that have been spotted in the basement and standing on the staircase.

Little Rock - Woodson Lateral Road - Legend says that on Woodson Lateral Road, you will see a motorcycle headed your way. All that can be seen is the headlight, but you can hear the sound of a motorcycle. The light will approach rapidly, then quickly disappear. There are also references to a phantom hitchiker (Lady-in-White)

Magnolia - Southern Arkansas University - Horton Theater - It is said there is a ghost that haunts the theater.

Mena - Morrilton-Petit Jean State Park- High above the Arkansas river stands Petit Jean Mountain. When the French explorer, Chavet, decided to explor e the New World, he was engaged to be married to a young woman in Paris named Adrienne. She wanted to go with him, but Chavet decided that such an expedition would be too dangerous for a woman and said that he would marry her when he returned in one year. When Chavet set sail from France to America, Adrienne disguised herself and signed on as the cabin boy the expedition. The Indians were fascinated with the mysterious cabin boy and called him "Little John", or in French, "Petit Jean". One day Adrieene became ill. While caring for the boy, the Indians discovered that the cabin boy was really Adrienne, cleverly disguised so that not even Chavet had recognized her. Chavet rushed to her side, but she died in his arms, professing her love and asking forgiveness for deceiving him. Petit Jean's grave can be seen from a small overlook on top of the mountain, surrounded by a rusting iron fence.

Mountain View - Old Charlie Fowler Christian School - At night ghostly footsteps can be heard coming down the stairs. The old cafeteria has voices that can't be explained. It is believed to have been built on an old Indian burial ground.

North Little Rock - Albert Pike Memorial Masonic Temple - Said to be haunted by the ghost of Albert Pike, a Confederate general and influential Freemason of the 19th Century.

Pea Ridge - Battle Ground - Reports of musket fire and voices have been heard.

Rogers - Cross Hollows - The site of a Civil=2 0War encampment, is haunted by phantom regiments marching in the area,battle cries, musket fire and horses.

Rogers- War Eagle River Shores - A confederate soldier appears to be guarding his territory as he walks along the shores of the river next to the War Eagle Mill.

Russellville - Witherspoon Hall at Arkansas Tech University - The ghost of a former student practice the piano on the third floor.

Sardis - Sardis Pipeline Light - On dark and quiet nights, a flickering light appears out of the cedar tree tops. If you watch it long enough, it acts agitated and moves rapidly up and down the tree line. Some people leaving the site have experienced bumping on the back of their cars.

Searcy - Harding University- A ghostly girl haunts the old music building. The orignal music building was torn down and replaced with a more modern structure. It is said that the sounds of a piano playing continues to be heard late at night.

Sheridan - Courthouse Square - In the late 1800's, there were numerous people hanged on the Courthouse lawn. There are reports of apparitions in the Courthouse windows, as well as disembodied footsteps echoing throughout the halls.

Tazlina - Tazlina Lodge - The Tazlina Lodge is not in use anymore. Supposedly, a man had a stand off with the police at the lodge. He stayed on the third floor. He died during the encounter and his spirit is said to still reside there.

Van Buren - King Opera House - Built in 1901, this opera house was rescued from neglect and destruction a few years ago. According to local legend, a actor with the Opera House fell in love during the early 1900's , and had planned to elope by train at the Van Buren depot while trying to run away with the daughter of a local doctor. Some of the Doctors friends glimpsed the couple at the train station, and warned the doctor. The doctor went to the station in his horse and buggy to bring his daughter back. That same night, he buggy-whipped the man to death. The daughter, grief stricken ran away and never returned.

Warren - Marks Mill - in 1864 two civil war battles occured here. and over a thousand soldiers lost their lives. A train loaded with Confederate gold was ambushed. A Confederate soldier set fire to the car carrying the gold. he later died. its is said his ghost roams the area searching for the lost gold. in addition Union soldiers hastily covered their losses by throwing the bodies down a well at Mark's Mill. It is said moaning has been heard from the area usually at night. This was the second battle of the Red River Campaign.