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Iowa Hauntings
Warning: Any places listed in the Haunted Places
requires permission to visit or investigate. Many of the places are patrolled
by the authorities, trespassers will be prosecuted.
Ackley - Hazzl Green Cemetery - It's an old cemetery about 5 miles south of
Ackley out in the country. There’s a gazebo and there is said to be and old
lady sitting in a rocking chair holding a baby.
Algona - Gypsy Grave Yard - Just north of town is a small graveyard with an
even smaller graveyard fenced off toward the back. It is said that when the
Gypsy wagon trains would pass through town back in the 1800's, and one of their
flock was sick and dying, instead of taking them further on the journey and not
having Gypsy hollowed ground to bury them in they would just bury them there,
while still alive. Many ghostly figures have been seen hanging around, and if
you cross the small fence and walk on the hollowed ground you will be cursed.
This is a favorite haunt for the local teens.
Algona - Plum Creek Pits - Back in the far corner there has been a little boy
said to be playing near the waters edge legend has it that the little boy was
running back to the river on the other side of the pits when he tripped on a
stone and was stabbed by a stick he had fallen on. The local fisherman who use
to fish their say they have seen this boy walking on the bank of the pit when
they yelled to him he seemed to have looked up and ran back towards the river
and disappear nobody knows what this boys name is or even his age.
Alton - Floyd River - It is said that three teenagers hung themselves in an old
broken down house just off the Floyd River. You can still see three ropes
hanging from the rafters of the house. There is a path elading to the house
with a No Trespassing sign on it and when you cross it the haunting starts.
Legend has it, the haunting never stops.
Amana - Ghost Corner- in a cemetery there. there is a stone that is said on the
last minute of every year a light blue figure hovers over her grave.
Ames - Iowa State University - C. Y. Stephens Auditorium - The auditorium is
haunted by the benevolent ghost of C. Y. Stephens. He is especially present in
the basement tunnels that run between the auditorium and the coliseum and
Fisher Building. Cold drafts and footsteps are among the ways he makes himself
known. He can also be seen from the stage sitting in the back right corner of
the third balcony whenever the house lights are on and the stage lights are
low. His presence is thought of, at least by dancers in the annual
Nutcracker production, to be a sign of good luck for the performance.
Ames - Iowa State University - Memorial Union Hall - pays tribute to graduates
of Iowa State that died in various wars. There is a low, eerie moan that can
constantly be heard in this hall. No one can figure out any log ical reasons
for this moan (and the college is flooded with engineering and architectural
majors). Rumor has it that the moan is the voice of the only woman to graduate
from ISU and die in WWI.
Anamosa - Holy Cross Cemetary - behind this small graveyard on a hill there is
a grouping of trees that will lead you to one big tree. where it is said that
many hangings occured. The area with the trees is said to be an old Indian
burial ground as is much of Anamosa. Some have seen orbs and shadowey figures.
Appanoose - Centerville - Railroad Tracks - If you park your car on these
tracks, turn it off, and put it in Neutral, little kids will push you off the
tracks.. You will hear foot steps in the rocks while they are pushing you...
Avon - The track - Apparition of a man holding an old lantern walking the
tracks, then disappears.
Bloomfield - Davis County Middle School and Elementary - If you are in the
building at night you can see weird shadows and sometimes hear voices and
moaning. Up by the 5th grade there is a corner and if you are up there
sometimes you can see a shadow around the corner and hear a moan but if you
look around the corner nothing is there. Also in the big storage room aka
"bowling alley" you can hear moans and see shadows when nothing is
there.
Boone - The Boone News - Republican - Working at night in the old news paper
office you can hear footsteps running up or down six or so steps to and from
the production area. No one is there. Also, once and awhile you might here your
name called and people walking upstairs. Again the place is empty.
Boone - Kate Shelly High Bridge - Kate Shelly was famous for saving a train
from going off of the tracks on the bridge that is now known as the Kate Shelly
high bridge. It is said that if you look up at the tracks (bridge) at night you
can see a mysterious outline of a person and a dim light like a lantern running
on the tracks. People around here say that it's Kate forever reliving the
incident that saved a train and lots of people. - September 2004 CORRECTION:
located west of the City of Boone, is not the bridge where Kate Shelley saved
the passenger train. It was actually first structured in early 1900's and was
named "The Boone Viaduct". It was renamed for Kate Shelley in the
1960's. The bridge has wonderful tales of "Specter" Steam Engines and
ghostly "watchmen" that walk it. The original bridge that Kate
Shelley crossed was demolished in the 1930's. Kate Shelley's ghost,
accordingly, haunts the hamlet of Moingona, Iowa, South West of City of Boone,
where the story took place.
Boone - State Nursing Home & Hospital - Yelling and screaming has been
heard & seeing apparitions of different people walking
around.- September 2004 Update: the old structure is falling in on its self and
will be slated for de molition soon. The county has involved a no trespassing
rule, since some people for Des Moines and the surrounding area decided to use
it as "paint" ball battlefield two years ago. The home has several
structural issues to it, including a collapsing floor. In regards to haunting
and "things", yes, there's something to it. A lot of people suffered
there, and the sadness of that place can be felt today.
Buckeye - House - There is a house and this only happens at night. This house
is really old almost 100 years. At night, in upstairs the floorboards creek as
if someone was walking up them one after another. The door in one of the rooms
open on its own, but it jams shut.
Burlington - National Guard Armory - Reportedly there are doors that won't stay
shut and that slam shut by themselves. People working there late at night have
heard sounds of Horses and footsteps when there is no one there. A witness saw
a reflection of a face of a man with a handle bar mustache in a computer screen
and turned around to find no one there.
Burlington - Stony Hollow - Urban Legend - It is said that if you go to that
bluff and say the ghosts name 3 times she will appear and if she drops a rose
you will die the next day. It is said that a boy did it and died the next day.
Carroll County - Carrollton - This place is in Carroll County. You drive east
out of Carroll on HWY 30, and turn right at the Deham=2 0turn, which is right
by the Golf Club. Drive until you reach Willey,(about 5 miles) go through
Willey, straight until you see a sign Carrollton 4 miles. Turn left and drive
straight. You will come into the town and on your right there is an old abandon
house that people have reported seeing, hearing and feelings the spirits. If
you keep going, you will reach the school, which a boy killed his teacher in
many years ago. You will enter the school seeing one thing, and the next day it
won’t be there. There is also a cemetery here, where people have reported
seeing figures from the gates. Little girls dancing were seen. Many reported
that you will start walking in the cemetery and it will get foggy and you will
be able to see your breath.
Cedar Falls - University of Northern Iowa - Lawther Hall - Was believed to be
haunted by the spirit of a soldier named Augie, who died there when the
building was being used as an infirmary. Students in this residential hall have
reported strange noises, cold spots, and movement of objects. Lawther Hall has
always been a women's dorm, and at no time was it ever used as an infirmary.
During the war it was used partially as a dormitory for WAVES- definitely not
men. In fact, the stories told of Augie center largely around the fifth (or
perhaps fourth) floor attic areas. These were never used as rooms, but were
originally recreational areas for the women in the dorm. In the early 70's,
these rooms were closed (1972, I believe ) because they were deemed in
disrepair and quite unsafe. For a few years, a hall Halloween Haunted House
called "Augie's Attic" was held there until a fire started
accidentally one year, and the activity was banned. In fact, to say that
Lawther is the dorm that is primarily haunted could be entirely incorrect. Next
door to Lawther, in fact attached to, is Bartlett Hall. Bartlett has an
identical layout, and though is now coed, was once all female as well. To
suggest that the two have been confused is not unlikely.
Cedar Falls - University of Northern Iowa - Bartlett Hall - Bartlett shows all
signs of being haunted. This past Halloween, a "not exactly prohibited but
very extremely hush hush" haunted house was held in the attics of
Bartlett. Whilst setting up, students underwent lights flickering, doors
shutting, and vast temperature changes. It got to the point that they were
ready to stop bothering with their set up; simply take money and usher people
through the rooms. However, to their great disappointment, subsequent trips
have yielded nothing in comparison to October 30th.
Cedar Falls - University of Northern Iowa - The Strayer-Wood Theatre - is
haunted by a ghost known affectionately by the theatre students as
"Zelda", who apparently haunted the old theatre building before
moving with the department into the new structure. Many theatre students have reported
strange noises, including mysterious piano music (when no one else was in the
building), and equipment has myste riously worked by itself.
Cedar Rapids - Brucemore - A glowing entity has been seen in the library of
this building.
Cedar Rapids - Coe college - There have been reports that a ghost named
"Helen" haunts the place. She died of influenza in the epidemic of
1918 and her parents donated a grandfather clock, which used to be in her dorm.
Students say sometimes at night the her spirit leaves the clock, plays the
piano in the parlor and stands by kids beds and pulls covers off of them.
Cedar Rapids - Domino's Pizza - Workers report cold spots, hearing foot steps
walking around the store when you are the only person in there, pans started
flying at us like someone was throwing them, but there was know one there. “We
ran out of the store and when we got brave enough to go back in we found all
the pans had been put back on the shelf.”
Cedar Rapids- Linn County - Mckinley Middle School - At night when the janitors
are working they hear things and footsteps and they feel things touching them
and cold spots when no ones around.
Cedar Rapids - Mount Mercy (Stello Preformance Hall) - A nun hung her self from
the balcony of the choir loft. She is said to haunt the whole building of Warde
Hall. Supposedly she wander the halls, people have been said to feel the
presence of another entity behind them. Also she has been reported to been seen
in the halls.
Ce dar Rapids - Oak Hill Cemetery - It is said that Tillie, a small Czech girl,
can be seen at night caring a flickering candle, and has said to have tried to
pull people into a nearby Mausoleum.
Cedar Rapids - Parkers Grove - There is a gravestone with a carving of a face
here and when you go there at night, you can see the face cry and his eyes are
wet!!
Cedar Rapids - Rawsons Flatland - This a supposed to be haunted by a two to
three year old girl, named Josephine, wearing a white t-shirt and has short
hair about to her cheeks. If you see her you will remember quite a bit about
her, then by the time you turn to take a second look she will be gone.
Cedar Rapids - Westdale Mall - A young girl was working a late night shift,
when she was about to close and turn all the lights off. The freezer door,
which was shut & locked, Flung open for no apartment reason. The young girl
ran and has never been alone again. It is said it is a ghost of a man whom died
while building the mall.
Cedar Rapids - wildwood apartments - It is said that about 20 years ago, there
was a convicted child molester living in one of the buildings. Years later one
of the victim’s parents confronted the man and beat him to death. His body was
found 3 days later. It is rumored that you can still hear the innocent cries of
his victims echoing in the halls late at night in wildwood apartments.
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Charles City - Iron Hill - In these woods behind the old white farm there have
been sightings of a little girl dressed in white, also various girls have been
heard. Around Halloween you can hear faintly a chanting that is something like
this, "ring around the rosy..." and "wanna come burn with
me". Around 1920 there was a train car full of orphans that burned down on
the railroad tracks that run through there. a burned rag doll has been found.
They say it is there graveyard yet no family ties have been found.
Charles City - Riverside Cemetery - This cemetery next to the river is a very
strange and eerie place, sensing the darkness and windy roads. Dark figures
have been seen walking around and standing over graves and a few people have
been attacked or approached by figures that refused to step into light. An
Indian has also been seen out there, it is a place that you feel someone is
watching you at all times. Being by the mausoleum is probably the best place to
see or hear things or along the river bank.
Cherokee - American Theatre - East Main St. - It has been said by the employees
that work in this old movie theatre that the former owner, Mr. Goldie, haunts
it. A previous theatre manager related a story about an incident that occurred
to him, when he was all-alone in the theatre. Apparently on day as he was
walking across the stage he looked out at the seats where the customers would
sit. And he saw one seat ab out 3-4 rows from the front and 2 seats in rocking
slowly all by itself. There are other stories to be told of the hauntings
there, but all you need to do...is come, and visit with the staff at the
American Theatre.
Clarinda - Clarinda Academy - There are a lot of tunnels under the town and the
Academy. They used these tunnels along time ago for the mentally ill. They
starved them down there for years. It is said that five boys have disappeared
when walking through the tunnels. Many people have seen and heard footsteps and
screams.
Conover - 4 shadowy figures said to have been seen along Conover road, against
a stand of evergreen trees. Supposedly a family died there years ago.
Coon Rapids - Elk Grove Cemetery - There is a little headstone. If you get in
the right angle and just wait a couple minutes it will start to glow.
Council Bluffs - Fairview Cemetery - This cemetery is home of the "Black
Angel." Dodge's wife died and in her remembrance they made a statue of the
angel that she dreamt of before she died and put it in the front of the
cemetery. The statue is known as The Black Angel. Her eyes follow you no matter
what direction you go. Whoever is "blessed" by her is on the sickly
side from then on. Small lights have been seen in the trees behind the older
grave sites. Feelings of someone walking on the heels of visitors.
Council Bluffs - General Dodge's House - The Dodge House was owned by General
Dodge and his family. The community has tours go through it, to make some money
off of its beauty and age...The real story is that General Dodge is still there
wandering around or sitting in his rocking chair. Around dusk everyday, you can
hear 2 men arguing if you stand in the middle of the street. Late at night you
can see small flashes of light around the dodge house lawn, and get a very
faint smell of fire. Dodge's wife died and in her remembrance they made a
statue of her and put it in the front of the cemetery. The statue is known as
The Dark Angel. Her eyes follow you no matter what direction you go. Whoever is
"blessed" by here is on the sickly side from then on.
Council Bluffs - Lewis and Clark monument - A submitter wrote in reporting
having a scare there, if you know anything about this place, please email -
HauntedPlaces and make sure you put the location and state in the heading.
Council Bluffs - Old library-Now Union Pacific museum - This is the old Council
Bluffs library, which has now been restored to a wonderful looking and brand
new Union Pacific railroad museum. Before the renovation occurred, many people
were hesitant to venture into the basement of this Carneige structure due to
books literally flying off the shelves. Many experienced items mysteriously
disappearing, only to have them return later. Also, some have reported dark-shadowy
figures being seen in the basement. Not too many folks want to go into this
basement alone.
Dakota City - Historical Museum - It is said to be that the Dakota City
Historical Museum is to be haunted at night. Some nights you can drive by it
and see shadows, and lights going on and off in the windows. An old lady gives
tours there in the summer and says that it could be haunted by the founders of
Humboldt County or by the famous wrestler Gotch. - December 2003
update/addition: The submitter to the addition has heard of a fisherman walking
around there, possibly he is there because the Des Moines river is right next
to the museum and there is a story of a fisherman drowning to death there many
years ago. Another story that is true is that if you walk up to the front sign
of the museum and ask it any question it will move to the right-meaning yes or
it will move to the left-meaning no. please note it is a hanging sign on
hinges. Some people might think it is the wind doing this but it only happens
on calm nights when there is no wind or gusts at all. There is a lot of history
at the museum.
Davenport - Blackhawk Hotel - There has been many circumstances of seeing a
lady roaming the halls wearing a red or blue evening gown. There has also been
instances of pianos playing in the main ballroom misc. disturbances with
employees. Acter Cary Grant also died on the 8th floor and has been seen
walking the halls.
Davenport - Masonic Temple, Brady St. - Currently owned by Palmer College.
Security reports many types of haunting phenomenon at all hours of the day.
Davenport - Palmer College of Chiropractic - One of the lecture halls which
were built in the middle 1800's is residence to several ghosts which have been
known to fly around the ceiling, causing the hanging lamps to swing back and
forth. There are no air vents nor fans even near the ceiling. The occurrence
happens on a regular basis and has been witnessed by many classes of soon to be
chiropractors.
Davenport - police station - Bell Tower - When the station was first built the
guards used to hang prisoners in the bell tower so no one could hear or see
what they were doing. If you go east behind the police station at night and
look up to the bell tower you can see a man still hanging in the first window.
Davenport - Scott - City Hall - A heavyset man reportedly sits in the city
council chamber. They call him Hal. The legend of Hal goes like this. Hal was a
citizen who was extremely upset with city government. He ran for alderman of
his ward.(3) He lost by a landslide to the incumbent, but Hal wasn't going to
let that stop him. He attended every city meeting that was held in the chamber
until he died of a heart attack at 63. Hal has been seen at least 100 times. He
also has been said to walk around city hall, and former mayors have said they
have seen them in their office on more than one occasion. Often t imes Hal is
smoking a cigar.
Davenport - St. Ambrose University - Ambrose Hall - When there are only a few
professors left in the building late at night, they have heard strange noises.
They have heard foot steps and seen lights flickering on and off. It's said
that it is an old priest that died many, many years ago.
Davis City - Cemetary - can be seen shooting across the cemetary very late at
night. Animal sacrifices have also been known to be practiced in the early
nineties. As you enter the cemetary a sudden feeling of pressure is often felt.
Davis County - Mars Hill - It's the only extant log church in Iowa now. There
is a graveyard to the right of the church. Rumors are that is a hot spot for
seeing UFOs, but other things have gone on there too--Black Mass has been held
in the abandoned church; evidence has been left behind, like inverted
pentagrams in red paint or blood on the floor. I've been there and there is a
positively suffocating force
there--it's like you can't breathe and you get the impression there are tons of
eyes watching you. Very creepy! And, just down the hill
from the church is Crybaby Bridge, where at midnight if you turn off your car on
the bridge, you can hear the sounds of babies and small children crying.
Decorah - Luther College - Larsen Hall - The ghost's name is Gertrude. She has
been known to open and close doors in rapid succession and move pencils a nd
other small objects when students aren't looking.
Decorah - Luther College - Regents Center - Regents Center is an athletic
facility. In the 90's janitor killed himself and other staff members report
seeing his ghost.
Des Moines - Air Lanes - Be hind the bowling alley lanes there is an upstairs
that is rumored to have been used to be used for illegal gambling in the
1920's. Well if you go up stairs, down the hallway, and into this room up there
and wait a few minutes you can hear noises. Some of them are alot of people
talking, or you can hear dice rolling. you could hear your name being called.
Des Moines - Dowling high school - Reports of a purple orb seen.
Des Moines - Drake University Observatory - The Drake University Observatory is
said to be haunted by Dr. Robert Morehouse. He was the first Chairman of the
Astronomy and Physics Department and his claim to fame was discovering a comet
in the 1920's. His remains, along with those of his wife, are interred in the
wall of the entryway. Students have reported many strange things happening in
the basement, such as a feeling of being watched and an unknown force
correcting the calculations in their observation logs.
Des Moines - Lincoln High School - Mainly occurs in the balcony of the
auditorium. Unexplained lights flashing on and off in the light booth when it
has been locked and nobody is in there. Seats of the wooden folding c hairs
swinging up and down when nobody is around. Cold spots in certain areas. The
curtains on the stage will rustle in a seemingly non-existent breeze when there
is nothing that could cause it. There is no air conditioning in the school.
There have also been unexplained noises such as tapping on the wooden floor of
the stage, and banging on the seats in the balcony. If you go into the Paint
Room, which is located in one of the wings of the stage, you get the feeling of
someone watching you, and running their fingers up and down your back.
Des Moines - East High School - There has been seen a glowing blue light in a
restroom there. The light flashed right behind two students who witnessed it in
the mirror and disappeared before they could turn around. Before the flash
there was a spark of electricity on the faucet when one of the students reached
for it. This school is over 150 years old and there are at least 4 deaths.
Des Moines - Old Red Horse Armory - Was an old Cavalry armory. It is now the
city school bus barn. When the National Guard was in the building soldiers who
worked full time and were in there after hours reported hearing the clip clop
of horses hooves and the jingle of harnesses off the small drill floor where
the stables were. They also would catch glimpses of an older man dressed in an
old cavalry uniform in the long back hall that only had a small light bulb at
each end of it. They were not fanciful people=2 0who seen and heard these
things. They were hardworking soldiers with their heads on straight who would
never in a million years make up things like that.
Des Moines - Polk - Merle Hay Mall Tower - Merle Hay Mall, and a building in
the mall known as the Merle Hay Tower, is built over the site of a Monastery
that was closed in the 1950's. Rumor has it that on occasion a nun would become
pregnant, with the pregnancy resulting in mis-carriage. These babies were
buried in unmarked graves on the Monastery grounds, where the mall stands
today. My grandfather used to drive an ice cream truck, and would deliver to
the Monastery, and witnessed one of the nuns nursing (feeding) an infant in the
kitchen of the Monastery. In present day, the Merle Hay Tower is said to be
haunted by a figure wearing a very old style habit, who cries as she carries a
dead child. People who have offices in the Tower report an elevator that moves
between floors with no one aboard late at night. When the elevator stops,
footsteps can be heard, but when the sounds are investigated, no one is around.
Cold spots are frequent and a feeling of being watched when alone is also
reported. Others report hearing someone walk into an office
and when they turn around, no one is there.
Des Moines - Saydel High School - there is a little girl that sings around the
hallways at night.
Des Moines - Terrace Hill - There have been witnesses who have seen a trans
parent little girl, eyes in pictures following them and many other things. In
the middle of the elevator(which is code activated)goes up and down and opens.
Des Moines - Weaver House - this house has a table the seems to be haunted.
Dubuque - Grand Opera House - voices , footsteps and apparitions are present
here.
Dubuque - The Ham House - This building is said to be one of the most haunted
places in Dubuque. It was once a large private residence, but is now a museum.
People have experienced classic encounters such as cold breezes, strange voices
and chills running down people's spines. Several of the caretakers have
reported objects mysteriously out of place and lights flickering. There have
even been reports of eerie cries coming from the servant's house, the master
bedroom, and the nursery.
Dubuque - The Saul House - In 1992 a 14 year old boy killed himself with a
knife in his home. And the people that have moved in have said that knifes have
been lying in an x on the exact spot he killed himself.
Eldora/Ackley - the Fellands old property - a stone garden is found there (one
rock is found from the old Roman aqueducts) a spirit found from the norms house
is alive there (under large center rock, never point him/her in the direction
of the norms house. The second floor east room is a cross roads. The straight
point in front lawn (most east north) has been used for magic rituals.
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Emmetsburg - Vacant lot behind Nauss Oil on Highway 18 - There once was a motel
on this sight. The people that ran the motel lived in a house across the road
for a while, then the motel was demolished but the drive way is still there.
Sometimes an old man in a plaid shirt and chino slacks walks along the old
drive way and stops 5 or 6 times like he is checking doors. The house across
the street where the people lived was still standing in 2002 and they were
renovating it.
Estherville - Oak Hill - its a cemetery and there is this hill that is haunted.
The story is that a car full of football players were going to their game and
their car stalled on this very hill. So they all got out and started to push
the car up this hill then a car came around this bend and didn’t see the
football players and hit them. All of the players died. People say that if you
put your car in neutral between these 2 markers you will go uphill because the
football players push you up the hill because they don’t want you to get hit by
another car. Another story is that two children who lived in the nearby mansion
were playing in the road when they were run over and killed. When your car
moves, it is the children pushing it off of them. Anyway, the going up hill
sensation is caused by an optical illusion. For this to work, you must be
headed downhill. In the place where you stop, the road levels off and appears
to go up in com parison to the rest of the road. If you go down the hill and
around the curve and look back, you will realize that the entire road does
indeed go down
hill.
Floyd - Charles City - Ioron Hill - Back on the new walking trail is the site
where a train wreck happened. Reports of apparitions & people calling out
your name.
Fort Dodge - Bannwell bridge - there is a bridge a few miles south west of
clare. there is tree bridges total and if you look on a map it shows up like a
triangle and a woman and her kids are supposed to haunt it. if you go there
around midnight and stop on the bridge and get out of the car and wait. a
womans face is supposed to come down the railroad tracks and it and follow you
down the road till you go under a brigde about a quarter mile down the road.
further on down the tracks where a road gos across the tracks you can stop your
car and some kids will push you across. the story is that she hung her three
children over the bridge and a train came along and hit the kids. - May 2004
update: they tore it down and are building a new bridge in its place.
Fort Dodge - Phillips Middle School - The school is supposedly haunted by a
young boy who drowned in the pool. The boy has been sited peeking around
corners and playing jokes on people. Also at night you can see a red glow and
the smell of fire because of the alleged grease fire that happened in the
home-ec room several years ago.
Fort Dodge - Hawkeye Theater - You always feel like someone is watching you.
Whenever you are in a room by yourself, you are physically abused by an
'invisible hand'. Reports of a transparent little girl. IL
Fort Dodge - terror bridge - It has been said that a woman threw 3 of her 4
children off the bridge while a train was coming one of the 4 got away when you
drive over the bridge at midnight your car will shutoff till your over the
bridge and by her house where she hung herself and burnt down. if you go under
the bridge her truck is still where she parked it. It is truly terrifying. it
has also been said that you should lock your doors and roll up your windows or
she will throw you over too.
Fort Madison - Iowa State Penitentiary - Built in the 1800's. Solitary
confinement area: Guards refuse to go to the end of the corridor at night.
Inmates have experienced cold spots, heard unexplainable moaning and chains
clanking, seen apparitions and have been choked or physically attacked while
alone in their 8x5(or smaller) locked cell.
Glenwood - Nuckolls Street - Located a block down the hill from the former Iowa
Institution for Feeble Minded Children along the original banks of Keg Creek
(where I've dug up several Indian artifacts while gardening). Mostly its been
the typical kitchen cabinets opening and shutting for no reason along with cold
spots and the feeling of an unseen presen ce. Its an old small house I bought a
few years ago that was built before 1880. If I tell whatever-it-is to knock it
off and go away things seem to calm down for awhile.
Grinnell - Grinnell College - according to an article in the Des Moines
Register, there is an old wheelchair on the stage of the performing arts bldg.
it belonged to the director of the theater dept, who retired by dying. It’s
said to roll out on stage during rehearsals or performances for no reason. The
students think it’s the friendly spirit of the theater director.
Guthrie Center - Cemetery - When going east out of Guthrie Center there is a
cemetery to the left of you. In this cemetery is a gravestone shaped like a
chair. This chair has been named "The Devil's Chair" it is said if
you sit in it something bad will happen to you. My neighbor sat in it one night
and two days later discovered he needed to have open heart surgery. Don't sit
in this chair or you'll be sorry but if you do sit in it you're very brave,
good for you!!!
Hamburg - Catholic Cemetery - Occasional sightings of a woman figure have been
seen kneeling at the feet of the three Virgin Mary statues. Some have reported
hearing wailing from the statues themselves.
Hardin - Eagle City - Eagle City Park - There are people that go to the park
and worship the devil and chase you away if you try to watch them. There are
rope that are in a barn=2 0at the park that are used to hang people at least it
looks like that is what they are for. Also there is blood all over the ground
in the barn.
Hutchinson - The Hutchinson Public Library- It is said that a lady was killed
down in the basement and is still there today.
Independence - Buchanan County Court House - A man was hung sometime in the
late 1800's to the early 1900's there, but when they did his neck didn’t snap,
so he died slowly. Now he is supposed to haunt the building at night, walking
around the building. a man who spent the night in one of the cells, said he saw
it, but that it was a man hanging from a rope that went up into the ceiling. He
isn't a very credible person though.
Indianola - Simpson College - In the late 1800s, a woman fell down the
staircase of College Hall. She was apparently walking from the third floor when
she tripped, broke her neck during the fall, and died instantly. On every
Friday the 13th, it is said you can see her reflection or "shadow" in
the third floor window while stepping on the college seal exactly at midnight.
Iowa City - Black Angel & Little Girl Statues - Reports of a glowing shape
walking through the cemetery, believed to be the spirit of the Black Angel. She
is also said to watch people and strange lights in connection with this statue.
In there with the Black Angel is a small statue of a girl that is set up on a
colu mn. If you walk under her and around her she will pick out someone in your
group and stare at them until they leave. Also the closer you get to the little
girl statue the warmer it gets. The farther you get the colder it gets.
Iowa City - University of Iowa - Currier Hall - According to rumor, a triple
suicide occurred on the fourth floor when three dorm mates found themselves to
be in love with the same man. They reappear to bickering roommates in order to
promote friendship and harmony. There has also been a sighting of an older man
on the E300's section of the building. This stern-faced man is the father of a
former
tenant of Currier Hall.
Iowa City - Slater Hall - Floor 9 - Legend has it that a young student jumped
to his death from the ninth floor. Ever since, footsteps can be heard, screams,
and many residents have seen the young man's ghost walking late at night
carrying an ax.
Iowa City - Slater Hall - Floor One - Legend has it that in the 1800's, a man
they called "Penguin man" roamed the vicinity looking for young
babies whose brains he liked to feast on. Legend has it that the "Penguin
man" has been reincarnated into a fat, black, first floor RA. She roams
the halls of Slater looking for innocent young students to eat. SLATER HALL IS
VERY DANGEROUS. BEWARE THE WADDLER.
Iowa Falls - Eagle City - an outside church in lower Eagle city too many voices
too recognize.
Iowa Falls - Thompson Hall Dormitory - This dorm and Union Cemetery across the
road are both haunted. One resident advisor was
spending the Christmas holiday in the dorm alone, and reported hearing
footsteps and voices from the unoccupied basement floor,
which was locked up, and no one could get into. There have also been sightings
of Mr. Ellsworth (a town benefactor) and other ghosts in the cemetery, and
strange noises can be heard in both places.
Johnson County - North Liberty - Green castles Cemetery - This is a very old
cemetery, No one has been buried there in years. When you go there at night the
dirt is freshly dug by many of the stones, as if someone was buried there that
day. Tombstones move all by there self. Many people have seen a witch in black
with long dark hair, she talks to young children. She looks like she is between
16 and 18 yrs. old.
Kossuth - Algona - Little Africa - Rumor is that there are several places here
that have been the scene of murders. The old bridge you cross has been the
place of 2 hangings. 2 of the roads have had accidents on them because people
claims things have been standing the middle of the road and won't move. The old
farm house is said to have the spirit of the old maid who worked for the family
had an affair and the husband killed her...the family left rite after and
everything in the house is still there. Out past the hospital cemetery. Worth
going there.
=0 A
Lake City - Rainbow Bridge - A few miles south of Lake City, there is an old
bow-string bridge, which is blocked off from traffic and cannot be driven on.
If you walk out on the bridge at midnight, lay an unopened candy bar on the
middle of the bridge and go back off the bridge and wait for 5 minutes in the
dark, when you go back for it, the wrapper will be unopened and intact, but the
chocolate is
gone. - October 2003 Update: visitors to our web site tried this and report it
does not work.
Lamoni - Terre Haute – Terre Haute Cemetery - It is said that the cabin beside
Terre Haute Cemetery, there is a little boy who plays on a swing set beside the
cabin. He then motions for you to follow him and he guides you to the cemetery
to where he is buried. When you reach the grave the boy disappears.
Laurens - infant cemetery - out in the middle of the country you will go up a
hill on a gravel road. On top of that hill you will see an old run down white
abandon house. To your left pushed back in the corner of A lot of trees you
will see a small cemetery. No one has been buried here in years, and as you
walk into the graveyard you will see to your left 3 small graves with the same
last name. Legend has it that the three graves are from 3 little girls that
lived in the house a long time ago until there father killed them. Some people
went into the house and found a bunch of old toys and stuffed animals. Gusts of
cold wind will blow as soon as you step out of your car, and many voices have
been heard inside the small round cemetery.
Madrid - Mt Hope Cemetery - Toward the back of the cemetery there are five
graves of children from the same family. One of them is Sara. She likes to
follow visitors around and several have said they hear a child's voice asking
for Ree. If she is not answered she will tug at clothes and touch people.
Manchester - Stage Coach House - The old stagecoach house and stables near
Coffins Grove Park are said to be haunted by members of the Baker family who
ran the stagecoach house and are buried in the family cemetery nearby.
Marion - Carlos O'Kellys - Many odd things occur including unplugged blenders
going off, flickering lights, and plates falling off of racks for no apparent
reason.
Marion - Granger House - It has been said that the white figure of a young
woman can be scene sitting in front of a window at midnight.
Marion - group home for disabled adults - Many unexplainable things have
happened here. Doors opening and slamming shut by themselves, cooking utensils
flying out of their holder for no reason, knobs turned on the oven and coffee
maker while no one in the room, fluorescent light bulb bursting even though it
wasn't turned on.
Marshalltown - The ghost of the Quary, a 5th grade that was killed 30 years ago
haunts the Quary forest. He calls to you from every corner of the forest and
follows you around until you leave the forest. Also there are symbols carved
into a wooden bridge in the forest.
Marshalltown - Riverside Cemetery - There is a chair made from concrete that
looks like it is made of wood, that supposedly if you sit in it you will die
within one year. There are rumors that some people, who died very normal deaths
(like car accidents), sat in the chair a month or two before their deaths. -
April 2004 Update:A visitor to our site reported the chair it is not there any
more, but in fact it is there as of November 28th of 2004. It is in the older
part of the cemetery. If you look for it you can find it.
Mason City - Ghosts of the rock stars - Some people occasionaly spot a plane
crashing, and some say it was from the 1959 tragedy, when The Big Bopper,
Ritchie Valens, and Buddy Holly died in the plane crash. Their spirits are
rarely spotted, but 3 orbs were caught
on tape once, and it was in the same spot where the 3 rock stars died.
Metz - Sugar Grove Cemetery and Metz Bridge- Within the Cemetery there is a
"Glowing" Tombstone...on the "Metz Bride" there is a story
of the Metz Mud Monster where I guy wrecked his car into the mud, now river
below and was never yet found...while on the bridge with my fellow friends we
taped it and when viewing the tape later that night we saw a black "bei
ng" run across the screen.
Milton - old house - this house used to be on the SE side of town and was then
back in the late 1850s or so was a mortuary it was later moved to a central
part of the town and occupied by residents these residents claim that the
upstairs of this house is haunted by an old man and a little girl you can hear
people talking and sobbing.
Missouri Valley - Roberts House - In the Winter months, (at night) you can
hear, vividly, footfalls on the basement steps then a very loud crash, as if
someone on the steps fell and hit the walls very hard. On the top floor sounds
of doors closing, and water turning on and off. Outside (usually near 11:00pm)
a Very loud boom sound, as if an entire wall was knocked in, is CLEARLY, heard.
Smells of flowers and items being misplaced are reported.
Mitchellville - Iowa Correctional Institute For Women - Two little girls are
repeatedly spotted wandering around these grounds, and another can be heard
singing in the basement of one of the oldest buildings there.
Mount Ayr - Ted Row - Ted Row is a small cemetery in the country. In the
daytime, there is a tree that contains an evil face. But at night, the spirits
frequently make themselves known. It is not the cemetery but it is the woods
that surrounds the cemetery that is haunted. Apparently about fifty to a
hundred years ago, a small cult came the cemetery and did ceremonies. Now
whenever yo u drive at night into the cemetery, you may enter but you may not
be able to get out. The reason for this is because there is a glowing object in
the woods and if this glowing object gets too close to you, you will not be
able to start your car. But in order to witness the strange happenings you need
to have your car turned off and lights turned off. You can have a flashlight
with you but that is it. While you are in complete silence and complete
darkness, something might run passed you several times and when you look
nothing will be there. Sometimes you might hear moaning in the woods, sometimes
you will hear what sounds like somebody pounding a metal sheet against a tree.
Sometimes you will see a dark figure staring at you from a tree. And if you are
really lucky, you will witness the strangest and scariest experience that you
ever had. At times you might wait for a good five or ten minutes and nothing
will seem to happen, but when you have given up all hope and decide to leave,
all at once there will sound like a herd of elephants are all around you and
make the loudest racket. You are guaranteed to jump in your car and take off,
but that is just the beginning. If you leave your window open, while your
driving, you will hear the object following you until you have reached the end
of the pathway leading to the cemetery. Also the weather is completely
different there, it could be a hot day and when you reach the cemetery, it will
be cold. And it could be=2 0the clearest day and when you reach the cemetery it
will begin to rain. And there could be no wind at all and when you reach the
cemetery there will be ten to twenty mile an hour winds. - Fair WARNING – As
with all other haunted places, you need to get permission before going in to a
cemetery late at night. There may be NO TRESPASSING and you could be fined. Be
smart and be safe, do it the legal way.
Mount Pleasant - Hwy 218 on Kentucky Rd.-Birthday Bridge - Supposedly years ago
a girl hung herself from the bridge on her birthday if you go out there at
night you can see her and on her birthday see her hanging.
Mount Pleasant - The Medium security Prison - This building used to be a Mental
hospital and was built in the middle 1800s. It consists of an old stone center
building with newer brick wings extending off the center to the east and west.
Before it was converted to a prison in the 1980s a former worker on the 11pm to
7am shift on the top floor in the middle ward on the east wing. There were
Offices and group rooms in the ward to the west of ours and the ward to the
east was "empty". When they first started working that unit quite a
few of the coworkers asked them things like, “aren't you afraid to work on that
unit its so creepy up there and have you ever seen anything up there.” Not
understanding their questions until one night when a terrible racket began on
the empty unit. The only way it can be described is the sound of heavy metal
furniture being dragged across the floor and slammed into the connecting door
and wall. It shook the walls and actually woke up the patients on a few
occasions. When it was searched the "empty" unit was always empty and
looked like nobody had been in there for years. Apparitions have been seen in
the halls.
Muscatine - Greenwood Cemetery - If you walk down the center of the cemetery
you will hear the sound of footsteps running at you but when you turn to look
at the direction the noise is coming from you will see nothing. A strong
feeling of being watched and followed is felt. Even reports of a strange scream
that seems to come from the other side of the cemetery but can hurt your ears
at the same time.
Muscatine - Greenwood Cemetery - The Blue Angel - is a statue in the Greenwood
Cemetery who used to hold a rose and if the person looking at the angel, if she
dropped the rose, you were doomed to death. Eventually some people cut off her
hand so that she wouldn't be able to hurt anyone anymore, but at night time her
hand was still there, glowing in the night holding the rose that she might drop
on you. When approaching the angel you will see the sky turn blood red and when
you look at the trees cause the angel is set back all by itself in a cove, the
short side of the trees will be swaying and the tall side will not.
Muscatine - Lutheran Holmes/ Luth eran Drive - Lutheran Holmes now a nursing
home use to be an orphanage. There is said to be old tunnels underneath the
building but have never been seen. Workers say that on the seven hundred in one
of the room every time a new patient comes to that room they soon die. Also the
six hundred hall call lights will come on and nobody is in that room. Residents
say they see children running at night and asked the staff to ask them to be
quiet. Behind is an old cemetery, which is closed and has a no trespassing
sign. It is small and consists of mostly orphan graves. You get an uneasy
feeling and want to leave.
Muscatine - Old Hershey Street Hospital - Some times you will be walking past
the old hospital and the curtains will flutter or you might catch a glimpse of
movement through the balcony. It was present during the civil war times and the
owner says that sometimes he hears a stumble or a person limping at night.
Nevada - old story county home - The old Story county home is said to be
haunted it closed down 15 yrs ago. They say if you drive by it at night you can
see glows like a light was on. It is condemned now with no trespassing signs in
front. It was an asylum where people with mental illness lived. They say you
can hear moans and cries. So many people died there. It has been said some
teenagers went to it one night at midnight and one of them got struck on the
head by a piece of falling debris, like someone=2 0was jumping on the floor
above them to make it fall.
New Providence - Reece park - A young women will appear in the corn field and
you will hear her screaming. The young women killed herself out there, and it
is her ghost that is known to haunt that very place.
New Virginia - cemetery - the grave of the first settler in New Virginia is
said to be haunted. At midnight every night you can see a glowing light coming
from this stone. They say the ghost if mad because they changed his gravestone.
Newton - Children's Forest - It is known that a neighboring resident found an
antique glass jar in the woods of Children's Forest. A week later, when the jar
was kept inside the resident's garage, a group of teenagers saw a depressed
indian walking through a table. The next day they busted the jar against a tree
inside the Forest, and now they say you can hear Indian calls from within the
woods.
Ottumwa- Good Sam Nursing Home - a lady was screaming one night that she would
not go to sleep untill the lady left the room, the people on duty that night
tried to explain that there was nobody in the room. The lady replied that
"yes there is, she's sitting at the end of my bed". sure enough there
was an area on the bed that was pushed down that looked like there was sombody
there, but there was nobody. The people noticed this and talked to the
"invisible ghost" saying that "your scareing this poor lady and
she cant go to sleep, could you please leave the room for tonight so she can
get to sleep." sure enough right after they said that the spot on the bed
when back to its normal stage where it didnt look like anybody was sitting
there, the lady calmed down and went to sleep, but there have been more reports
of the same thing at good sam's since then.
Pacific Junction - Ghost Town - It is said that on the other side of the train
tracks, on some private property, there are some haunted houses. There have
been sightings of orbs and also at least 3 entites. It is located just outside
of town in between it and Glenwood.
Palo - Pleasant Ridge Cemetery - Pleasant Ridge is more commonly known as 13
stairs, because of the 13 stairs leading up a hill into the cemetery. Voices
have been recorded on tape(EVP) that were not heard while there. Also, people
have been touched by unseen things. Visitors have seen things human like shapes
appear and disappear.
Pella - Central College - Graham Hall - A room that is locked up, believed to
be haunted by the Penguin Lady. Residents have held sheets of paper under her
door to watch her grab them with a sucking action, and later when the room is
unlocked by staff, the residents find the paper placed neatly atop an extra
desk or dresser.
Polk - Pleasant Hill - El Azteca Restaurant - When this restaurant was called
Clay's, one evening while dining a butter knife forg ed it's way up between two
tables that were pushed together (teeth side up) and fell suddenly on the
floor. Witnessed by two people there was no possible reasoning behind this
action - very bizarre!
Polk - West Des Moines - Barnes and Noble - Employees and patrons have seen
books pulled off of shelves and dropped. They don't fall off it looks like an
invisible hand has pulled it off and then it drops straight down.
Protivin - the creamery - witnesses have seen a face in the window. There has
been Other reporting of strange noises and movements. A long time ago part of
it burned down killing 2 people inside.
Oakdale - Iowa Medical and Classification Center - At night on certain units,
especially segregation, you can sometimes see the shadowy figure of a man
walking along the cells. You can only see the head and shoulders. Eerie
feelings and cold sensations are also very common. More than a few guards and
inmates have reported experiencing this.
Oskaloosa - Youngberg house - Faint, deep moans can be heard on the second
story. Feet have appeared to be dangling down from the attic door. Right when
you get up on the second story, an overwhelming feeling of fear and pain is
reported by the owners. The house has had many owners and has been around for
nearly 100 years.
Ottumwa - house of ghosts - In 1856 there was a man who had to go to war. His
wife had died when his daughter was t wo. He had died the third week of war. His
daughter and their servants were very sad. Three years after he had died she
was 13 and she got sick. She died in 1870.In 1996 Brad Leedom was taking a
shower in the house. Then he heard something up stairs. He walked up the stairs
and saw writing on the window it said "Are You My Father". It is said
on calm nights you can hear her singing and playing.
Ottumwa - Mars Hill - There are many legends about Mars Hill, a church and
cemetery outside of Ottawa. there is said to be a "suffocating force"
upon the place. Thumping against the side of your car along with dirty little
hand prints.
Ridge Hauntings - Marquette is surrounded by bluffs on three sides, and the
river on one side. It is rumored that the Indian mounds atop these hills are
haunted. No one thought much of it until the hauntings started to happen closer
and closer to peoples homes. At night, you can hear the ghastly moan of the
lost souls of the Indians. There is much speculation of these happenings
because there was a U.S. military trail about two miles north of Marquette used
to transport Indians from fort Atkinson in Wisconsin, to Fort Atkinson in Iowa.
Rockwell City - North Central Correctional Facility - In the education building
which is one of the oldest buildings on grounds and is said to have previously
been the hospital, there have been sightings of a female walking on the lower
level, screams, and doors=2 0opening and closing. The prison itself was a
female prison prior to 1982, and has its own graveyard for several female
inmates that passed away while in custody.
Sheldon - 9th Street Graveyard - It is said that if you walk into the graveyard
at 12:00 midnight you can see a white shadowy ghost floating in the air.
Shell Rock - Satan's Hollow Bridge - Under the bridge there are experiences of
being watched unexplained sounds and tall white figures also you hear all
around you moving and following as you go further down. There is a feeling of
not wanting to be there.
Shellsburg - Shellsburg Cemetery - Just outside of Shellsburg, there is a
statue of an angel marking the grave of 2 young children that died in the late
1940's. It is said that if you walk up to her at night,she will softly start
crying and tears will run down her face and fall to the ground.
Sioux city - Airport - Reports of orb, moans and screams on the runway. United
Flight 232 crashed there on July 19, 1989, and 112 of the 376 on board died.
Sioux City - Cavalry Cemetery - Many visitors report two things after walking
through the grounds: Their ears ring persistently, and they feel the sensation
of fingertips or cobwebs drifting over their face. Some report that both
sensations get stronger as they approach a gravestone with a tree growing out
of it- half of the tree is dead, half of it still produces green leave s every
year.
Sioux City - Graceland Park Cemetery - People taking pictures, hunting for
orbs, experience slight disorientation, and cameras stop functioning until you
leave the premises.
Sioux City - Joy Hollow - Mary the virgin has been seen with blood running down
her face in one of the older cabins girl scouts that died in that cabin haunted
it reports of floating objects girls coming out of the shower with hand prints
on them
Sioux City - KD Station - The building was originally built around 1915 as a
state-of-the-art meat packing plant. However, shortly after it was built the
company went bankrupt. It was later purchased by Swift and Co. who operated a
packing operation in it for many years. In 1949, however, a gas leak caused an
explosion that killed a number of people. Later after Swift moved out it was
purchased and made into a shopping center that included store shops, a bowling
alley and miniture golf course. A friend that worked as security and also
operated a martial arts studio in the building reported a number of strange
happenings. There at one time was a terrace that was had lights that required
them to be unscrewed to turn off. One night he turned them off and proceeded to
close the two doors that were required to be entered to get back into the
building. He reported that something made him get the urge to turn around and
he seen that all the nights were back on. In the time it took him to go back
insid e there was no way someone would have time to screw back in all the
lights and there was no on/off switch for these lights. He also reported times
when it seemed the elevators were moving when they really were not. This
happened to other patrons also. For many years, the owners of the building used
to print on their brochure "Paul Pulaski, our in house ghost welcomes
you" for more information go to: Disasters | Sioux City History
Sioux City - Leflur house - It's located in Morningside near the collage and it
has been in a magazine. It has been investigated before. There has been
sightings of a Red glow in the upstairs. The workmen who did some remodeling
there would always find there tools in the basement in the mornings. The birds
they tried to keep would always die on them and the dog would never go into the
house. In the middle of July the attic would be so cold that you could see your
breath. The house has been surrounded by death. There has been many murders
there. There has been a count of seven entities there.
Sioux City - pre school - orbs seen on the first floor where children sleep. It
also seems that there has been a sighting of a young male there as well. All
the activities seem to only be done there in the lower level. The ghost maybe
that of a young man who was gunned down on the Morningside loop during the mid
1990's. It use to be Lutheran Social Services at one time.
Spencer - Moose Pond=2 0- a long long time ago there was a boy ice fishing on
the pond, It was getting late so the boy was starting to pack up when the ice
broke he fell in the water which is 40ft deep and drowned. now if you go down
there at 8:47 pm on the 23rd of December you can hear thumping on the ice and
the screams of a young dying child.
Springville - Springville Cemetery - There is a grave where in the way back
that is not in the cemetery and in the trees and it was said to be moved back
there from a ghost, because everything was moved even the body and there were
no marks of some one who dug in the ground, or grass took off ground. If you go
there in the night you can see the guy digging a hole with a glowing green
shovel. He was said to work as a gravedigger in 1902 but then fell in the grave
and broke his neck and died instantly.
Stockport - Silos - Stockport is an old run down town and on the outskirts of
it there are two silos where a little boy once jumped across and fell to his
death, you can still see him jumping back and forth.
Storm Lake - Buena Vista University - McAllister Cottage - This location on
College Ave, has been the home of six Buena Vista University Students who
repeatedly saw, from their back porch, the spirit of a woman. Strange
occurrences of lights turning on and off, as well as strange smells and hot
musty drafts have also been encountered. The second McAllister cottage ha s
since been demolished and made a parking lot.
Storm Lake - Swope Hall 305 - The ghosts name is Mary. Died of lead posening
causing her to go crazy and jump out of the third floor window of her house
that used to be located in the same location as Swope Hall Room 305. Likes to
open and close doors, even when locked, and will open and close the closet
doors of that room. Also will venture into other rooms and play pranks,
especially with electrical equipment. - *Note: There is a false rumor around
the college that she was a student and jumped out the window of 305, or that
she lived in 305 and jumped off Smith Hall, but this has no historical backing
and all of the people who have see talked to her have nothing from the
conversations to support this.
Story City - apartment building - The apartment building use to be a an old
funeral home. There are only 3 apartments. In the 3rd apartment there is 18
steps and when you go down the steps someone always follows yous. You can also
here some weird noises, usually when your alone.
Stratford - Vegor's Cemetery - In the middle of three miles of woods, is a
cemetery that is over 150 years old. It was once the ancient burial ground of
the local Indian tribe. When the settlers came, they dug the Indians' graves
and placed them in five mounds throughout the hilltop. In retaliation, the
Indians killed a white woman names Mrs. Henry Lott. She was the first white
woman ki lled in Webster County. She was buried there. Over fifty small
children are buried there along with many soldiers. If you go there at night,
you can hear children laughing and the sound of Indians. If you roll down the
hill three times, you will see the stairway to heaven. Also, legend has it if
you desecrate and Indian mound, you will be cursed. I have known two men to
have done so, and they were involved in serious car accidents within a week of
visiting the cemetery. An interesting link is Spirit Lake Massacre of 1857, not
sure of the validity of the story in the link, though. There is a large
monument to her there, presumably above her grave.
Urbandale - Urbandale High School - Bulit over an old coal mine, footsteps and
talking voices can be heard lat at night when nobody is around.
Van Meter - Brick factory - This Factory was burned down twice in the early
1900's and never rebuilt. If you get there at certain times of the year you can
hear bricks being thrown around.
Villisca - Villisca Axe Murder House - Believed to be haunted by the family
that was murdered there. Doors slam, and ghost talk and lots of other things.
Vinton - Evergreen Cemetery - There is an apparition of a woman wearing a white
dress that rides a horse up and down the railroad tracks.
Viola - Matt's Bridge- When you go out to the bridge and you park your car near
the middle of the bridge and shut it off you will get pushed across the bridge.
You will see and hear things outside your car. After you leave get to a road
with light to see the handprints on your car. Be careful thought if you go
there to many times and they recognize you they'll get mad and try to push you
off the bridge or brake your windows. Even if you catch them on a bad night
they might try. If you have you windows down you can hear a lot of noises and
voices in the woods.
Vinton - Evergreen Cemetery - there is a statue in the unknown soldier section
of the graveyard and the right eye of the statue is missing at night - Rumor is
that the statues has both eyes and they follow you also that the unknown
soldiers wonder that part of the cemetery. Also reports of a woman’s voice
being heard.
Wapello - South End Park - Certain nights (none in particular) you can here
people chanting and fire crackling and sometimes you see this certain owl (the
same one every time) and if you spot it, it will stare right back at you and
cry it's horrible cry. At this moment if you look at the moon it has two
circles around it, and that is the haunting of south end park.
Waterloo - Wal-Mart Store on Flammang Dr- Crossroads shopping center. Haunted
by the ghost of a small boy of about twelve years of age named Jeremiah. He
loves to play small pranks on people such as moving merchandise from one spot
in the store to another, tugging on e mployee's smocks, tapping on your
shoulder, and causing mischief. He was seen one time by an employee who
described him as small, very pale and thin, wearing black trousers with
suspenders, white shirt, and an Amish looking straw hat.
Waverly - Camp Ingawanas - A rumor around here says that the spirit of a
12-year-old boy haunts this Boy Scout camp. Apparently while playing one day,
he was swinging when he jumped, and hit his head on a 5-inch rock. Some say he
was killed instantly, some slow and painfully. This happened 3 years ago.
Anyway, a swing moving at the same height never higher never lower. Even
creepier, there is never a breeze when this happens some say. I've only been
going for a year, but it's been the same condition as they say. Some have even
heard a giggle.
Webster City - Hamilton County Hospital - Years ago a med student killed
himself in the old surgery room. It was on the 3rd floor along with obstetrics.
The large heavy doors have been heard opening and slamming, but no one there.
On 3rd shift and evenings is when this always happens. Also many pts and nurses
have reported seeing a nurse in a white uniform in the dark halls and in rooms.
Call lights going off in empty rooms. When OB is closed not uncommon to hear
babies crying.
West Union - Hardee's - The old cemetery used be located there, and when the
highways came through, it was built over. Employees have had things misplaced,
heard their name bein g called when no one is there, and have very cold spots
in the building year round. There was one incident with an Ouija board, where a
ghost claimed to be embodied in a moth flying around. When one of the players
taunted it to fly at her, it flew over several persons to land on her face.
Williamson - Stoneking Cemetery - trees in the back of this cemetery are
dangerous. The story was that anyone that walked behind these trees and see
Stone King sitting on his grave then they would die, Rumor is a man did see him
& week later in a motorcycle accident.- December 2003 update/addition:
Stoneking Cemetery was a family plot for members of the Stoneking family. The
submitter of the correction believes that the headstone of Joseph Stoneking was
featured in the original "Children of the Corn" movie, but would need
to verify that. Words on the headstone seem to indicate that the reader of the
stone will be joining Joseph "down below" in hell.
Then ending of the epitaph is: "As you are now, I once was. As I am now, you
soon will be. So, come face death and follow me." It is said that nobody
can climb the stairs of the abandoned family home located on the
property...something ALWAYS stops you from succeeding Sightings of people with
horrible burns and missing hands are rumored to have occurred repeatedly in the
area.- February 2004 addition. There aren't any remains of the old family
house. There also aren't any graves behind the trees. There are a lot of
strange20happenings though. There is a bright light that comes at you.
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