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Real Haunted Places Across Iowa
Across ##Region##, there are countless locations that are believed to be haunted, ranging from houses & hotels, to lighthouses, roadways, and wooded areas - ghosts and spirits don't seem to discriminate when it comes to what locations they're haunting! Find out all about Iowa's unique haunted locales, many of which are open to the public, and if you're feeling very brave, visit one of these exciting haunted places!
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The Independence State Mental Health Institute, also known as the Independence State Hospital, dates back to 1873. It was built to help relieve the overcrowding at the Mount Pleasant State Hospital. Most of the building is still in use to this day, however, there was an old wing that was transformed into a "Days of Yore" museum that features disturbing artifacts from a time when those...
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Categories: Real Haunted Places | Real Haunted Hospitals & Asylums
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Strange occurrences at this location include footsteps and the sounds of horses' hooves late at night, doors operating on their own, and a report from one witness that they saw a reflection of a man with a handlebar mustache in a computer screen. When they turned around, no one was there.
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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This jail features a "lazy Susan" design which makes the jail block round and the cells form individual wedges like slices in a pie. There is only one door that leads into the cells and it would be rotated by a hand crank to let prisoners in and out. This location is unique, being that it is the only three story wheel jail ever built. The wheel mechanism no longer operates but the...
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Categories: Real Haunted Places | Real Haunted Museums
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The apparition of a large man has been seen entering the front door of this fraternity house and walks up the stairs to the front bedroom. He is dressed in an overcoat with the collar turned up. Some believe the spirit belongs to a homeless man who was brought inside from the cold in 1922, when the location was a private home. The man reportedly died in the front bedroom.
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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The Mars Hill Church and Cemetery in Bloomfield features a log cabin style church that is one of its kind still in use in the United States. It is also the largest log building in all of Iowa. In the past, the building was once an active stop on the Underground Railroad and the cemetery marks the final resting place of at least one veteran from every single American war. The location...
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Categories: Real Haunted Cemeteries | Real Haunted Places
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Reports say that there is a phantom plane crash that matches the one involved in the 1959 tragedy. 3 orbs have been captured on tape in the spot where Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens died.
Others have also claimed to see a plane shaped object crash near the site. The object is said to be an apparition, not an actual airplane. Some have also reported hearing voices or...
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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This city hall building is believed to be haunted by the spirit of a man who was hanged in the tower at night, reportedly from prisoners who were hanged here illegally. This story has been told but there it is said that there is a very little chance that could of happened at this location, if for no other reason than police would hardly be likely to illegally execute someone in plain...
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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The town of Earling is famous for an exorcism that took place in 1928. It lasted for more than 3 weeks and took place at a local Franciscan convent. The target of the exorcism was the demons that had taken over Emma Schmidt. While Roman Catholic Capuchin Theophilus Riesinger worked on Emma, it is said that she flown across the room and clung to the wall above the door. The demons left...
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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This old church dates back to 1856 and was actually a restoration using salvaged timber from vintage barns. It was destroyed in 2006 when it was lit on fire by an arsonist. It is rumored to be haunted because some believe it is the site where alleged "black rites" and other nonsense have taken place.
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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A neighboring business owner at this antiques and collectibles shop reported hearing the voice of a male after hours, calling their dog by it's name "Sandy." This took place after the shop has been locked up for the night. Sandy was the building's guard dog, and she heard the voice as well, and went to look who was calling her name, but no one was found. Reports of bangs and crashing...
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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The Mathias Ham House in Dubuque is a well known hot spot for paranormal activity. The home was once owned by its namesake, Mathias Ham, who came to the city in the 1830s to join the steamboat business. He met his wife in Dubuque and eventually expanded the home to accommodate their six children. Over the years, many family members died while in the home, including Mathias himself, his...
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Categories: Real Haunted Houses | Real Haunted Places
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This building dates back to 1921 and was made specifically for the town newspaper. There have been many jokes and rumors about the place being haunted. On Oct. 20th, the Jasper County Paranormal Idealist investigated the premises and ever since then, employees have reported papers disappearing off their desks and clocks being turned back.
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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The local legend surrounding these tracks says if you park your car on the railroad and shut it off, an unseen force will push you off. There have also been reports of footsteps being heard in the gravel while the ghostly children are pushing your car.
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Categories: Real Haunted Places | Real Haunted Nature & Outdoors (ie. Haunted Woods)
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It is rumored that a convicted child molester once lived here and was beaten to death by one of the victims' parents. Cries of his victims have been heard echoing throughout the apartment halls late at night.
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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This area is said to be haunted by the spirt of a middle-aged washerwoman who has reportedly lingered the grounds since the late 1800s. Some reports say she has appeared with a double-winger washing machine.
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Categories: Real Haunted Bridges & Overpasses | Real Haunted Places
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This building dates back to 1915 when it was used as a meat-packing plant, before being turned into a packing operation. A gas leak occurred in 1949 and as a result, an explosion killed several people. After, the location became a shopping center and it is here where strange occurrences have been reported. Elevators have seemed to move when they aren't and it is reported that for a few...
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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Dr. Robert Morehouse is the ghost that is rumored to haunt this location. He was the first chairman of the Astronomy and Physics department, and he discovered a comet in the 1920s. People believe he haunts the observatory since both him and wife are buried in the entryway wall. Students have reported experiencing feelings of being watched while working in the basement and said that an...
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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The Cresco Theatre and Opera House is known as one of the top 10 most haunted theaters in all of the Midwest. The theater dates back to 1915 and has featured live performances and modern motion pictures. It is still in operation today and is said to be haunted by more than just one ghostly spirit. Witnesses have reported what appear to be ghosts of vaudeville performers on the stage,...
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Categories: Real Haunted Places | Real Haunted Theaters
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The Banwell (Terror) Bridge in Fort Dodge is one of Iowa's most haunted bridges. It has been around since the 1800s and there are tons of eerie tales surrounding it. One of the stories surrounding the bridge include a woman who brought her children there to watch the trains pass below. She threw them over the bridge railings, watching as they were struck and killed by the train. She...
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Categories: Real Haunted Bridges & Overpasses | Real Haunted Places | Real Haunted Nature & Outdoors (ie. Haunted Woods)
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This location was once a cavalry armory and now houses the city school buses. Members of the National Guard have reportedly been known to occupy the building and people have heard ghostly sounds from long ago: clopping of horses’ hooves and jingling of harnesses. The apparition of an older man wearing cavalry grub has also been seen in the back hall.
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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In the 1920s, the upstairs area behind this bowling alley was used for illegal gambling, according to local legend. People say if you gain access to a room down the hallway, you can hear people talking and dice rolling. You might even hear a ghostly disembodied voice calling your name. It is not clear whether or not this location is open to the public, so before trying to enter, be sure...
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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In 1940, an electrician named Rodriguez was electrocuted here while the auditorium was being built. He is said to haunt the area by flickering the lights and turning them on and off. Cold spots have also been felt near the location he died. A ghostly 12-year-old boy also haunts the place by cold spots and sounds of crying. It was said that he died here in the early 1960s when he fell...
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Categories: Real Haunted Places
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The Highway 24 Ghost is rumored to be an escaped slave who died in the 1860s of diphtheria and was buried in a nearby home's basement. He is said to carry a leather bag while walking west bound on the north side of the road, usually between 1 and 2 AM.
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Categories: Real Haunted Bridges & Overpasses | Real Haunted Places | Real Haunted Nature & Outdoors (ie. Haunted Woods)
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A story tells of a 1920s fiery train crash that had killed a bunch of passengers. One car had been filled with orphan children, who all burned to death in the crash. It is rumored that the ghostly children can still be heard crying and sometimes the smell of burning is reported. Some people have reported seeing the spirit of a little girl wandering through the woods wearing a white...
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Categories: Real Haunted Places | Real Haunted Nature & Outdoors (ie. Haunted Woods)
