Kansas Has a Haunted Legacy
Kansas is known for vast areas of flat land, sunflowers, friendly people, and yes — even haunted places.
Since this the Spooky month I’d like to show you some of my state’s scary haunts. Since I’m not a ghost hunter, I didn’t know these places even existed, let alone where they were until I read a friend’s FB post with a link to a story about them. Warning: These places are known to scare the bejesus out of anyone who dares to visit them.
1st on my spook trail is Theorosa’s Bridge pictured above. Looks tame doesn’t it, but many visitors swear something or someone is haunting this bridge which was rebuilt after a fire in 1974.' Afterwards it became a concrete bridge, but people still report strange lights, and sounds and drastic temperature changes while standing on it, especially at night. Most recently local police say they’ve had reports of vehicles mysteriously dying on the bridge… As the story goes Theorosa was the baby daughter of 19th century settler and it is said she was stolen by a Native American tribe during a rampage on the bridge. Her grief stricken and worried mother left camp to search for her, to no avail. 😒
Number 2 on the list of spooky gems is Stull Cemetery, in Stull, KS where you might find a hidden stairway just inside the gate that legends holds descends straight to hell. The cemetery is also thought to have once been the meeting place for witches and cults, so if you visit tread lightly because you never know! 🤦♂️
Number 3 is a military cemetery. Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery, which is also the home of the well known Leavenworth Prison. This burial ground is said to be plagued by the spirits of diseased residents, sufferers of Native American attacks on the base, lost travelers, slain soldiers and other lost and forgotten souls. Many visitors also report seeing a lady in white roaming the grounds in search of her lost children.😒
Number 4 is called the most haunted house in Kansas. It is located at 508 N. 2nd Street in Atchison, KS and was built in the mid 1800’s. There is a tv show, “A Haunting” that tells the tales of this house, but I haven’t seen it.
The home earned his title after a 6 year old (Sallie) died in the home during a failed appendicitis surgery and gained notoriety in the mid 1990’s, when a couple renting the house reported pranks being played on them which eventually became malicious and violent. After consulting a psychic (who awakened with scratches on his body after spending the night there) it was discovered that “Sallie” isn’t the only ghost haunting the home, but a middle-aged woman supposedly does too. 😲
Number 5 is a haunted campground located around Fort Riley’s Moon Lake…
According to legend (and some eyewitnesses), Moon Lake is home to a mysterious Chief’s Circle and whenever anyone camps near or on it, two large groups of fireflies emerge to chase the campers away from these sacred grounds. Why fireflies? It is thought these bright lightening bugs are the eyes of the braves who have been summoned to protect the area. 😱
Number 6 was reported back in 2013 in the Topeka-Capital- Journal as Hotel Josephine Bed and Breakfast whose owner, Lori Ford, said that many, including professional ghost hunters, flock to the historic establishment for the exciting possibility of seeing a ghost. 👀
And finally number 7 is listed as “The Bird Bridge.” This eerie steel structure is the site of one of the most infamous murders in Kansas history. In 1983,’ Sandra Bird, a prominent member of the Emporia community was drugged, placed in her car, and then pushed over the side of the Rocky Ford Bridge by her reverend husband and his mistress. Even today visitors report they can hear Mrs. Birds screams coming from the water below.
Happy Halloween everyone! Although there are many more haunts in our state, I think this is enough to get you ready for Halloween. Does your state have haunted places that we would enjoy learning about? If you write a story about them; feel free to tag me. 😉
Thanks for reading and thoughtful writing everyone.