Haunted Places in Central City, Iowa



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    Matsell Bridge - Matt's Bridge

    Central City, Iowa

    Legend around town says that if you drive out the the middle of the bridge and shut off the car, an unseen force will push your car across the bridge. What's more, you will hear strange sounds outside around your car, and when you leave the place, you will see ...


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    Springville Cemetery‎

    Springville, Iowa

    11.1 miles from Central City, IA

    According to reports, a gravedigger died in 1920 while digging a grave. He fell in and broke his neck, which killed him instantly. It is said you can still see him working at night, with a glowing green shovel.


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    Granger House Museum

    Marion, Iowa

    12.2 miles from Central City, IA

    Folks around these parts will tell of a ghost at the Granger House Museum. Her white figure is said to be seen at midnight, sitting in front of a window.


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    Carlos O'Kelly's

    Marion, Iowa

    13.1 miles from Central City, IA

    The bar is said to be haunted by prank-playing spirits. Workers say the lights flicker, the blenders start up by themselves even when unplugged, and plates fall off their racks.


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    Holy Cross Cemetary

    Anamosa, Iowa

    13.2 miles from Central City, IA

    An old hanging tree is said to lie behind the first group of trees in back of this cemetery. Orbs and shadowy figures are reported to appear here; the area is said to be an old Native American burial ground.


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    Wildwood Apartments

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    14.1 miles from Central City, IA

    It is said that a convicted child molestor once lived here and was beaten to death by one of the victims' parents. Some say you can hear the cries of his victims echoing through the apartment halls late at night.


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    Stello Performance Hall - Mount Mercy

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    15.3 miles from Central City, IA

    Reports say that a nun once hanged herself from the choir loft balcony, and she now wanders the halls. Especially haunted is said to be Warde Hall.


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    Pleasant Ridge Cemetery

    Palo, Iowa

    15.7 miles from Central City, IA

    Locals will point out that there are 13 stairs that lead up a hill into this cemetery. Unexplained voices have been captured on tape here, and visitors have seen apparitions and felt the touch of something unseen.


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    Brucemore

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    15.8 miles from Central City, IA

    The library is allegedly haunted by a poltergeist-type entity who moves objects, laughs and makes other noises. Some people claim to see a glowing "presence" in the library as well.


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    The Trunkless Tree - Campbell Cemetery

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    15.8 miles from Central City, IA

    Is it an optical illusion or a spirited trick? Locals say that if you visit this cemetery at night and turn off your headlights, you will see a tree that looks as if it has no trunk. It appears to float in the air. Reports say there used to be ...


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    Dubuque's Haunted History
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    Kathleen Vyn
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    Coe College

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    16.5 miles from Central City, IA

    The resident ghost here is Helen, a student who died of influenza in 1918. A grandfather clock located here is said to have been donated by her parents; it used to be in her dorm. Some say the clock is where her spirit lives, but she may come out at ...


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    Oak Hill Cemetery

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    16.9 miles from Central City, IA

    The ghost of a little Czech girl named Tillie is said to linger in this cemetery, haunting through the night carrying a lit candle. It is said she may try to pull visitors into a mausoleum.


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    Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    17.2 miles from Central City, IA

    The building was the town library until 1985. According to stories told by locals, one day in the 1960s a regular patron named Hazel visited the library. She was seen walking through the rooms by patrons and employees alike. However, it was soon realized that Hazel had passed away in ...


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    Lennox College

    Hopkinton, Iowa

    17.4 miles from Central City, IA

    I was scrolling through the haunted places in Iowa and wanted to suggest adding the Lennox College campus in Hopkinton. A family friend is the mayor of the little town and said when people stop by for a tour, they've seen a woman in one of the dorm hall windows ...


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    Pettlon Family House

    Manchester, Iowa

    19.8 miles from Central City, IA

    This home was built by the Pettlon family back in 1913, and has been in the family all that time. It is now for sale as of 2014. A member of the Pettlon family has shared with us her paranormal experiences there: "Visiting my Grandmother in the family home ...


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    Shellsburg Cemetery

    Shellsburg, Iowa

    20 miles from Central City, IA

    In the cemetery stands a statue of an angel, which marks the grave of two children who died in the 1940s. Locals say the angel statue will cry real tears at night.


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    Stagecoach Inn Museum

    Manchester, Iowa

    20.3 miles from Central City, IA

    The Stagecoach House, formerly an inn and a museum, is now a private residence, so please respect the owners' privacy. The building is said to be haunted by the Baker family, who used to own and run the museum and are buried in a nearby graveyard.


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    Edinburgh Manor

    Monticello, Iowa

    20.5 miles from Central City, IA

    Built in 1908, this building is rumored to be hopping with haunts. It has been a mental institution among other things, and at least 80 people are said to have died here. For ghost enthusiasts, the place is available for private lockdowns.


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    Parkers Grove Cemetery

    Shellsburg, Iowa

    22 miles from Central City, IA

    According to reports, one gravestone boasts a carving of a face. The stone face is said to cry tears at night.


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    Evergreen Cemetery

    Vinton, Iowa

    25.2 miles from Central City, IA

    This cemetery is home to a ghostly woman on horseback who wears a white dress and rides up and down the train tracks. There are also reports of strange phenomena surrounding a statue and apparitions of military men who wander in the portion of the cemetery for unknown soldiers.


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  • Haunted America
    Michael Norman
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    Buchanan County Court House

    Independence, Iowa

    26.2 miles from Central City, IA

    It is said that in the late 1800s or early 1900s a man was hung here, but something went awry with the process and he died a slow, painful death. His ghost is said to haunt the place at night; it has been seen hanging from a rope.


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    Greencastle Cemetery

    North Liberty, Iowa

    31.1 miles from Central City, IA

    Something eerie may be going on in this old cemetery. Even though no one has been buried here for a long time, reports say the earth looks freshly dug up. Tombstones are said to move about, and some have seen a teenage witch dressed in black with long, dark hair. ...


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    Franklin Hotel

    Strawberry Point, Iowa

    33.2 miles from Central City, IA

    This 1900’s hotel is believed to be haunted by two ghosts, including that of a woman named Lily and of a former merchant. Singing voice, and the apparition of a woman in a ballroom outfit (most likely Lily) have been seen on various floors of the hotel. Objects move around ...


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    Indian Dam - Indian Fish Trap State Preserve

    Homestead, Iowa

    35.1 miles from Central City, IA

    The restless spirits of the Sauk Nation people who build the dam are said to haunt this area during full moons. The sounds of chanting and drums have been heard.


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    Mary Wright - Granny Sprague Cemetery

    Homestead, Iowa

    35.7 miles from Central City, IA

    The ghost of Mary Wright, a child of 6 who died in 1854, appears as a pale blue light over her grave, some say. She is said to appear during the final minute of each year.


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    Mossy Glen Hollow

    Strawberry Point, Iowa

    36.4 miles from Central City, IA

    Pearl Shine, a woman who in 1936 conspired with her hired hand to kill her husband, is said to haunt this peaceful area. Pearl was caught, tried, and convicted, and she died in prison. Other ghosts here include a man who committed suicide by walking into the muddy bog, and ...


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    Black Angel - Oakland Cemetery

    Iowa City, Iowa

    36.9 miles from Central City, IA

    Strange phenomona occur here, seemingly revolving around two statues: the Black Angel and a young girl set on a pedestal. Folks have reported seeing strange lights and the Angel walking about as a glowing shape. It is said that the little girl statue will pick out one member of a ...


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    Currier Hall - University of Iowa

    Iowa City, Iowa

    37.1 miles from Central City, IA

    Students like to tell of a triple suicide that occurred on the 4th floor. The reason? Three roommates fell in love with the same man. It is said that if roommates get into arguments, their ghosts will step in to restore harmony. Rumor also has it that the ghost of ...


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    Slater Hall - University of Iowa

    University Heights, Iowa

    37.7 miles from Central City, IA

    It is reported that on the ninth floor a student once jumped to his death. Students say his ghost roams the halls carrying an ax, and footsteps and screams may be heard at night.


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    Watt's Antiques and Collectables

    Iowa City, Iowa

    37.9 miles from Central City, IA

    This address, at the corner of Muscatine Ave. and Dearborn Rd., is now an antique store that is rumored rumored to be haunted. People are said to have heard footsteps, voices, seen apparitions, and felt patches of paranormal feelings (ex. cold spots, uncomfortable feelings...) A great place to visit for ...


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    Machinist's Hall

    Conroy, Iowa

    40.8 miles from Central City, IA

    This meetinghouse was once a school, and it is said to be haunted by flickering lights in the night. Voices have been heard behind the building, as well. Note: Some Internet sites mistakenly call it "Mechanists Hall."


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    Walmart - Flammang Drive

    Waterloo, Iowa

    44.8 miles from Central City, IA

    Even Wal-Mart is not immune to spirits. Employees say Jeremiah, a 12-year-old boy, haunts the store by playing pranks, moving merchandise and tugging on the employees' smocks. He also taps them on the shoulder at times. Those who have seen him say he is pale, thin, and wears black pants ...


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    1875 Decker Hotel

    Maquoketa, Iowa

    44.9 miles from Central City, IA

    This hotel was built in (you guessed it) 1875, and is rumoured to be haunted by a prankster ghost who plays with the lights. (Submitted by Callum Swift)


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    Lover's Leap

    Elkader, Iowa

    45.9 miles from Central City, IA

    Local legend says that in the early 1830s, a young man named Lou Millville became friendly with the Native Americans who lived nearby, especially the chief's daughter White Cloud. One day, Lou followed two braves into the woods to learn the whereabouts of some nearby lead mines. He was discovered, ...


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    Mary Frances Hall - Clarke College

    Dubuque, Iowa

    47.5 miles from Central City, IA

    Called Mary Fran by students, this hall was built in 1924 and is said to be haunted by school founder Mary Frances Clarke. Students have experienced unexplained footsteps in the hall and an uneasy feeling of being watched, and they have seen a shrouded apparition near the chapel. In other ...


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    Redstone Inn and Suites

    Dubuque, Iowa

    48.2 miles from Central City, IA

    The nineteenth century inn was built in 1894 by a man who was forced to jump ship in the town and ended up prospering and owning a wagon empire. Staff and guests nowadays have reported seeing the apparition of an distinguished gentleman, while the owner claims to have heard ...


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    Fischer Building

    Dubuque, Iowa

    48.3 miles from Central City, IA

    There are two ghosts that appear from time to time in the mid-19th-century Fischer Building, according to those in the know. One is a tall man who walks in the basement, and the other is a woman wearing a 1920s- or '30s-style dress and furs who walks around on the ...


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    Hotel Julien

    Dubuque, Iowa

    48.3 miles from Central City, IA

    According to staff and guests at this historic boutique hotel, sightings of the apparition of a man in period clothing on the upper floors of the hotel aren't uncommon; and neither are the legends surrounding his appearance. Some believe this spectre is Al Capone, who frequently stayed in the ...


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    Grand Opera House

    Dubuque, Iowa

    48.4 miles from Central City, IA

    The haunts at this opera house, built between 1889 and 1890, like to pull pranks. The lights operate by themselves, and cameras and tape recorders behave strangely. Witnesses have also heard ghostly singing from a seemingly empty stage, and apparitions have been seen as well. The ghosts here are loved ...


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    Captain Merry Historic Inn

    East Dubuque, Illinois

    49.3 miles from Central City, IA

    This historic inn is believed to have closed, and may now be a private residence. The building the inn was housed in has a colourful past, and is rumoured to be one of the most haunted houses in town. Reports range from sightings of a woman in a black ...


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    Riverside Cemetery

    Riverside, Iowa

    49.6 miles from Central City, IA

    It is said that many pairs of glowing eyes, belonging to the many graveyard spirits, can be seen by those who drive past.


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    Matthias Ham House

    Dubuque, Iowa

    50 miles from Central City, IA

    No one knows exactly who is haunting the Matthias Ham museum, but ghostly tales abound. People have felt icy drafts in rooms that are closed, objects move and lights turn on independently of any explainable source. People also claim to hear strange noises and occasional whispering. One of ...


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    Bartlett Hall - University of Northern Iowa

    Cedar Falls, Iowa

    52.4 miles from Central City, IA

    Students tell of a Halloween haunted house that was to be set up in the hall, but the resident spirits must have liked the idea and were willing to lend a ghostly hand. During the setup, so many eerie things happened, flickering lights, slamming doors, temperature changes, that the students ...


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    Lawther Hall - University of Northern Iowa

    Cedar Falls, Iowa

    52.5 miles from Central City, IA

    According to some reports, a soldier named Augie is said to haunt the building. It is said that he passed away there when the hall was used as the infirmary. Students have reported cold spots, strange sounds, and moving objects. Other reports say that the place was never an infirmary ...


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    Strayer-Wood Theatre

    Cedar Falls, Iowa

    52.6 miles from Central City, IA

    Zelda is the nickname students have for a ghost who plays the piano, makes strange noises, or causes some of the equipment to work by itself.


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    West Union Hardee's

    West Union, Iowa

    54.4 miles from Central City, IA

    Reports say that highways were built over the old cemetery, which lies about where the Hardee's stands. Employees have heard their names being called when they were alone, have felt cold spots, and have had things misplaced. Some accounts tell of a Ouija board incident in which a spirit inhabited ...


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    Camp Ingawanis

    Waverly, Iowa

    56.5 miles from Central City, IA

    It is said that a 12-year-old boy died here when he jumped from a swing and hit his head on a rock. Folks in the area have noted a moving swing when there is no breeze, and some have heard the boy's giggle.


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    Desoto House Hotel

    Galena, Illinois

    57.8 miles from Central City, IA

    The 1855 DeSoto House Hotel boasts such esteemed former guests as Abraham Lincoln and William Jennings Bryan. It was also the presidential campaign headquarters for Ulysses S. Grant, among others. Although the identity of the ghosts here is unknown, many folks have reported phantom cigar smoke, voices in the halls, ...


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    Otto's Place

    Galena, Illinois

    57.8 miles from Central City, IA

    This quaint restaurant is haunted by Otto Sallman, the namesake of the establishment. A former tenant and café owner, his apparition has been seen walking the railroad tracks adjacent to the building. The current owners believe he is a welcoming spirit, who simply intends to greet customers to his ...


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    Hickory Hill Cemetery

    Charlotte, Iowa

    58.4 miles from Central City, IA

    Legend has it that the ghost of a little girl doesn't want visitors here at all, and she may point at the gates as if telling you to leave. The sound of crying babies also has been heard here.


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