Most Haunted Places in Iowa

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    EHP Rating: 91.5

    Vegors Cemetery

    Lehigh, Iowa
    The cemetery is said to be haunted by the spirits of restless Native Americans and Mrs. Henry Lott, the wife of a man who was known to cheat the Native Americans and steal their horses. She was killed while trying to escape from angry Native Americans seeking revenge, although her husband survived....
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    EHP Rating: 90.5

    Hawkeye Community Theatre

    Fort Dodge, Iowa
    This historic theatre is believed to be haunted by the apparition of a young girl who was murdered nearby. Witnesses claim to have seen her sitting in the hall after hours, and have felt her brush past them in the corridors. The chandelier at the entrance also moves of its own accord, and is...
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    EHP Rating: 89.7

    Little Africa - Geigel Woods

    Algona, Iowa
    This site is said to be very active with spirits, in part because the old bridge was the site of two hangings. Car accidents have been caused by apparitions standing in the middle of the road. Also, at the old farm house, the husband is said to have killed the maid after she had an affair. It is...
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    EHP Rating: 89.3

    Villisca Axe Murder House

    Villisca, Iowa
    In 1912 an entire family was murdered here by axe, and it is said that the house is still haunted by their spirits. The house has been investigated and featured on the TV show Ghost...
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    EHP Rating: 89.2

    Oak Hill Cemetery

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    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...
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    EHP Rating: 89.1

    Stoneking Cemetery

    Russell, Iowa
    There is a lot of mystery and talk surrounding this cemetery, a family plot near what was once the abandoned house. Some say there are dangerous trees in the back of the cemetery, and those who walked behind them would catch a glimpse of the Stone King sitting on his grave, and then would soon die....
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    EHP Rating: 88.9

    Birthday Bridge - Giblin Bridge

    Mount Pleasant, Iowa
    This spot, near where Kentucky Avenue and US 218 meet, is said to be haunted by a local girl who hanged herself from the bridge after having an affair with a married doctor. The day she died was also her birthday. Legend has it that her ghost can be seen hanging from the bridge every year on her...
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    EHP Rating: 88.9

    St. Mary's Cemetery

    Hamburg, Iowa
    A mysterious spirit, that of a woman, has been seen kneeling at the feet of three of the cemetery's Virgin Mary statues. Also reported have been wailing sounds coming from the...
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    EHP Rating: 88.6

    The Earling Exorcism

    Earling, Iowa
    Earling is famous for a 1928 exorcism that lasted more than 3 weeks. A local Franciscan convent was the setting for the ceremony; the target was the demons inhabiting Emma Schmidt. As Roman Catholic Capuchin Theophilus Riesinger worked, Emma is said to have flown across the room and clung to the...
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    EHP Rating: 88.6

    Thompson Hall Dormitory

    Iowa Falls, Iowa
    The dorm at Ellsworth Community College and Union Cemetery across the street are both said to be haunted. The spirit of town benefactor Mr. Ellsworth himself has been seen, and footsteps and voices have been heard in the dorm's...
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    EHP Rating: 88.0

    Jordan House

    West Des Moines, Iowa
    This museum is allegedly haunted by the ghost of the young daughter of the original owner. She died when she was three years old after falling from the stair railing she was sliding down and breaking her neck. People claim they still see and hear her playing throughout the house....
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    EHP Rating: 87.5

    Stage Coach Inn

    Ida Grove, Iowa
    The Stage Coach Inn was built in 1856 by John and Martha Moorhead; The Inn served a stage coach stop and the first court house in Ida County Iowa and was also the church, School as well as the first hospital in Ida grove were amputations sometimes accrued on the very table that still remains...
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    EHP Rating: 87.5

    Cherokee Mental Health Institute Cemetery

    Cherokee, Iowa
    Behind the MHI on the north side there Is a locked gate about 4 feet tall, if you follow that path down about a foot ball field distance you should cross a small bridge,and there is a small cemetery that is home to nameless graves. It is said that if you take the trip down pass sunset and take a...
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    EHP Rating: 87.2

    Mary Frances Hall - Clarke College

    Dubuque, Iowa
    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 reports,...
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    EHP Rating: 87.2

    Masonic Temple

    Davenport, Iowa
    A wide assortment of haunted activity is claimed to occur at this former masonic temple. These phenomena include disembodied voices carrying on a conversation, noises without a recognizable source such as footsteps when there is no one seen, names being called when there is no one present, etc....
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    EHP Rating: 86.7

    Davis City Cemetery

    Davis City, Iowa
    It is said that visitors to the cemetery may exoerience a sudden feeling of pressure as they enter. Shooting lights also have been reported streaming across the grounds very late at...
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    EHP Rating: 86.4

    Evergreen Cemetery

    Vinton, Iowa
    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...
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    EHP Rating: 86.1

    Gitchie Manitou State Preserve

    Larchwood, Iowa
    The 1973 Gitchie Manitou Murders involved an attack on a group of five teenagers at Gitchie Manitou State Preserve in Lyon County, Iowa. Four of the teenagers were killed and a fifth was raped. We have been there several times and have got many voices and apparitions. I was once scratched while...
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    EHP Rating: 85.7

    Cotton House

    Clinton, Iowa
    This historic gothic mansion belonged to a family of barristers, who moved out after seeing the apparition of a woman in white roaming the hallways and ground after dark. Visitors to the house will not go down to the basement alone, which is believed to be haunted by an eerie entity. (Submitted...
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    EHP Rating: 85.7

    Lover's Leap

    Elkader, Iowa
    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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    EHP Rating: 85.5

    Farrar Schoolhouse

    Maxwell, Iowa
    This building, formerly a middle school, has been a private residence since 2008. Please respect the owners' privacy. Witnesses have seen the ghost of a small boy in the stairwell; one has also appeared in a photo sitting on the edge of the auditorium stage. Voices of children talking and laughing...
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    EHP Rating: 85.0

    Phi Kappa Chi

    Davenport, Iowa
    This fraternity house has a haunt of its own, the apparition of a large man who enters at the front door and walks up the stairs to the front bedroom. He wears an overcoat with the collar turned up. Student lore says that the apparition belongs to a homeless man who was brought inside from the cold...
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    EHP Rating: 84.4

    Oak Hill Cemetery

    Estherville, Iowa
    A couple of spooky stories surround this cemetery's hill, and the fact that your car, when put in neutral, will seem to travel up it by itself. According to one story, a car full of football players was in an accident here when the car stalled. While they were pushing the car up the hill, another...
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    EHP Rating: 84.0

    Lennox College

    Hopkinton, Iowa
    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 and it's said she's waiting for her...
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    EHP Rating: 83.8

    Pleasant Ridge Cemetery

    Palo, Iowa
    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...
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    EHP Rating: 83.8

    Simpson College - Old Chapel - College Hall

    Indianola, Iowa
    Legend has it that around the turn of the 20th century, a young man, distraught over a love affair, killed himself here. Then in the 1920s, a young woman did the same. Several more people are rumored to have met their ends in this hall, and folks say their spirits can be seen, heard, and felt here....
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    EHP Rating: 83.8

    Edinburgh Manor

    Monticello, Iowa
    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...
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    EHP Rating: 83.7

    KD Station

    Sioux City, Iowa
    The building started out in 1915 as a meat-packing plant, but changed hands to a packing operation. In 1949 a gas leak and resulting explosion killed several people. Later on, the spot became a shopping center, and it is here that strange happenings have been reported. Lights turn on by themselves....
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    EHP Rating: 83.3

    Ottumwa Cemetery

    Ottumwa, Iowa
    Night visitors to the cemetery have seen shadowed figures sitting on tombstones or running behind trees, and heard whispering and footsteps in the grass. There has also been reported a white cat who will run in circles around your feet, and then...
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    EHP Rating: 83.3

    Pettlon Family House

    Manchester, Iowa
    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 I experienced visitations from passed...
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    EHP Rating: 83.3

    Porter House Museum

    Decorah, Iowa
    Actual details of this haunting are vague and hard to come by. Most accounts simply refer to "playful spirits" who inhabit this estate, without any specifics on the actual details. If you've encountered any ghostly activity while visiting the museum, drop us a line and share some...
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    EHP Rating: 83.3

    Iowa State University - C.Y. Stephens Auditorium

    Ames, Iowa
    A friendly ghost, C.Y. Stephens himself, in fact, is known to haunt this auditorium. He has been seen in the basement tunnels or sitting in the back right corner of the 3rd balcony. He also makes himself known by cold spots and the sound of footsteps. When performers see him, it is said to be a...
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    EHP Rating: 83.0

    Stony Hollow Road

    Burlington, Iowa
    Spooky tales told here revolve around a ghost named Lucinda. She is said to have committed suicide by jumping off a cliff when her beloved failed to meet her to run away together. There are many reports of people seeing the ghost. Local urban legend also says that if you say her name three times...
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    EHP Rating: 82.9

    Tedrow Cemetery

    Kellerton, Iowa
    Rumor has it that it is not actually the small cemetery, but the surrounding woods, that are haunted. Phenomena experienced here include glowing lights coming from the woods, shadowed apparitions, and the sounds of footsteps, moaning, and other strange...
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    EHP Rating: 82.9

    Mossy Glen Hollow

    Strawberry Point, Iowa
    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 a traveling peddler who...
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    EHP Rating: 82.6

    Coe College

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    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 night and play the piano in the parlor or pull...
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    EHP Rating: 82.6

    Bartlett Hall - University of Northern Iowa

    Cedar Falls, Iowa
    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 just...
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    EHP Rating: 82.5

    Moose Pond

    Spencer, Iowa
    Locals tell a story of harrowing events that happen at 8:47 p.m. on December 23. If you visit the iced-over pond on that night, you can hear pounding on the ice and hear the screams of a young boy trapped beneath the ice. According to the story, the young boy had been ice fishing, fell through the...
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    EHP Rating: 82.4

    Alice French House

    Davenport, Iowa
    This historic mansion was the residence of the notable writer, who spent her years throughout here during the warmer months. Her father, the town mayor, originally owned the house, and it may be his spirit that is often reported here by visitors. Witnesses claim to have seen a distinguished...
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    EHP Rating: 82.4

    Van Fossen Cemetery

    Adel, Iowa
    Since the 1850's, the Van Fossen cemetery has had many names, from Rodenbaugh Cemetery, the Old Adel Cemetery, to the "official" name recorded by the state, the Gibson Cemetery. Along old highway 6, the cemetery is sometimes just called the Bilderback Cemetery, after the massive headstones that...
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    EHP Rating: 82.1

    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 handprints on its surface. But beware!...
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    EHP Rating: 82.1

    Hotel Ottumwa

    Ottumwa, Iowa
    An apparition of a lady in white haunts the hotel basement, which formerly served as a ballroom. The ghost of a man in a suit haunts the hallways of the hotel. Strange noises and voices have been heard. The face of a man has also been seen in the hotel basement. Shadowy apparitions are seen in...
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    EHP Rating: 82.0

    Children of Iron Hill

    Charles City, Iowa
    According to local lore, in the 1920s there was a fiery train crash that killed many passengers. One car was full of orphan children who perished in the fires. It is said that the ghost children can still be heard crying, and sometimes the smell of burning is detected. Some have seen the ghost of a...
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    EHP Rating: 81.8

    Franklin Hotel

    Strawberry Point, Iowa
    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 by...
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    EHP Rating: 81.8

    Malvern Manor

    Malvern, Iowa
    Built in the late 1800's as a hotel initially to service the railroad. Was eventually turned into a nursing home and then a group home for the mentally handicapped. It serviced everyone from those with Down's Syndrome to the more exotic of diseases like multiple personalities and schizophrenia. The...
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    EHP Rating: 81.8

    David Ryan House

    Newton, Iowa
    Actual details of this alleged haunting seem to spring from a single source, a local paranormal group who claims the house is haunted. Alleged haunting is basically hearing footsteps and voices. Some EVPs are claimed by the paranormal group that offers occasional tours of the house for interested...
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    EHP Rating: 81.3

    Wildwood Apartments

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    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...
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    EHP Rating: 81.3

    Squirrel Cage - Old Pottawattamie County Jail

    Council Bluffs, Iowa
    Built in 1885 and an innovation in jail cells for its time, this jail utilizes a "lazy susan" design, where the jail block is round and the cells form individual wedges like slices in a pie. With only one door leading in, the cells would be rotated by a hand crank to allow prisoners in and out of...
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    EHP Rating: 81.3

    J L Reece Memorial Park

    New Providence, Iowa
    According to reports, a young woman committed suicide in the cornfield at this site. Witnesses have seen her appear in the field and have heard her...
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    EHP Rating: 81.0

    Riverside Cemetery

    Charles City, Iowa
    Visitors here have reported dark figures and a feeling of being watched. The ghost of a Native American is said to have been seen -- perhaps it is he who keeps an eye on the...
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    EHP Rating: 81.0

    Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    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 a fire at 4...
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    EHP Rating: 80.0

    Hotel Julien

    Dubuque, Iowa
    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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    EHP Rating: 80.0

    Drake Municipal Observatory

    Des Moines, Iowa
    Dr. Robert Morehouse was the first chairman of the Astronomy and Physics department, and he discovered a comet in the 1920s. He also haunts the observatory, according to local legend, perhaps because the remains of Dr. Morehouse and his wife are buried in the entryway wall. Students working in the...
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    EHP Rating: 80.0

    Hickory Hill Cemetery

    Charlotte, Iowa
    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...
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    EHP Rating: 80.0

    Highway 34 Ghost

    Burlington, Iowa
    The ghost who walks along the highway at night is said to be an escaped slave who died in the 1860s of diptheria and was buried in the basement of a nearby home. He carries a leather bag and walks westward on the north side of the road between 1 and 2...
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    EHP Rating: 79.2

    Captain Merry Historic Inn

    East Dubuque, Illinois
    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 dress to a fast moving male apparition, as...
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    EHP Rating: 79.2

    Larsen Hall - Luther College

    Decorah, Iowa
    The third floor is said to be haunted by Gertrude, a ghost who likes to pull fire alarms and hide students' belongings, or replace students' clothing with old-fashioned versions. She is reported to be the spirit of a prospective student of the college who was killed by a car while riding her...
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    EHP Rating: 78.8

    Scott City Hall

    Davenport, Iowa
    An imposing building with a bell tower just begs to have a good ghost story associated with it, and this city hall building is no exception. People claim to see the ghost of a hanged man in the tower at night, allegedly from prisoners who were illegally hanged there. This is of course completely...
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    EHP Rating: 78.8

    Union Cemetery - The Devil's Chair

    Guthrie Center, Iowa
    It is said that those who sit in the cement chair will receive a spell of bad luck. The Devil's Chair has no markings, and sits between the Peterson and Miller graves. According to reports, the chair has been believed to be cursed for at least 35...
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    EHP Rating: 78.3

    Mars Hill Church

    Bloomfield, Iowa
    This old log cabin church is actually a restoration using salvaged timber from vintage barns. The church had been in existence from 1856 til 2006 when some dirtbag arsonist decided to burn the place to the ground. Rumors of it being haunted however have become something of local lore, with the...
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    EHP Rating: 77.8

    Dimmitt Hall - Morningside College

    Sioux City, Iowa
    Residents of this dorm have reported hearing a girl choking and gagging at night. Also, an apparition of a crying woman has been seen walking down the hall. She is said to be the ghost of a girl who committed suicide by hanging herself from the heating pipes in her dorm...
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    EHP Rating: 77.8

    Stello Performance Hall - Mount Mercy

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa
    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...
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    EHP Rating: 77.8

    Indian Dam - Indian Fish Trap State Preserve

    Homestead, Iowa
    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...
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    EHP Rating: 77.8

    Top of the Rock Grille

    Fairfield, Iowa
    The origin of the hauntings at this restaurant is uncertain. What IS certain, is that it's haunted. Witnesses have seen objects moving by themselves in the kitchen and heard whispering and voices in the bathrooms. They have also heard the sound of people walking on the upper floors when no one is...
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    EHP Rating: 77.6

    Black Angel - Oakland Cemetery

    Iowa City, Iowa
    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 group of cemetery...
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    EHP Rating: 77.3

    Burlington National Guard Armory

    Burlington, Iowa
    Horses' hooves and footsteps can be heard late at night, doors open and close by themselves, and one witness reported seeing a reflection of a man with a handlebar mustache in a computer screen, but when he turned around, no one was...
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    EHP Rating: 77.1

    Mason House Inn and Caboose Cottage

    Keosauqua, Iowa
    This historic 1846 hotel was also a stop on the Underground Railroad, and several spirits are living here. In Room 5, the ghost of a young boy pulls on people's clothing at night. His apparition has been seen on the landing. In Room 7, a man named Knapp was murdered, and his spirit lingers about...
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    EHP Rating: 77.1

    Mason House Inn and Caboose Cottage

    Keosauqua, Iowa
    This historic 1846 hotel was also a stop on the Underground Railroad, and several spirits are living here. In Room 5, the ghost of a young boy pulls on people's clothing at night. His apparition has been seen on the landing. In Room 7, a man named Knapp was murdered, and his spirit lingers about...
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    EHP Rating: 77.0

    Bannwell Bridge - Terror Bridge

    Barnum, Iowa
    Local legend maintains that a woman once killed her 3 kids here. Some reports say she hung them from the bridge and they were hit by a train coming through. Her ghostly head is said to follow you down the road, and if you don't have your doors and windows locked, she may get in and throw you over...
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    EHP Rating: 76.9

    Buddy Holly Memorial

    Clear Lake, Iowa
    Buddy Holly may be alive beyond the grave. According to reports, some have seen a phantom plane crashing that matches the one involved in the 1959 tragedy. Also, 3 orbs have been caught on tape in the spot where Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens...
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    EHP Rating: 76.9

    Calvary Cemetery

    Sioux City, Iowa
    Visitors to this cemetery have experienced an unexplained ringing in their ears and the feeling of cobwebs draped over their faces. It is said that these sensations strengthen the closer one gets to a certain grave, one that has a headstone carved from part of a tree. Local legend has it that this...
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    EHP Rating: 76.9

    Hawkeye Theatre

    Fort Dodge, Iowa
    Reports say visitors to the theater get the feeling of being watched, and have seen a ghostly little girl. Also, some say if you are alone here you will feel the not-so-gentle touch of an invisible...
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    EHP Rating: 76.7

    Sioux City Municipal Auditorium

    Sioux City, Iowa
    Legend has it that Rodriguez, an electrician who was electrocuted in the 1940s during the building of the auditorium, haunts the area by flickering the lights and turning them off and on. There are also cold spots felt near the site of his death. The ghost of a 12-year-old boy also haunts the site....
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    EHP Rating: 76.5

    Akron Area Museum

    Akron, Iowa
    The Akron Area Museum, formerly the home of the Ross Family is haunted some say by the Materiach, Mrs. Lucille Ross. The 100% volunteer staffed museum has had many members experience cold drafts, noises and a feeling of a presence around the main stairway and formal dining room in the former Ross...
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    EHP Rating: 76.5

    1875 Decker Hotel

    Maquoketa, Iowa
    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...
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    EHP Rating: 76.3

    Mt Hope Cemetery

    Madrid, Iowa
    The ghost of a child named Sara resides at this cemetery. She and four other children from her family are buried near the back. Sara is said to follow around visitors and ask for someone named Ree. She is also known to touch people and tug at clothing if her queries are not answered. Many visitors...
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    EHP Rating: 76.3

    Greenwood Cemetery

    Muscatine, Iowa
    The Blue Angel is a statue with a legend. Reports say that back in the 1950s, she was thought of as the benevolent spirit of the cemetery, protecting it from vandals. Sometime since then, tales about her have become more sinister. She is said to have once held a rose; if you looked at her and she...
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    EHP Rating: 76.2

    Air Lanes Bowling Center

    Des Moines, Iowa
    According to local legend, behind the bowling alley is an upstairs area that was used for illegal gambling in the 1920s. Reports say if you gain access to a room down the hallway, you may hear people talking, dice rolling, and you may even hear a ghostly disembodied voice calling your name. It is...
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    EHP Rating: 76.2

    Stagecoach Inn Museum

    Manchester, Iowa
    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...
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    EHP Rating: 76.0

    Redstone Inn and Suites

    Dubuque, Iowa
    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 disembodied...
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    EHP Rating: 76.0

    Old Red Horse Armory

    Des Moines, Iowa
    This old cavalry armory is now the housing for city school buses. There have been reports that members of the National Guard, when they occupied the building, heard ghostly sounds from long ago: clopping of horses' hooves and jingling of harnesses. An apparition of an older man in cavalry garb was...
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    EHP Rating: 75.8

    Ambrose Hall

    Davenport, Iowa
    At this hall in St. Ambrose University, witnesses have reported hearing strange noises and footsteps late at night. They have also seen flickering lights. Some attribute the occurrences to the spirit of an old priest who died many years...
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    EHP Rating: 75.7

    West Union Hardee's

    West Union, Iowa
    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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    EHP Rating: 75.7

    Mathias Ham House

    Dubuque, Iowa
    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 the...
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    EHP Rating: 75.0

    Newton Community Theatre

    Newton, Iowa
    T.G., or Theater Ghost, is said to haunt this building. One board member reported seeing an apparition of a man on the stage, and it is said that actors often have difficulty finding their props. Any such difficulty, of course, is attributed to...
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    EHP Rating: 75.0

    Lot Behind Nauss Oil

    Emmetsburg, Iowa
    A motel once stood in this vacant lot, but it has since been demolished. The foundation/drive-/walkway is still there. Locals say the spirit of an old man in a plaid shirt and chinos walks along the way, stopping several times as if he is checking to make sure the motel room doors are...
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    EHP Rating: 74.3

    General Dodge House

    Council Bluffs, Iowa
    Folks say General Dodge himself is still hanging about the grounds. If you take a guided tour through the building, you may catch a glimpse of him sitting in his rocking chair. Around the grounds, light flashes and the smell of fire have been reported. Another strange occurrence that may happen...
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    EHP Rating: 74.2

    Rainbow Bridge

    Lake City, Iowa
    A chocolate-loving spirit resides at this old bowstring bridge. Stories say that if you bring an unopened chocolate bar to the bridge at midnight, lay it in the center of the bridge, and exit the bridge, after 5 minutes you will find an unopened and intact wrapper, but the chocolate inside will be...
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    EHP Rating: 73.7

    Terre Haute Cemetery

    Decatur City, Iowa
    The spirit of a little boy can be seen playing on the swingset behind a cabin adjacent to the cemetery. He may motion for you to follow him into the cemetery, where he is buried. Once at his grave, he...
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    EHP Rating: 73.6

    Satan's Hollow Bridge

    Shell Rock, Iowa
    According to reports, those who go underneath the bridge may see tall white figures and hear strange sounds. The figures and a feeling of general unease are said to follow you the further you...
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    EHP Rating: 73.2

    Fairview Cemetery

    Council Bluffs, Iowa
    The Black Angel statue is said to follow visitors with their eyes, and may curse visitors with sickliness. Also reported here have been lights in the trees behind the older graves, and a feeling of being closely...
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    EHP Rating: 72.7

    Leflur / Lefler House

    Sioux City, Iowa
    Reports may differ as to spell the name of the locally famous haunted house, but its merit as a haunted site is hard to argue. Several murders have taken place on the premises. Phenomena reported include a red glow seen upstairs, a very cold attic (even in the heat of summer), and a washing machine...
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    EHP Rating: 72.7

    Union Pacific Railroad Museum

    Council Bluffs, Iowa
    This museum has been completely restored and renovated, but it was once the town library. Locals say that in the basement, books would often fly off the shelves, and shadowy figures have been seen. Also, items would disappear only to turn up again...
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    EHP Rating: 72.6

    Centerville Railroad Tracks

    Centerville, Iowa
    Local legend sayd that if you park your car on these railroad tracks and shut it off, an unseen force will push you off the tracks. Reports say you can hear footsteps in the gravel while the spirits of children are pushing your...
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    EHP Rating: 72.3

    Hazel Green Cemetery

    Ackley, Iowa
    The gazebo in this old cemetery seems to be the central spot for the spiritual activity. In it, visitors have reported seeing an elderly woman's ghost sitting in a rocking chair, holding a baby. It is said that those who see her feel sadness, rather than fear. Reports say that people often leave...
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    EHP Rating: 72.2

    Strayer-Wood Theatre

    Cedar Falls, Iowa
    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...
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    EHP Rating: 72.0

    Gypsy Cemetery - Union Township Cemetery

    Algona, Iowa
    This small gypsy cemetery is said to be haunted by a gypsy queen, who is guarded by a murder of crows. Legend has it that in the 1800s gypsies came through here often with their wagons. If any member of their group was sick and dying, they would simply bury them here, alive. Many ghosts have been...
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    EHP Rating: 71.1

    The Historic Klondike Hotel

    Manilla, Iowa
    The Klondike Hotel was built on the street that in 1897 was named Railroad Street. It faced to the west toward the bustling Milwaukee tracks and depot. An access road was completed shortly after the hotel was built which directly connected the Hotel with the Depot. The local drayman was kept...
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    EHP Rating: 70.6

    Spooky Table at the Weaver House

    Des Moines, Iowa
    Local legend has it that when the Weavers purchased a table in 1937, they bought a ghost along with it. The table is said to have made rapping noises and caused other disturbances until a minister's wife quieted it by reading from the Bible. A spiritualist consulted by the Weavers determined that...
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    EHP Rating: 70.5

    Terrace Hill

    Des Moines, Iowa
    At this 1860s historic building, home of the governor of Iowa, the ghost of a little girl has been seen. She is transparent, and some say she likes to work the elevator, even though it is only supposed to operate by the use of...