Haunted Places in Adair County, Iowa



    We're sorry, but there are currently no haunted listings available within the boundaries of Adair County, Iowa. If you know of one that should be listed here, please let us know via our submission form. Alternatively, you may want to expand your search to the state of Iowa.


    In the meantime, here's a list of all haunted places within 100 miles of Adair County, Iowa.



  • 0

    Union Cemetery - The Devil's Chair

    Guthrie Center, Iowa

    24.2 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 years.

  • 0

    Van Fossen Cemetery

    Adel, Iowa

    29.3 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 mark the ...

  • 0

    The Van Meter Creature

    Van Meter, Iowa

    30.2 miles from Adair County, IA

    First seen in 1903, the Van Meter Creature is a monster with batlike wings and a horn on its head that glows with blinding light. It may also manifest as a hovering spot of light. Shortly after it began to terrorize the townsfolk, strange sounds started coming from a coal ...

  • 0

    Elk Grove Cemetery - Union Township Cemetery

    Coon Rapids, Iowa

    30.3 miles from Adair County, IA

    According to local legend there is a small headstone with an eerie ability: If you position yourself the right way in front of it, after a few minutes it will begin to glow.

  • 0

    Villisca Axe Murder House

    Villisca, Iowa

    38.1 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 Adventures.

  • 0

    New Virginia Cemetery - Beymer Cemetery

    New Virginia, Iowa

    39.7 miles from Adair County, IA

    This is the gravesite of New Virginia's first settler. As legend has it, the gravestone has been replaced at some time over the years. Locals say an eerie glow will come from the stone at midnight, a protestation from the ghost, angry about the change.

  • 0

    Jordan House

    West Des Moines, Iowa

    41.3 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 ...

  • 0

    Smelly Ghost of University Avenue

    Des Moines, Iowa

    44 miles from Adair County, IA

    Locals say a cloudlike presence occurs here, and it smells of kerosene. Sometimes within the cloud is the form of a man or several tiny flickering lights. Reports tell of a man who died nearby in 1881 as a result of his kerosene-soaked clothes catching fire.

  • 0

    Drake Municipal Observatory

    Des Moines, Iowa

    44.5 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 ...

  • 0

    Des Moines International Airport

    Des Moines, Iowa

    44.7 miles from Adair County, IA

    There are two ghost stories around this airport. Some offices are haunted by a flight attendant, usually in the fall season. The offices used to be the site of a restaurant called the Cloud Room, and the flight attendant wanders there as if looking for her flight. Also, laughing and ...

  • 0

    Merle Hay Mall

    Des Moines, Iowa

    44.9 miles from Adair County, IA

    The mall and its tower are rumored to be built over a monastery that was closed in the 1950s. According to the stories, some nuns became pregnant and had miscarriages, and the babies were buried in unmarked graves at this site. Reports say ghosts of both nuns and infants have ...

  • 0

    Air Lanes Bowling Center

    Des Moines, Iowa

    45.3 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 ...

  • 0

    Terrace Hill

    Des Moines, Iowa

    46 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 codes.

  • 0

    Spooky Table at the Weaver House

    Des Moines, Iowa

    47 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 ...

  • 0

    Old Red Horse Armory

    Des Moines, Iowa

    47.1 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 ...

  • 0

    Old Chapel - College Hall

    Indianola, Iowa

    47.1 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 ...

  • 0

    Tedrow Cemetery

    Kellerton, Iowa

    49 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 noises.

  • 0

    Mt Hope Cemetery

    Madrid, Iowa

    50 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 ...

  • 0

    Avon Railroad Tracks

    Carlisle, Iowa

    51.7 miles from Adair County, IA

    Reports say an apparition appears of an old man holding a lantern and walking along the tracks. Before too long, the man simply vanishes.

  • 0

    Old Highway 83

    Shelby, Iowa

    54.1 miles from Adair County, IA

    Different witnesses have reported seeing two young girls playing in the middle of the highway late at night. They wear flowing white dresses and are bathed in a glowing light.

  • 0

    Terre Haute Cemetery

    Decatur City, Iowa

    54.3 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 disappears.

  • 0

    The Historic Klondike Hotel

    Manilla, Iowa

    55.2 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 ...

  • 0

    Kate Shelly High Bridge

    Boone, Iowa

    56.6 miles from Adair County, IA

    Local legend tells the tale of 15-year-old Kate Shelley, who in 1881 crawled across a badly damaged bridge during a terrible storm to warn an oncoming train that the bridge was out. This bridge, built in 1901, is said to be her ghost's home. Phantom trains also have been seen ...

  • 0

    The Earling Exorcism

    Earling, Iowa

    57.8 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 ...

  • 0

    Davis City Cemetery

    Davis City, Iowa

    58.5 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 night.

  • 0

    Boone County Historical Society - Masonic Temple

    Boone, Iowa

    59 miles from Adair County, IA

    Dating back to 1907, the historic former masonic temple and museum may have a resident ghost. Known as 'Frank', the poltergeist frequently slams doors and turns on lights after the place has been closed up for the night. Disembodied footsteps have also been heard on the second floor, and ...

  • 0

    The Boone News-Republican

    Boone, Iowa

    59.3 miles from Adair County, IA

    Employees who work late have heard unexplained footsteps and, at times, have heard their names called. The phenomena seem to occur only when the place is nearly empty of people.

  • 0

    Rainbow Bridge

    Lake City, Iowa

    63.8 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 ...

  • 0

    Friley Hall - Iowa State University

    Ames, Iowa

    63.9 miles from Adair County, IA

    One dormitory room is nicknamed Satan’s Legion. Rumor has it that a student killed himself there, and everyone who is assigned to that room either dies or disappears. Reports say many students are afraid to go into the room, and some maintain that because of this, the university stopped assigning ...

  • 0

    Iowa State University - Memorial Union

    Ames, Iowa

    64.1 miles from Adair County, IA

    The hall is a tribute to graduate soldiers who died at war. According to reports, a strange low moan can be heard constantly here. Some say is it the voice of the only woman who ever graduated from the school who died in World War I.

  • 0

    Iowa State University - C.Y. Stephens Auditorium

    Ames, Iowa

    64.2 miles from Adair County, IA

    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, ...

  • 0

    Fisher Theatre - Iowa State University

    Ames, Iowa

    64.2 miles from Adair County, IA

    Named for contributor J.W. Fisher, the 1974 theater is rumored to be haunted by Frederica Shattuck, another university theater department contributor. So the story goes, the ghost took up residence in the Fisher Theatre after her Shattuck Theater was demolished.

  • 0

    Farm House Museum

    Ames, Iowa

    64.3 miles from Adair County, IA

    The spirits of two sisters are believed to reside at the museum; details of the hauntings are unknown.

  • 0

    Vegors Cemetery

    Lehigh, Iowa

    73.4 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 ...

  • 0

    High Creek Cemetery

    Watson, Missouri

    80.7 miles from Adair County, IA

    Upon finding this website, I was shocked to find this location was not listed, as it is "well known" by locals to be noted as haunted. The experience I had there happened about 10 years ago. A friend and I were hanging out one night and decided to ...

  • 0

    Stage Coach Inn

    Ida Grove, Iowa

    87.8 miles from Adair County, IA

    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 ...