The 10 Most Haunted Places in Atchison, Kansas To Get Creepy

Looking for a haunted journey through the 10 most haunted places in Atchison, Kansas? Atchison is infamously the most haunted city in the Sunflower State! This small riverside town has more than its share of spectral stories, with street corners and historic homes hiding secrets. 

These are the 10 most haunted places in Atchison, Kansas:

A Brief History of Atchison

Built along the Missouri River, the city of Atchison is a cute little river area known for its historical charm and well-maintained 19th-century buildings and homes. The city’s Victorian-era architecture is lovingly preserved, and its streets are lined with restored homes and buildings from the era.

Atchison also celebrates its connection to Amelia Earhart, the iconic aviator born here in 1897. Her legacy remains strong, and the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, the Amelia Earhart Festival, and even the Amelia Earhart Airport are all dedicated to honoring her achievements.

Atchison Street

Once known as Ferry Street, this road winds steeply down toward the Missouri River, where locals would catch a ferry at the landing at the hill’s base. 

Legend has it that a woman riding down the hill in a buggy lost control of her horses. The buggy detached, sending her plunging into the icy river below. Trapped in the carriage and unable to escape, her body was never recovered from the water. 

The story of the woman drowning in her buggy appears in local lore, but no concrete historical records or eyewitness accounts have definitively confirmed it. At night, people strolling along the riverbank sometimes report hearing the chilling voice of a woman telling them to join her.

Sallie House

The Sallie House, one of the most haunted places in Atchison, Kansas, is infamous for intense hauntings involving Sallie, a young girl believed to have died during a botched surgery. With a 1980s decor, complete with shag carpet and musty smells, the Sallie House exudes an eerie vibe.

While some think Sallie is a restless ghost, others believe a more sinister, possibly demonic force is at play, especially given its aggressive interactions with men. Reports of unexplained scratches, sudden feelings of rage, and oppressive energy have led many to conclude that something far more sinister than a child’s spirit calls the Sallie House home. This entity feeds on fear, making each encounter an unpredictable experience.

Former residents, like Tony Pickman, experienced escalating attacks, including scratches and pushes down the stairs, ultimately driving the family from the house.

Ghost Sightings at the Sallie House

• Sallie: The form of a little girl with a large bow in her hair, appearing both innocent and mischievous; Sallie is known to attack visitors aggressively.
• The Old Woman: Believed to have fallen to her death on the basement stairs, her presence is marked by a sad, heavy energy.
• The Teenage Boy: Said to have the mind of an 8-year-old, he’s a mysterious figure often spotted during the quiet moments of the house, never appearing when there are lots of people or lots of activity. 

The house is currently open for one-hour daily tours, or you can spend the night. To spend the night, you’ll need to sign a waiver due to potential injury. 

No one has been seriously injured…yet. 

If going as a group, know that the Sallie House is known for targeting what it perceives as the weakest person in any group, intensifying feelings of sadness or anger far beyond what is typical for paranormal encounters. Many visitors leave emotionally drained.

Gargoyle House (Waggener’s House)

Built in the late 1800s by B.P. Waggener, a successful businessman with a fascination for the supernatural, the Gargoyle House, or Waggener’s House, is one of Atchison’s most photographed landmarks. 

Waggoner added the stone gargoyles to the mansion’s roof after facing a series of personal misfortunes, believing these gothic statues would protect his home from evil spirits. 

B.P. Waggener and his wife, Emma, experienced the loss of multiple children: 1 son died shortly after birth, another named William succumbed to pneumonia at the age of 4, and their son Donald passed away at 11 due to type 1 diabetes in 1911. 

Waggener was plagued by local rumors. One legend suggests he gained his fortune through a deal with the devil, so he added the gargoyles to symbolize his supposed pact.

In a twist of fate, the home’s next owner attempted to remove these statues, only to die from a tragic fall down the house’s staircase shortly afterward. As one of the most haunted places in Atchison, Kansas, the Gargoyle House has a long history of incidents, leading many to believe it is cursed.

One owner who attempted to remove the house’s iconic gargoyles suffered a tragic fall down the grand staircase, leading to his untimely death, which locals believe is due to the home being cursed.

Neighbors claim that strange occurrences, from disembodied whispers to flickering lights, have plagued the property for generations, adding to the mansion’s dark reputation as one of Atchison’s most haunted and mysterious places.

Dilgert House

Next on our list of the most haunted places in Atchison, Kansas, is Dilgert House. It is most famously inhabited by the spirit of Frances Dilgert, the daughter of Adam Dilgert, the original homeowner. 

Frances, who passed away at only 22 due to double pneumonia, has been seen throughout the home, often in the areas where she spent the most time, such as the kitchen.

Besides Frances, other spirits from the Dilgert family and even former residents from other eras haunt the Dilgert House. Shadowy figures moving through rooms, frosty cold spots, and the soft echo of footsteps on the staircase when no one is there have all been reported. Doors occasionally creak open on their own and are often followed by a cold spot.

1889 McInteer Mansion

The McInteer Villa, built in 1890 for Atchison businessman John McInteer, is an architectural gem with tons of hauntings. 

This grand Victorian mansion is linked to both McInteer and his wife, Anna “Goldie” Townley McInteer, who died in the house. John’s first wife, Alice, died of unknown causes in 1891 while seated in a rocking chair that remains in the Villa to this day, reportedly rocking on its own. John remarried Anna in 1895. 

Following John’s death in 1902, Anna’s brother, Judge Charles, moved into the house. Charles reportedly died by suicide, believed to have occurred either in one of the 2 upstairs bathrooms or the library, though the exact location remains uncertain. Tragedy continued when a couple living in the Villa died, followed by the death of their 4-day-old baby in 1943.

Today, the McInteer Mansion is one of the most haunted places in Atchison, Kansas. Manifestations include:

• Tower Lights Turning On and Off: Lights have been seen flickering on and off in the Villa’s tower room despite the fact that there is no electricity running to this section of the house.
• Figures in Windows: Witnesses spot figures appearing in the Villa’s windows, even when the house is vacant. These sightings often occur at night, with shapes peering out as if watching the grounds below.
• Moving Objects: A speaker has reportedly been thrown off a counter, and boxes have moved on their own. Such disturbances are common in areas where the McInteers spent the most time.
• The Haunted Rocking Chair: The rocking chair where Goldie is said to have died is known to rock by itself.
• Unexplained Sounds: Guests have reported the sound of doors slamming throughout the night, with no apparent cause. Footsteps have been heard pacing the second-floor hallway, suggesting someone (or something) is walking the halls.
• The feeling of Being Watched: The second floor of the Villa gives some visitors an intense feeling of being watched. This unsettling sensation is especially strong near the bedrooms.
• Items Moved: Objects in the house are mysteriously relocated, with visitors often finding items in completely different spots than where they left them.
• Turning Doorknobs and Light Flickers: Creaking doorknobs and lights flickering on and off add to the Villa’s haunted mystique.
• Phantom Voices: Both male and female voices have been heard around the Villa. While the words are rarely clear, they are always creepy.
• Self-Opening Doors and Shadowy Figures: A sitting room door on the upper floor frequently opens on its own.
• Distinct Scents: Visitors often detect an old-fashioned powdery perfume, thought to be Goldie and an occasional hint of cigarette smoke.

Jackson Park (Molly’s Hollow)

As one of the most haunted places in Atchison, Jackson Park’s Molly’s Hollow is no place to go late at night. Visitors have reported hearing terrifying screams echo through the trees, suspected to be Molly.

According to one story, Molly was a young woman who met a tragic end after her prom night. She was reportedly found hanging from a tree, her clothes torn, after a date gone horribly wrong. 

Rumor has it that Molly’s date abandoned her in the park, and whether her death was a suicide or a murder has remained a mystery. Others say Molly was a Black woman who was brutally lynched by a mob in the park many years ago. The ghostly cries, according to this tale, are not of a prom girl but rather the haunting echoes of a violent and tragic injustice. 

Today, Molly’s Hollow is infamous as a place for eerie encounters. Several people have claimed to see a full-bodied apparition of a girl hanging from a tree, while others report feeling an unseen presence or hands that brush or even grab them as they walk through the hollow. 

North 3rd Street Home

This spooky old house was once the domain of Nellie Trueblood, a schoolteacher who lived alone, died in the home, and never really left. 

Years later, when new owners bought the place and started renovations, it seemed Nellie wasn’t a fan of the updates! Construction workers reported seeing strange, bright orbs floating through the house. These glowing balls of light hovered, dodged, and darted just out of reach, leaving workers frustrated and unnerved.

Any attempt to approach these ghostly orbs only made them vanish. Rumor has it that no restoration crew has ever been able to finish their work, as Nellie’s creepiness keeps sending them packing. Nellie is said to unsettle workers with sudden bursts of cold air, strange, flickering lights, and whispers and footsteps that echo through empty rooms. The glowing orbs she’s associated with hover just out of reach and dart around.

The relentless sense of being observed or even lightly touched by unseen hands has caused more than a few workers to abandon their tools and leave, never completing the renovations.

Riverview Drive Home

This house on Riverview Drive is home to strange events.

Imagine your TV and stereo turning on by themselves, blasting noise into an empty room! Once, the resident called out to her dog, only to be answered by an elderly ghostly woman in a shroud who silently entered the room and smoothed a spot on the bed to sit. With a scream, the resident bolted out of the room and heard the attic door slam shut behind her. Guests at this haunted residence also find that their luggage won’t stay where they left it! Bags stored at the top of the stairs mysteriously tumble down.

The Riverview Drive Home in Atchison, Kansas, is a private residence and is not open for public tours. The current owners have not made the property accessible to visitors, so please visit with respect and keep your distance.

Kearny & 5th Street Home

In this home, the resident ghost isn’t just spooky, it’s…helpful?

This former owner once felt invisible hands assisting him as he slid into his dinner jacket, thinking his wife was helping, only to find himself alone in the room. 

The spirit here seems to enjoy making the homeowners feel welcome. Returning home from a trip one evening, the wife casually mentioned she’d love a cup of tea. When they walked in, they were greeted by the whistle of a ready kettle, and there on the counter was a cup, saucer, tea bag, and spoon, all laid out.

However, the spirit’s kindness comes with its quirks. While footsteps echo through the empty house, there’s no sense of malice, only a faint presence. The homeowners have grown used to their friendly phantom housemate, saying the hauntings are just one of the charms of living on Kearny & 5th.

No one really knows where the ghost comes from or why they are so well-mannered.

Haunted Trolley Tour of Atchison

Atchison, Kansas, proudly claims the title of the most haunted town in the state.

So, naturally, they have a The Haunted Trolley Tour. Experience Atchison’s haunted homes and historic spots, many dating back to the mid-1800s when thousands of wagons passed through Atchison on the way to California’s goldfields.

Running every September and October, this spooky tour covers the highlights of Atchison’s haunted history, taking visitors past some of the town’s most famous ghostly sites. 

Starting and ending at the Santa Fe Depot at 200 S. 10th Street, the hour-long journey includes stops at Oak Hill Cemetery, the infamous Sallie House, the eerie Gargoyle Home, and many other sites steeped in supernatural lore.

Haunt Us

Have you been to any of the 10 most haunted places in Atchison, Kansas? Share your ghost-hunting adventures in the comments below, join our forum, and become part of our haunted community!

Find All the Most Haunted Places in Kansas