Indy-Spectral: 10 Most Haunted Places in Indiana

Ready to explore the most haunted places in Indiana? From haunted libraries to eerie old mansions, the Hoosier State is brimming with supernatural surprises. 

These are the 10 most haunted places in Indiana:

Central State Hospital

Indianapolis

Central State Hospital in Indianapolis opened in 1848 to house the criminally insane… yet here are some of the reasons people were admitted to the hospital:

• Abortion
• Desertion
• Not getting along with an employee/employer
• Marriage
• Masturbation
• Talking back to a police officer
• Typhoid fever
• Being too old with no place to go 

The Hospital was built as a huge complex with gardens and fountains to provide a peaceful environment for patients. 

However, peace wasn’t always the case. By the time the hospital closed in 1994, there were many rumors of patient abuse.

Some of the creepiest stories come from the old Power House, where workers once had to shovel ashes twice a night. People claim to hear the screams of a woman coming from the basement or see shadows darting between the cement posts. 

In the Pathology Building, where doctors examined the dead to study mental illness, strange noises are heard, even when no one is there.

With its cemetery filled with nameless graves and buildings overgrown with ivy, Central State Hospital is one of the most haunted places in Indiana. 

French Lick Springs Hotel

French Lick

If you’re looking for a haunted luxury hotel, the French Lick Springs Hotel might be just the place. Over the years, this premium hotel has become one of the most haunted places in Indiana. 

One of the most famous spirits here is Thomas Taggart, the former owner of the hotel. He was deeply devoted to the resort and is believed to still check in on things even after his death, and has a friendly vibe. 

Guests and staff have reported the distinct smell of cigar tobacco, often accompanied by sightings of a shadowy figure near the service elevator, where Taggart hangs out. 

Some have seen Taggart riding a horse through the hallways! His spirit is thought to be friendly, seemingly continuing his role as a meticulous caretaker.

Interestingly, the sounds and sightings of Taggart usually don’t happen at the same time. 

Taggart isn’t the only one believed to linger at French Lick:

• The Stain: a red stain appeared in a guest room bathtub where a bride tragically ended her life. 
• The Bellhop: A former bellhop still performing his duties (hope he’s getting overtime!). Some guests thought he was a real employee until they learned no bellhops were working at the time.

Whispers Estate 

Mitchell

Whispers Estate is steeped in tragedy, making it one of the most unsettling haunted places in Indiana. 

Dr. John Gibbons, a prominent local doctor, and his wife Jessie were known for their kindness, often adopting orphaned children and raising them in their grand home. 

These are the hauntings of the Whispers Estate:

• Rachel: Their 10-year-old daughter Rachel tragically started a fire in the parlor 2 days later in her upstairs bedroom. To this day, visitors the figure of Rachel runs through the house playfully.
• Elizabeth: The Gibbons’ infant daughter, Elizabeth, mysteriously died in the master bedroom, where her mother, Jessie, also passed away from double pneumonia years later. Guests who stay in the master bedroom have had sharp chest pains, difficulty breathing, and unexplained coughing fits, with many noting the faint smell of baby powder, believed to be a sign of Elizabeth.
• The Unknown Man: A man in the 1970s is said to have died in the bathroom, and a young boy fell to his death down the grand staircase. 

Indiana State Sanatorium

Rockville

The Indiana State Sanatorium is massive, sitting on over 200 acres in Rockville. Originally established as a tuberculosis treatment center in 1908, it operated as a mental hospital and nursing home until its closure in 2011. 

The site has a long history of suffering, and many believe it is one of the most haunted places in Indiana. 

With over 120,000 square feet of abandoned buildings, including a vast network of steam tunnels, there’s a lot to note here:

Hauntings:

• Shadow figures: Shifting shadows in hallways and rooms, particularly in the former psychiatric hospital, are common.
• Poltergeist activity: In the laundry rooms, reports include objects moving on their own, or laundry machines turning on by themselves.
• Female apparition: A common sighting is the figure of a woman wandering the grounds near the laundry facilities and old offices.
• Footsteps: The fifth floor, where violent psychiatric patients were once kept, is notorious for the sound of footsteps running up and down the corridors.
• Coughing sounds: Some visitors claim to hear the coughing and labored breathing of former tuberculosis patients in the old hospital wings.

The Steam Tunnels

One of the most unsettling parts of the Indiana State Sanatorium is the network of steam tunnels used to transport heat and supplies between buildings that run beneath it. Today, they are abandoned and dark, with peeling paint and bad vibes.

Many people feel watched while exploring the tunnels, and shadowy figures have been seen darting in and out of view. 

Stepp Cemetery 

Martinsville

Tucked deep within the Morgan Monroe State Forest, Stepp Cemetery is a tiny graveyard with just 25 graves, the oldest dating back to 1851. 

Despite its modest size, Stepp Cemetery has gained a massive reputation as one of the most haunted places in Indiana. Over time, the cemetery became more of a local hangout, especially during the 1950s through the 1970s, as it had largely been forgotten as a burial site. 

Look for these at Stepp:

• Reuben Stepp: His son was killed in a deadly family dispute over property disagreements. The son’s restless spirit patrols the cemetery, angered by trespassers who wander too close to his family’s resting grounds. Reuben himself, along with his infant grandson, Thomas Stepp, is buried here, though none of his 17 children appear to rest in the cemetery.
• Woman in Black: She appears near a baby’s grave. Locals claim that her mourning figure is often seen sitting on the Warlock Chair.
• The Warlock Stump: This tree stump near a baby’s grave is the place where the woman in black sits holding her ghostly child. Then that stump somehow became called the Warlock’s chair, and curses of delayed death wove themselves into the fabric of the cemetery.

Culbertson Mansion

New Albany

The Culbertson Mansion, built in 1867 by William S. Culbertson, is a magnificent representation of Victorian architecture and the opulent lifestyle of the late 1800s. 

Culbertson, one of Indiana’s richest men at the time, was a philanthropist who invested his wealth back into the community of New Albany. He funded the construction of the Culbertson Widows Home, served as a trustee of the First Presbyterian Church, and founded the Cornelia Memorial Orphans Home, named after his second wife.

However, his beautiful Culbertson Mansion is also considered one of the most haunted places in Indiana. 

These are the hauntings and historical events associated with the Culbertson Mansion:

• 1888 Lightning Strike: In 1888, the mansion’s carriage house was struck by lightning and burned down, tragically killing several people inside. Visitors have reported unexplained noises, unpleasant smells, clanging sounds, and sightings of a shadowy male apparition in and around the carriage house.
• American Legion Ownership: After being boarded up for about 30 years, the property was purchased by the American Legion in the 1940s. During that time, staff and visitors reported strange and unusual occurrences, including:
  • Electrical problems: Lights flickering or turning on and off by themselves.
  • Mysterious figures: Shadowy apparitions moving from room to room.
  • Strange sounds after hours: Unexplained noises when the building was supposed to be empty.
  • Missing items: Objects disappearing and reappearing in odd places.
• Other Paranormal Reports:
  • Doors shut on their own, footsteps come from empty rooms, and sightings of unexplained shadows happen throughout the mansion.
• Haunted Attraction: During the Halloween season, the carriage house is transformed into a popular haunted house. 

Note on Local Legends:

There are local tales about Dr. Webb, who allegedly lived in the mansion during the 1990s, involving stories of violent murders and torture chambers in the basement where unspeakable acts were committed. 

However, these stories are part of local folklore and urban legends. There is no historical evidence or records to substantiate these claims, and they are not associated with the verified history of the Culbertson Mansion.

Willard Library

Evansville

The story of Willard Library begins in 1876 when Willard Carpenter, a successful real estate and railroad magnate, set out to create a public library that would be free for everyone to use. As a dedicated abolitionist, Carpenter wanted the library to serve as a resource for everyone.

Unfortunately, Carpenter passed away before his dream was fully realized. His death led to a legal battle over his estate, as he had left the bulk of his fortune to the library, not his children. His estranged daughter, Louise Carpenter, furiously sued for a portion of the inheritance but ultimately lost.

Decades after the Carpenter family feud faded, strange things began happening in the library. 

The Grey Lady: Thought to be Louise Carpenter still holding a grudge against her father. She wanders the library’s halls, sits on staircases, and, in the most terrifying cases, appears in the elevator with no escape for those inside (imagine!). 

She brings the sweet, heavy scent of perfume, and she enjoys turning faucets on and off, flickering lights, and rearranging books on the shelves. The Grey Lady is the main reason why the library is seen as one of the most haunted places in Indiana. 

Avon Haunted Bridge 

Avon

The Avon Haunted Bridge, dating back to 1906, is one of the most haunted places in Indiana. Over the years, stories of tragic deaths and ghostly encounters have turned this railroad bridge into a creepy place.

One of the most well-known tragedies involves a mother and her baby who fell to their deaths while crossing the tracks. Locals say that if you drive under the bridge at night, you can hear the mother’s cries, and many still honk their horns to drown out the ghostly wails.

Another story tied to the bridge involves a construction worker who fell into the freshly poured concrete during the bridge’s construction. The other workers were unable to save him, and it’s said that part of his saw is still visible, protruding from the center support of the bridge. 

Whenever a train passes over the bridge, locals claim to hear the faint sound of the worker’s desperate screams.

The bridge’s haunted history is so deeply rooted in the town of Avon that it’s even featured on the Avon town seal and in numerous paintings and photographs. 

Roads Hotel

Atlanta

Built in 1893 by Abraham Kauffman, the Roads Hotel was originally a layover for passengers traveling along the railroad that passed through the business district of Atlanta, Indiana. 

Over the years, visitors and staff report sightings of ghostly men, women, and kids. Other manifestations include raspy voices, hurried footsteps, lights flickering on and off, and doors mysteriously opening and closing.

 The hotel’s parlor also has a hidden trick door on the southern wall, which leads to a secret storage space, likely used during its speakeasy days.

Interestingly, the hotel was originally called the Rhoads Hotel, according to old photos, but in the late 1980s, the then-owner discovered the sign had been misspelled. It was later changed to “Roads Hotel” after it was confirmed that the building’s official transfer papers listed it as such.

After Newton Roads’ death, his wife Clara turned the hotel into a brothel and speakeasy during Prohibition. One of the most famous spirits believed to haunt the hotel is a former prostitute named Sarah, who hangs out in the bedroom behind the stairs on the second floor.

Sarah is usually seen as a faint presence; sometimes, she is known for creating auditory manifestations like footsteps or whispers. 

Supernatural occurrences have continued into modern times. Paranormal investigator J. Nathan Couch, who lived on the property, reported hearing footsteps on the lone staircase and strange voices captured on cameras that had suddenly turned off. 

During one investigation, he even witnessed a Victorian doll—left behind by a previous owner—jump off its chair!

Hannah House

Indianapolis

The Hannah House, built in 1858 by Alexander Hannah, holds a dark and eerie place in Indiana’s history. Once a stop on the Underground Railroad, this home is known as one of the most haunted places in Indiana.

One of the most infamous stories surrounding the house involves a group of slaves who were hiding in the basement when an oil lamp tipped over, killing several.

In fear of being uncovered for her role in the Underground Railroad, Hannah buried the victims in the basement. It’s no surprise, then, that the basement is the site of moaning whispers and sudden cold spots today.

The figure of a woman holding an unmoving, silent baby, believed to be Hannah’s wife, is seen near the windows. 

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