16 Most Haunted Places in Idaho: The Gem State’s Eerie Edges
Are you drawn to the most haunted places in Idaho? Beyond its beautiful mountains, sand dunes, and famous potatoes, the Gem State harbors a host of hauntings and ghosts.
Discover the 16 most haunted places in Idaho:
Canyon Hill Cemetery
Caldwell
If you dare to park between two ominous trees across from the entrance of Canyon Hill Cemetery at midnight, you might just meet the jogging ghost of Caldwell.
This spirit not only sprints across the cemetery but might knock on your car window to give you a ghostly “hello.”
The chilling video evidence of this ghost only adds to its eerie fame as one of the most haunted places in Idaho captured in audio.
If you see The Ghost of Caldwell, check out her sick calves, very much in shape after an entire afterlifetime of jogging.
Shoshone Indian Ice Caves
Shoshone
In the frosty depths of the Shoshone Indian Ice Caves the chill of the air matches the chill down your spine.
Legend has it that Princess Edahow, a beloved Shoshone princess, is permanently frozen within these icy walls. Visitors report whispers from the princess, pleading to be set free. Shadowy figures seen behind the icy walls suggest she might not be alone in her cold, dark tomb.
These caves are not just a natural wonder but a frozen chamber of secrets (and one of the most haunted places in Idaho!).
Owyhee Plaza
Boise
Owyhee Plaza, once a thriving hotel in the heart of Boise, has transitioned into a hip event space and retail hub.
Visitors and staff tell tales of full-bodied ghosts and inexplicable spiritual energies. The most notable ghost—a woman in Room 136—appears to offer a calm presence before she vanishes into thin air, leaving those who see her more curious than frightened.
This lady and other ghosts inhabit the building, manifesting through unsettling noises and the eerie sensation of being watched.
Although the doors to its rooms have long since closed, the echoes of its past ensure that Owyhee Plaza’s haunted history remains very much alive.
Old Idaho State Penitentiary
Boise
Step into the Old Idaho State Penitentiary, where the walls built by the prisoners themselves still echo the torments of the past.
This fortress of despair, operational from 1870 to 1973, is a cornerstone among the most haunted places in Idaho. It witnessed brutal conditions, riots, and executions.
The most infamous inmate, Raymond Allen Snowden, met a gruesome end here when the gallows failed, leading to a long, drawn-out death. His spirit, along with that of Harry Orchard, a convicted murderer of a governor, is said to haunt the death row cell, known as the 5 House, where executions took place.
Visitors and tour guides hear mysterious voices, cold spots, and creepy figures near the solitary confinement cells and the gallows.
Idanha Hotel
Boise
The Idanha Hotel, now repurposed into modern apartments, still holds the echoes of its past lives.
Built in 1900, this historic site is infamous for paranormal occurrences, from mysterious moans to unexplained movements of the elevator, attributed to the ghost of a bellman who was gunned down there.
The fourth floor, where Alexander Palmer Jacobs tragically ended his life, is known for lights flickering, strange moans, and chilling sensations of being pulled from their beds.
The Idanha stands as one of the most haunted places in Idaho, where the past refuses to be forgotten, manifesting in both sight and sound.
Egyptian Theatre
Boise
The Egyptian Theatre, a Boise landmark since 1927, is not just a venue for movies and performances…but also a stage for the supernatural.
The ghost of Joe, a former projectionist who died of a heart attack at his booth, is said to haunt the Theatre. His presence is felt through flickering lights, mysterious sounds, and spontaneously moving doors.
Visitors often feel an uncanny presence, as if Joe is still making his rounds.
The Egyptian Theatre remains a beloved haunt for both the living and, perhaps, the dead.
The Cannibalistic Dwarves of the Owyhee Mountains
Murphy
Deep in the Owyhee Mountains, there are whispers of cannibalistic dwarves…yes, you read that right.
Known as the Nimerigar, these two-foot-tall creatures with concealed tails are the stuff of nightmares, rumored to snatch children and eat them.
Rooted in Native American folklore across several tribes, these tiny people eaters wield tiny bows and poisoned arrows.
Whether seen as spirits, healers, or ominous beings, the Nimerigar have haunted the collective memory of many tribes, making this mountain range one of the most haunted places in Idaho.
The Brig at Farragut State Park
Farragut
Farragut State Park, once teeming with sailors and now a beautiful camping site harbors the ghostly echoes of its past within the old military brig.
Visitors report seeing ghosts in uniform and poltergeist activity, like objects moving by themselves within the cells.
The spirits, perhaps related to a tragic past during the park’s days as a naval training center, roam the brig, making it one of the most haunted places in Idaho.
These ghost sightings are well documented by both ghost-seeking campers and state employees alike.
Idaho Hotel
Silver City
Nestled in the ghost town of Silver City, the historic Idaho Hotel offers more than just a night’s stay.
Originally built in Ruby City and relocated brick by brick to Silver City, the hotel has been a silent witness to shootouts, suicides, and decades of human drama.
Spirits of former owners, including O.D. Broombaugh, who tragically ended his life in the south saloon, still haunt the place.
Guests in Room #27 report unexplained sensations and creepy figures watching from shadowed corners, marking this hotel’s spot among the most haunted places in Idaho.
Stricker Ranch/Rock Creek Station
Hansen
Whispers of the past float through the air at Stricker Ranch, also known as Rock Creek Station, a pivotal stop along the Oregon Trail.
This historic site, preserved by the Idaho State Historical Society and Friends of Stricker, Inc., is one of the most haunted places in Idaho.
The spirit of Mrs. Stricker, who once cared for sick emigrants, is notably active, allegedly waking the owner to warn of trespassers. The ranch is only open on Sundays, but self-guided tours are accessible year-round.
Idaho State Tuberculosis Hospital
Gooding
The building that served as the Idaho State Tuberculosis Hospital now whispers with voices from its past. Currently known as The Gooding University Inn, this building has been repurposed into hotel rooms and meeting spaces.
Paranormal investigators report hearing children’s voices, experiencing emotional touches, and capturing ghostly farewells on tape.
These hauntings make the old hospital a cornerstone among the most haunted places in Idaho, with both chilling stories and paranormal evidence.
The Haunted Mill
Teton
In the quiet town of Teton stands a mill with over a century’s history, now serving as the scariest haunted house in Southeastern Idaho, called The Haunted Mill.
The ghost of Eloisa McKinnon, who tragically opposed her arranged marriage, is said to roam the mill and its surroundings. Her spirit, heavy with the sorrow of her youth, adds a deep eeriness to the atmosphere.
This haunted attraction celebrates its dark past with pride, claiming its place among the most haunted places in Idaho.
The Bates Motel
Coeur D’Alene
In Coeur d’Alene, the Bates Motel holds a sinister whisper of being the real-life muse for the iconic “Psycho” novel.
Although just a rumor, the tale weaves its narrative threads with those of Ed Gein, inspiring both Robert Bloch and Alfred Hitchcock’s chilling visions.
As one of the most haunted places in Idaho, guests at the Bates Motel reported sightings of ghosts, mysterious cold spots, and objects moving on their own, giving the motel its reputation.
Its doors closed in 2015, but the tales of its ghosts linger like the fog of a horror movie set.
Kootenai County Jail Museum
Coeur D’Alene
The Kootenai County Jail Museum, with its chilling history as a holding site for the mentally disturbed, adds another layer to Coeur d’Alene’s hauntings.
The Museum, housed in the original jail building, comes with reports of inexplicable footsteps, alarms triggered by no visible presence, and doors that open from the inside.
Make time to tour The Insane Room on the top floor, where disquieting mannequins and dolls stare creepily at you from all corners.
Albion Idaho College
Albion
The Albion Idaho College campus is steeped in dark lore that dates back to the 1940s.
Before it stopped operations in 1951, it was an educational institution; now, it seems some of its former occupants have never left.
The current owners, the Mortensens, report unexplained lights and eerie phenomena even before electricity was restored to the buildings. Featured on Ghost Adventurers, this location morphs into the Haunted Mansions of Albion every fall.
Pioneer Boot Hill Cemetery
Idaho City
At Pioneer Boot Hill Cemetery in Idaho City, the echoes of the Old West come alive with tales of restless spirits.
Renowned as one of the most haunted places in Idaho, visitors report encounters with the infamous Billy Clanton, who roams the grounds with his ethereal pistol.
The “Lady in Red,” known locally as “China Mary,” a local legend, is seen among the tombstones. Her spirit, dressed in vibrant red, oversees the area with a watchful eye.
The cemetery is also great for spirit photography, where daylight images have been known to reveal ghosts.
Haunt Us
Don’t let your ghost stories go untold. Have you been to any of the most haunted places in Idaho? Share your ghost-hunting experiences in the comments below, visit the forums, read others’, and become part of our haunted community.
