10 Most Haunted Places in Missouri: More Ghosts in MO
If you’re feeling brave, the most haunted places in Missouri are calling your name. The Show-Me State is more than just scenic rivers and bustling cities; it’s a haunted playground.
These are the 10 most haunted places in Missouri:
Lemp Mansion
St. Louis
The Lemps were once a powerful family in St. Louis, known for the successful Lemp Brewery founded in the mid-1800s.
Their flagship product, a lager beer, made them rich and well-known. However, beneath their perfect lifestyle lies many tragedies that would make their gorgeous Lemp Mansion one of the most haunted places in Missouri.
The Monkey Face Boy
The so-called Monkey Face Boy was actually Zeke Lemp, an illegitimate child. Due to his physical and mental disabilities, Zeke was hidden away from the public, locked in the mansion’s dark and cold basement to avoid scandal.
Visitors today can hear sad cries and see the shadowy figure of a small boy in the basement area, who is said to be Zeke’s spirit.
The Lemp Family Suicides
The real horror of the Lemp Mansion is the series of suicides. After Frederick’s death, the family’s fortune crumbled, leading to the suicides of 3 members:
William J. Lemp Sr. (1904)
- After his son Frederick’s death in 1901, William Lemp Sr. spiraled into depression. On the morning of February 13, 1904, he went into his bedroom on the mansion’s second floor.
- Using a .38 caliber revolver, he shot himself in the head, leaving a short and cryptic suicide note. The room where he died is one of the most haunted, with random cold spots and the sounds of footsteps when no one is around.
Elsa Lemp Wright (1920)
- William Lemp Sr.’s daughter, Elsa, was one of the richest women in St. Louis. Her life, however, was filled with chaos, including a crappy marriage.
- On March 20, 1920, Elsa shot herself in her bed at her residence. However, her death is often associated with the Lemp Mansion due to the belief that her spirit returned to the mansion after death.
- Some visitors claim to have seen her apparition roaming the hallways, adding to the mansion’s chilling lore.
William J. Lemp Jr. (1922)
- On December 29, 1922, he committed suicide with a .38 caliber revolver, the same gun used by his father.
- His ghost remains in the office, with guests reporting the sensation of being watched and doors that open and close by themselves.
The Exorcist House
St. Louis
If you’ve ever had nightmares from the movie The Exorcist, you already know that this iconic movie is based on real events that took place in a quiet neighborhood in St. Louis.
The story of the Exorcist House is so terrifying that it inspired both a bestselling book and a blockbuster film.
Roland Doe
- It all began in the 1940s with a 14-year-old boy known as “Roland Doe” (a pseudonym used to protect his identity).
- He lived in Maryland but began experiencing strange stuff after experimenting with an Ouija board. Unexplained noises filled the house, objects moved on their own, and shadows moved in the corners of rooms.
- Roland moved to his relatives’ home in St. Louis, hoping the change of location would help. Spoiler Alert: the paranormal activity only escalated.
Roanoke Drive
- The most terrifying events took place in the house on Roanoke Drive. Priests arrived to perform exorcisms as a last resort.
- There was nothing Hollywood about these exorcisms; witnesses heard guttural voices coming from Roland, watching him levitate off his bed as furniture moved violently around the room.
- During the exorcisms, strange marks and welts appeared on his skin. Doors slammed shut on their own, the temperature plummeted, and the entire house seemed to groan under an oppressive, angry energy.
The ordeal lasted for months as priests battled to free the child from the demonic force.
In Pop Culture
- William Peter Blatty used these events as the basis for his 1971 novel The Exorcist. Blatty’s book, inspired by real-life accounts of the priests involved in the exorcism, was an instant success.
- In 1973, the book was adapted into the iconic film, which has since become a cult favorite. Its portrayal of demonic possession, based on real-life events, shocked people around the world.
Today
- People passing by report feeling an overwhelming sense of dread.
- Some claim to have seen shadows moving inside the house, though it appears empty.
- Others have described cold gusts of wind on hot summer days as if the evil energy from the exorcism remains.
While the house looks ordinary on the outside, the horrors that took place within have made it one of the most haunted places in Missouri.
The house reminds us that sometimes, the most terrifying stories aren’t in books or movies—they happen in real life.
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
St. Louis
The Fabulous Fox Theatre was built in 1929 for Fox Motion Pictures. During the Great Depression, it hosted funerals for the poor and was was briefly a church.
Today, many say that the Theatre is one of the most haunted places in Missouri.
Geoffrey: A former stagehand who met an untimely death is the most common haunting. Some say he fell to his death from the catwalks above the stage or was crushed during a stage accident. Geoffrey’s presence remains. Performers often hear his footsteps high above them, and some have even claimed to see his figure messing with equipment, causing lights to flicker and props to move around backstage.
The Lady with the Bun: Dressed in elegant clothing, she is often seen wandering the balconies, waiting for a show that will never start. Her strict bun and old-fashioned clothing mean she was in the Theatre around the time when it first opened. She has been spotted gliding gracefully through the upper seating area before disappearing.
Footsteps, Doors, and Shadowy Figures: Many have heard footsteps in the offices after hours. In the projection room and bathrooms, doors are known to slam randomly, and orbs have been caught on camera in the Marquee Room.
The Tunnels: Beneath the building, the tunnels have their own secrets. These dark corridors, which once connected various parts of the theater, are filled with shadow people—dark, faceless figures that move just out of sight.
The Missouri State Penitentiary
Jefferson City
If walls could talk, the Missouri State Penitentiary would have a lot to say. Once called “the bloodiest 47 acres in America,” this historic hell hole operated for over 150 years.
The most bloody event was the 1954 riot, where inmates turned the prison into a war zone, setting fires, taking guards hostage, and leaving behind a bloody tragedy.
Infamous Inmates of the Missouri State Penitentiary
- James Earl Ray: Most famous for assassinating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his escape from the Missouri State Penitentiary in 1967.
- Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd: A notorious bank robber during the Great Depression. His spree of robberies and shootouts has made him infamous.
- Carl Austin Hall: One of the kidnappers involved in the infamous Bobby Greenlease case
The Unlikely Inmate
Not all of the prison’s residents were hardened criminals.
Kate Richards O’Hare was an outspoken activist during the early 1900s, imprisoned here in 1919 for allegedly speaking out against World War I and obstructing military recruitment.
While at the prison, Kate exposed the horrific treatment of female inmates. This brought national attention to the shitty conditions at Missouri State Penitentiary.
Her courage and determination gave a voice to those behind bars and sparked the reforms that followed.
Hauntings
- Halls and Cells: In the dark, empty cells, visitors have heard disembodied voices whispering from behind locked doors or seen shadowy figures.
- The Gas Chamber: Standing in a place where executions took place, many have felt a dizzying sense of sadness and terror, sometimes accompanied by footsteps or the sensation of an icy grip on their shoulder.
Whether it’s the restless ghosts of inmates, the echoes of a riot, or the scars left by executions, the Missouri State Penitentiary holds its title as one of the most haunted places in Missouri.
Zombie Road
Wildwood
If you’re looking for a stroll down one of the most haunted places in Missouri, you’ve found it on Zombie Road (officially Lawler Ford Road).
This was an important Native American path before becoming a road in the 1860s. Some say it’s been cursed, while others say the man who was killed by a train in the 1970s or the woman who fell to her death near the bluffs are the cause for the creepiness.
Shadowy figures dart through the trees and orbs in the distance. At night, faint whispers follow walkers behind the trees.
Today, the city of Wildwood has taken a stance against late-night visits to Zombie Road, officially closing it off after dark. The area is now part of the Rock Hollow Trail, a scenic spot during the day but creepy at night.
Pythian Castle
Springfield
Exuding creepiness, the Pythian Castle easily earns its place as one of the most haunted places in Missouri.
In 1913, the Knights of Pythias—a fraternal organization founded on principles of friendship, charity, and loyalty—built the Pythian Castle to care for orphans and retirees.
The Knights of Pythias were similar to the Freemasons, minus the mysteries and controversy, although they did keep their rituals and traditions secret.
The Castle is haunted by a dozen restless ghosts, including soldiers, patients, and former residents:
- Soldiers: During World War II, it became a military hospital where more than 100 people are said to have died, but the military, strangely, kept no official records of the dead. Could they be hiding something? Visitors have seen shadowy figures in military uniforms, perhaps still standing guard or looking for a way to rest in peace.
- Patients: Many patients, some of whom may have died due to their illnesses or injuries, are believed to haunt here. People constantly feel cold spots in the former hospital rooms or hear muffled groans.
- Former Residents: Some have seen ghostly kids running in the halls or elderly figures wandering aimlessly. These are believed to be former residents of Pythian Castle.
One of the Castle’s most bizarre features is its underground tunnel system; some hear whispers drifting through the darkness, while others see full-on ghosts.
Union Station
Kansas City
Union Station is a grand reminder of the city’s busy past, but it’s also one of the most haunted places in Missouri, thanks to the violent and infamous 1933 Kansas City Massacre.
One day, as law enforcement tried to transfer gangster Frank Nash to prison, his associates shot the whole place up. The shootout was brutal, leaving 4 officers and Nash dead.
The area where the massacre took holds a heavy atmosphere. Visitors to Union Station report feeling sudden cold spots in the halls or hear gunfire. Others have seen the figures of men in suits standing near the platform.
The Savoy Hotel
Kansas City
The Savoy Hotel in Kansas City is a blend of old-world luxury and ghosts. Built in 1888, The Savoy’s halls are filled with ghosts.
- Betsy Ward: In the late 1800s, Betsy Savoy lived and died in Room 505. Some say she committed suicide in the bathtub, while some say she was murdered. Near Room 505, unexplained voices whisper, creeping shadows dart across the room, and doors slam shut on their own. During a renovation, a chilling discovery was made—a gun sealed within the wall, adding to the mystery surrounding Betsy’s death.
- The Second Floor: In 1990, the restaurant manager was stabbed to death by dishwashers. His spirit is still pissed and frequently seen, accompanied by a feeling of unease.
- The Fourth Floor: A little girl in Victorian-era clothing is seen wandering the halls and messing with the elevator. It frequently gets stuck on the fourth floor, or when the 4th floor button is pushed, it goes to the sixth instead.
- Fred Lightner: Once, a staff member brought sugar to hotel guest Mrs. Lightner. Outside the door, they overheard Mrs. Lightner talking. When the door swung open, they were shocked to see a full-body apparition of a man dressed in 1930s attire. The figure looked directly at them before vanishing into thin air. Mrs. Lightner calmly informed them that they had just seen the ghost of her dead husband, Fred Lightner. Fred’s spirit continues to visit his wife at the hotel, and now her ghost is seen as well.
Jesse James Farm
Kearney
It’s undisputed that the Jesse James Farm in Kearney is one of the most haunted places in Missouri.
The ghost of Jesse James, the infamous outlaw, still haunts his childhood home. People have seen Jesse’s ghost, heard strange footsteps, and even him.
But why does his spirit remain? It might have something to do with all the violence that took place here:
- Death of Jesse James: Jesse James was part of a famous gang that robbed banks and trains in the Wild West. In 1882, one of his own friends, Robert Ford, shot Jesse in the back of the head while he was straightening a picture in his house.
- The Raid: During the Civil War, soldiers violently raided the James farm.
- The Bomb: During the raid, a soldier threw a bomb into the house. The explosion seriously injured Jessse’s younger brother, Archie, who later died from his wounds.
The Elms Hotel
Excelsior Springs
The Elms Hotel has seen its share of horror, making it one of the most haunted places in Missouri.
Built in 1888, the hotel has survived two tragic fires. Luckily, there were no deaths in either fire, but that didn’t stop the rumors.
There are many ghost stories at The Elms:
- The Pool: Back in the Prohibition days, gangsters would hide their liquor down in the pool in the basement and host all-night gambling parties. Today, visitors claim they see the ghost of a creepy dude lurking around the pool.
- The Spiritual Advisor: A ghostly housekeeper complete with a 1920s style uniform that the staff jokingly call their spiritual advisor has been spotted helping out around the hotel as if she’s still clocking in for her shift!
- Room 425: One guest staying in this room felt someone crawl into bed with her, but when she looked, no one was there! She said it felt like the size of a child.
Haunt Us
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