Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago offers one of the more haunted places in the city as this is the place where thousands of people were buried in the old cemetery. The park and the zoo were built on top of it and it is said ghosts from the remaining bodies are haunting at night.
Lincoln Park Zoo, one of Chicago’s most beloved attractions, has a darker side that many visitors may not know about. According to legend, the place is haunted because of the many thousands of people who are buried underneath the ground.
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The Lincoln Park Zoo was founded in 1868 inside of Lincoln Park and is one of the small zoos that have free admission where you can see penguins, gorillas, lions and tigers. And if we are to believe the rumors, ghosts as well.
The Old Chicago Cemetery
Lincoln Park is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Chicago, watching it rise through the settling times, gang violence to the big city of today. From 1843 to 1859, the land where the zoo now stands was once the city’s main cemetery on the southern end of the Lincoln Park, home to around 35,000 bodies. This number is what is mostly put out, but some historians claim that it is more likely between ten and twelve thousand.
Most of the remains were eventually moved due to concerns about water contamination of cholera. Caskets were buried close to the water and marsh land and would wash to shore every time the water rose. It was also contaminating the drinking water.
The cemetery itself was also almost completely burnt the ground during The Great Chicago Fire on the night of October 8 in 1871. After this, they decided to build a lakefront park above it and didn’t move the remaining people from the underground.
Chicago Old Cemetery: Rush of fugitives through the Potter’s Field toward Lincoln Park; Based on a Sketch by Theo R. Davis, from Harper’s Weekly, November 4, 1871.
Bones from the graves did reemerge from the ground though and workers would collect the bones to a shaman who would rebury them to keep the spirits from haunting the place. But did this even help at all?
Haunting at the Lincoln Park Zoo
Disturbing burial grounds has long been a trope in horror stories, and Lincoln Park is no exception. Since the cemetery’s relocation, countless reports of paranormal activity have arisen from the Lincoln Park Zoo grounds. Famed parapsychologist Ursula Bielski, who has conducted investigations at the site, called it “without a doubt the most active site” she’s ever explored.
This reputation is reinforced by numerous sightings of apparitions, shadowy figures, and inexplicable events over the zoo’s 150-year history. From 2013 there have also been a ghost tour in the zoo that have reinforced the belief that this place is indeed haunted.
People have experienced cold spots, feelings of being watched, and strange disembodied whispers. Some claim to see ghostly figures wandering the grounds, especially at night. Phantom shapes, believed to be the restless souls of those whose bodies were never moved, are said to occasionally be spotted near the zoo’s edge, gazing forlornly into the distance.
The Haunting in the Lion House
One of the more prominent stories that comes from the Lincoln Park Zoo is the ghost that is apparently lingering by the women’s restroom in the Lion House. The lion house was built in 1912 at the heart of the zoo close to the entrance.
Women using the bathroom keep reporting about seeing the ghosts of people in Victorian clothing when looking in the mirrors. When they turn back, there is no one there. There are also stories coming from the staff members hearing voices, someone even hearing the words: “Get out”.
The Lion House: This part of the zoo is said to have a lot of paranormal energy. Especially the women’s bathroom. //Source: Richie Diesterheft
Some ghost hunters claim this is because of the mirrors themselves, lined up on two lines facing each other. They claim that this traps the ghosts inside of the mirrors.
The Haunting of the Barn
In 1962 the Lincoln Park Zoo was building a barn and was digging in the ground. They then found a body, most likely from the cemetery. They discussed at length what to do with it, and the zoo director, Dr. Lester Fisher decided to return the body. The building didn’t stop though and they simply built the barn on top of it.
According to people visiting, there is supposedly paranormal activity going on there as well and paranormal hunters frequently investigate these parts.
The Suicide Bridge
Lincoln Park covers more than just the zoo, and there are more places around it that are said to be haunted. In the late 1800s there were also rumors about the park being haunted, but not from the cemetery. Most reports told about the High Bridge that was nearby from 1894 to 1919 just passed the zoo’s parking lot today. It was initially built for sightseeing in the park, but got a much more ominous reputation.
They called this the Suicide Bridge and it is said around 50 to 100 people ended their life from this bridge.
The Suicide Bridge: Postcard from Chicago were they even called the bridge by its local name, the Suicide Bridge. This was said to be haunted right after it was built and people started to spot something more ominous than the beautiful scenery.
The sightings of the ghosts were so common that newspapers started to publish stories about it and cops that were working in the Park in the night kept asking for transfers because of all the scary paranormal experiences they had.
The Couch Tomb
There was also the case of the Couch Mausoleum. A strange mausoleum left untouched by the fire near the Chicago History Museum. This is the tomb of businessman Ira Couch who died in 1857. But is he really inside? According to official records, the tomb has never been opened. There was once a man who claimed he went inside it when he did some work. He claimed that it was empty. Couch’s grandson saw the news articles about it and claimed that it should be around seven people inside of the grave. Who is right? We simply don’t know.
The Couch Tomb: Couch Mausoleum in Lincoln Park, Chicago October 2013. A lot of mystery of what and who actually is buried there remains. It is also the only mausoleum remaining. Why wasn’t it removed together with the rest of the tombs that used to stand next to it? //Source: Wikimedia
In the 1880s there would be reports in the newspaper about a local legend that people told about the tomb. It said that at the stroke of midnight you had to face the tomb as you looked up at the name Couch. Three times you had to say: “The graves belong to the dead, not the living,”
If you did this, the door would open and a big white ghost would come out of the tomb and greet you.
The Haunting of The Lincoln Park and the Chicago Zoo
Whether you’re watching the playful antics of the animals or strolling through the park, be aware that you may not be alone. The spirits of those buried long ago still seem to have a presence in Lincoln Park Zoo, making it not just a center for animal life but also for paranormal activity. So, next time you visit, keep an eye out for more than just the zoo’s famous lions and tigers—there might be more eyes watching you than you think.
In a certain part of the Grand Canyon, a passage to the underworld known as Sipapu is said to be according to the Hopi natives. And from the depths of the underworld, the keeper of death, Maasaw is said to roam.
Looking out at the vast landscape of the Grand Canyon there is no wonder that people have thought about it as a sacred place and that many legends, myths and stories are set in this rugged landscape, both new and ancient ones.
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The canyon is sacred to many Native tribes that believe that when they begin sailing through the Colorado River inside the canyon, they journey from human life toward the next phase of their afterlife and that the Canyon itself is a doorway to another dimension, the afterlife and the underworld. The canyon is believed to hold magical energy that these tribes believe in and that travelers should respect.
The Grand Canyon: The National park of the Canyon encompasses over 1.2 million acres of rugged landscape, with the Colorado River carving a mile-deep gorge that stretches 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide around 5 or 6 million years ago. The park’s striking geological formations, vibrant hues, and dramatic vistas attract millions of visitors each year, offering opportunities for hiking, rafting, and exploring the highs and lows of the Canyon. It is also said to have several haunted places.
Sipapu and the Gateway to the Underworld
There are many legends about how the Grand Canyon came to be, like the Havasupai tribe telling the story of two rival gods who battled for world domination and flooded the entire world that created the Canyon.
According to the Hopi people though, the Canyon holds the door to the afterlife as well.
In the area around the Crash Canyon, where legends of the ghosts of the Midair Collision in 1956 are haunting, there are also those who believe that the sipapu, a gateway to the underworld, is found.
This is traditionally where the Hopi’s ancestors are thought to have come from and where the dead can come back.
The place is described as a big reddish lump with a hole and this can also be found recreated in the ground of the floors of their kiva, or pithouse for political or religious meetings. The area is mostly closed off for tourists and the surrounding trails are known as some of America’s scariest trails.
Hopi Mythology: Kachinas are spirits or personifications of things in the real world and are believed to visit the Hopi villages during the first half of the year. The local pantheon of kachinas varies from pueblo community to community, representing anything from a revered ancestor to elements of the natural world. This includes the sun, stars, thunderstorms, wind, and various other concepts. Gods of the underworld are also often depicted with similar masks.
The Underworld
The Hopi have a strong mythological tradition, but there are many different variations of each story, even from village to village.
Central to their mythology is the story of the creation, where Spider Woman called Sotuknang, a powerful deity, helped create the world and guided the Hopi to emerge from the underworld through a door called Sipapu to the present world through a series of trials.
They came through this hole as the first people, changing into humans before breaking into the different tribes as they migrated through the land.
The Hopi also revere kachinas, spirit beings that represent various aspects of life and nature, and perform elaborate ceremonies to honor them, seeking their blessings for rain, fertility, and prosperity.
Maasaw Haunting the Canyon
Maasaw, a Hopi god known as the keeper of death, is said to reside in a particular region of the Grand Canyon that the Hopi people thought was the opening from the Third World into the Fourth known as sipapu. He is also known as the Skeleton Man and door keeper to the Fifth World.
He is described as wearing a terrifying mask, but underneath he is often said to be beautiful and bejeweled, although this depends on who you ask as he is also said to be a bloody and fearsome creature.
Legends warn that if you see strange lights approaching from deep within the canyon at night or hear a tapping sound like rocks knocking against each other, it could be Maasaw coming through the Sipapu for you.
Superstition of the area
Both Natives as well as the rangers working there are very superstitious about the place they think the Sipapu is located and some believe that you can encounter spirits around these parts where the veil between the two worlds is so thin. The Hopi people warn people to “avert” their eyes from it out of respect as well as safety. There are even stories about helicopter pilots who refuse to look down when they are flying over it.
Visitors to this area often report feelings of nausea and anxiety and seem to be more prone to accidents like falling, some are even said to have been struck by lightning.
There are also said to be strange whispers heard in the dark and according to some, this is also the place to see the spirits and ghosts of the Hopi people still on their migrating journey through the worlds.
Hotel Monte Vista is an iconic landmark in Flagstaff, Arizona, housing guests in their afterlife as well. There are many ghost stories coming from the rooms, but just how many of them are actually true?
“Meet me at the Monte V.”
Hotel Monte Vista in Flagstaff, Arizona, has a reputation for housing more than just living guests close to its Route 66. Built in 1927, this historic hotel is a hub of paranormal activity. The Hotel Monte Vista on the corners of Aspen and San Francisco street was built as tourism was on the rise and the locals felt that Flagstaff needed something first class.
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The hotel staff are no strangers to the haunted rumors of the hotel and even encourage curious residents to explore its history, mentioning that it is the housekeeping staff that have the best stories.
Among the most eerie reports are that of Room 210, where a long-term resident used to hang raw meat from the chandelier—a bizarre habit that lingers in the air even now. Two women who were thrown from the third floor are said to haunt the halls, asphyxiating male guests in their sleep. Disturbingly, a phantom infant’s cries echo from the basement, sending chills up the spines of those who hear it.
The Dancing Couple
Hotel Monte Vista Cocktail Lounge
One of the few hidden speakeasies in Flagstaff during prohibition was in Hotel Monte Vista. They had secret tunnels built by the Chinese railroad workers and ran underneath the hotel and it was known as the Cocktail Lounge. Moonshine, opium and other illegal activities could freely move in the underworld of the city. The Lounge was fronted as a newspaper publishing house until the local police shut it down in 1931, although it opened up again when prohibition ended.
In the Cocktail Lounge as it’s still called, the staff and guests claim to have seen a couple dancing in the room in the early hours. Transparent and dressed in formal clothing, they smile and laugh as they dance their way through the afterlife.
When some asked the staff about the dancing couple though, it is said that it was a story made up by a TV show. Who knows by now where the legend originated, but it certainly isn’t the only haunted rumor from the bar.
The Bank Robber in the Bar
According to this urban legend, the Lounge is also the eternal home of a man who bled out having his last drink. Three men robbed a nearby bank in 1970 a couple of towns over and the bank guard managed to shoot one of the men. Although they had one injured man with them, they decided to celebrate the robbery at the local bar and went to the Hotel Monte Vista. They had a drink and the man who got shot bled to death.
Ever since, guests and staff reported that barstools and drinks move on their own. There is also a voice greeting them with a “Good Morning”, they think must be the dead bank robber.
But was it ever a bank robber though? Historical records can’t really support this story as there isn’t really any reports about someone bleeding to death in the Lounge or being shot by a bank guard. Some claim this haunting is rather from one of the many shootings that happened in the Lounge, but this is also without proof.
The Rocking Chair in Room 305
One of the most active haunted rooms in the Hotel Monte Vista according to themselves is the Room 305 and this have even talked about on TV shows, although some of the staff claim that the show exaggerated the haunting experiences people have had. But what does the legend actually say?
People who have stayed here claim to have seen a woman in a rocking chair place close to the window that is said to rock by itself. There are also some reports that they hear a knock from within the closet. Some say that the chair is not rocking, but have simply moved by itself. Some even claim that it was the staff themselves who started the rumor when several people entered the room and moved around the furniture, confusing each other.
But who is rocking the chair from the legend? It is said that the room used to belong to a long time renter, an old lady that would sit by her window on the chairs all day long. What she was looking for no one knows, but legend has it, she is still looking.
The Meat Man in Room 210
One of the most notorious incidents revolves around Room 210, where a long-term resident had a macabre habit of hanging raw meat from the chandelier. No one really knows much about him and why he did this or even existed at all. Sometimes in the 1980’s the man was found dead in his room, three days after he died according to the legend.
Though the tenant is long gone, the unsettling atmosphere of the room remains, with strange noises and inexplicable cold spots sending shivers through guests who dare to stay. Not long after his death, a maintenance worker was called to do some repairs. He left the room to get something and turned off the lights and locked the door. When he returned the TV was on full volume and the linens on the bed were ripped up and thrown around the room.
Even today, the hotel claims that guests complain about the TV that turns off and on on its own. There are also some saying that they can feel the cold touch of a man’s hands when they sleep.
The Murdered Women in 306
Two women who were allegedly thrown from the third floor now haunt the halls, targeting male guests. The Red Light District in Flagstaff used to be just south of the railroad tracks, two blocks from the hotel and one legend claims that two of the sex workers ended their days in the hotel.
In the early 1940s there were two prostitutes that met up with a client in room 306. Inside of the room they were killed and thrown from the window.
Hotel Monte Vista: So many legends are contained within the building. How much of it is really true?
Those who’ve stayed on the upper floors have reported waking in the night to the sensation of being watched Some even speak of invisible hands trying to asphyxiate them, mostly claimed by male guests. These spectral women are said to be vengeful, exacting their wrath on unuspecting male guests, making their presence terrifyingly clear through phantom touches and whispered threats.
Did sex workers really get murdered in the hotel though? There is no corroborating evidence like newspaper articles or police reports that are able to back this story up.
The Wailing Baby in the Basement
Even more unnerving is the ghost of an infant whose cries echo from the depths of the basement. There is no clear history or theories that can explain this, but those working at the hotel claim that they really heard it.
Staff members, mostly maintenance and laundry personnel, have fled the lower floors in panic after hearing the unmistakable wails of a baby. Despite searches, no source of the noise is ever found, leading many to believe the cries belong to a child long gone, yet somehow still present. Other suspects it is simply the echo and how you can hear everything that goes on on the upper floors when being downstairs.
John Wayne’s Paranormal Experience With the Ghostly Bellboy
The Hotel Monte Vista used to be a place where many of Hollywood stars went to in the 40s and 50s, especially those involved in western films that were shot near Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon.
John Wayne
Adding to the hotel’s spooky legend, famed actor John Wayne himself reported a paranormal encounter while staying at Hotel Monte Vista. He claimed to have sensed a ghostly presence in his room. Some even claim that he was the first to ever report the ghosts publicly as well. Many think that he encountered the Phantom Bellboy said to haunt the halls of the hotel.
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They claim to have heard a knock on their door followed by a muffled “Room Service”. But when they go to open the door, there is no one there. Unlike many of the other ghosts, the phantom bellboy is said to be more friendly. It is also said the ghost have been seen as well, some claiming he is standing outside of 210. Housekeepers also claim to have encountered him when they work the halls, seeing a young man in the old fashioned red uniform with brass buttons.
Now, was there ever a young bellboy who died in the hotel? Unclear. It is even unclear if John Wayne really did speak about the ghosts in the late 1950s, and all we have to go on is what is coming from the hotel. It is also worth noting that Wayne was filming in Arizona in the late 30s, not 50’s as the story wants to narrate it as.
A Night at the Haunted Hotel Monte Vista
Although it is without much evidence of it happening as the stories goes, the legends and haunting is said to go on in the Hotel Monte Vista. Staff will often reply with: It’s not exactly like the legend goes, but this one time… and then give a story of something strange that happened to them at work. So what truly happened over the years of the hotel, perhaps only the mountain view will know.
The smell of roses and shadows in the corners makes people believe that the Pittock Mansion in Oregon, USA is haunted by the couple who built it. Now a museum, the ghosts are also said to welcome its visitors to their forever home.
Deep in the heart of Portland, Oregon lies a majestic mansion that has captured the imaginations of locals and tourists alike overlooking Mount Hood and the Cascade Mountain Range. The Pittock Mansion in Oregon’s West Hills neighborhood, built in 1914, is a stunning example of French Renaissance architecture, and it is surrounded by breathtaking gardens and panoramic views of the city below. The inside of it is designed with oak-paneled cabinets and marble floors with a huge staircase worthy of the finest castles. But there’s more to this mansion than meets the eye.
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For decades, rumors have circulated about strange happenings and ghostly sightings within its walls. Many believe that the spirits of former occupants still linger, and that the mansion is haunted by their restless souls.
The History of Pittock Mansion
Before we dive into the ghost stories surrounding Pittock Mansion, let’s take a look at its history. The mansion was built for Henry Pittock, the owner and publisher of The Oregonian newspaper, and his wife Georgiana. Henry Pittock was originally from England, then Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and had a start in his father’s printing business. After traveling west on the Oregon Trail when he was 19 for adventure and fortune, Henry transformed it into a successful daily newspaper and riches followed.
This was where he met his wife, Georgiana and they married in 1860. Together they built the house they wanted to retire in. It was originally intended as a summer home, but the couple moved into the mansion in 1914, and it quickly became a hub for Portland’s elite social scene. It was also known for its lush gardens as Georgina was loved gardening, even founding the Portland Rose Society and Rose Festival.
The Pittocks lived in the mansion until their deaths. Georgiana died at 72 in 1918 and Henry at 84 in 1919. The mansion changed hands several times within the Pittocks family. The last family members living there was their grandson Peter Gantenbein and his father, Edward who moved out in 1958 and sold it to the City of Portland in the 1950s.
In the 1960s, the mansion fell into disrepair and was almost demolished, especially after the devastating Columbus Day storm in 1962. However, a group of concerned citizens rallied to save the historic landmark, and it was eventually restored to its former glory. Today, Pittock Mansion is open to the public as a museum, showcasing the history and culture of Portland.
The Haunting of Pittock Mansion
Despite its grandeur and beauty, Pittock Mansion has a dark side. Dating back to the 1960s, visitors and staff members have reported strange happenings and unexplained phenomena within its walls, especially in the upper rooms. Some believe that the spirits of Henry and Georgiana Pittock still linger.
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One of the most commonly reported occurrences is the sensation of being watched or followed. Visitors have reported feeling a cold breeze or even a hand on their shoulder, despite there being no one else around. Others have reported seeing shadowy figures moving through the halls, or hearing the sound of footsteps when no one is there. One night an employee closed the museum for the night and turned back when they walked off. Every single light in the mansion turned on, although there was no one there. Or was it?
The Pittocks: Henry and Georgiana Pittock (center), wedding day, 1860. Georgiana also had an adventurous life, and when she was nine, she was captured by Siouxnatives when she was riding her pony because she was a great rider. She was returned unharmed. She met Henry as she drove her horse and buggy past the Oregonian building. They had nine children. People believe that the couple is now haunting the mansion they built.
Georgiana Pittock and the Smell of Roses
Some have even claimed to have seen the figure of a woman in the window as the staff enters in the morning, looking back at them through the mirrors and welcomes them in the basement.
There is also the scent of roses that lingers as they enter the upper rooms, making people think that it must be Georgiana who lingers in the mansion as she was very fond of them. There have also been seen an apparition of a woman wearing a long gown by the staff. One such story tells about one visitor who heard something fall to the floor and went to see. She saw a woman in the gown pick up the picture that had fallen off. A staff member came to see, and the visitor looked away for a second. But when she looked back, there was no one there anymore.
The Pittock Family: The family lived in the mansion for decades. The rumors about it being haunted started in the 1960s when it was sold to the city of Portland.
The Haunting of Henry Pittock’s Portrait
Another popular ghost story involves the portrait of Henry Pittock that hangs in the mansion’s library. According to legend, the eyes of the portrait follow visitors around the room, and some have even reported feeling as though they were being judged by the stern-looking figure.
Perhaps the creepiest legends claim that the painting is moving around on the wall by itself. This is also said about much of the furniture in the house, as it rearranges by itself when no one is watching.
Ghost of the Groundkeeper in the Garden
Outside it is said that the sound of shovels digging in the ground can be heard, as if someone is working away there. This is said to occur on the northernmost side of the mansion in particular. After, the sound of heavy footsteps can be heard as if someone is coming towards the mansion.
But there is not, and people think it is the ghost of one of the live-in groundskeeper who died at the estate on Gate Lodge south of the mansion. Although a strange experience, it is said that those working and visiting the mansion experience it as a kind spirit with no ill will. The ghost is simply lingering to take care of Georgina’s garden that she loved so much.
The Welcoming Haunting of Pittock Mansion
The Pittock Mansion keeps inviting guests to enjoy the wonderful architecture and lush gardens, almost like it was when first built. Today it operates as a museum open every day and gets more than 80 000 visitors per year. And if we are to believe the rumors, the ghosts of Henry and Georgiana Pittock will be ready to welcome you into their dream home they at least got to enjoy in their afterlife.
When people visit the Grand Canyon, many fall for the temptation of taking a memento with them back home. But according to many stories, many people are said to believe some of the tokens from the Canyon are cursed and bad luck follows them who take cursed artifacts from the park.
In the rugged wilderness of the Grand Canyon, legends and curses are as deeply rooted as the ancient rock formations. In many national parks there are stories about stealing that makes what you steal and yourself cursed.
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The Grand Canyon is said to receive many misplaced items from the park back through mail from people claiming that the objects and artifacts must be haunted. Many claim to have experienced bad luck after taking the objects and trying to rid themselves of the curse by returning them back. There are many stories from the park, from sacred or cursed artifacts from the Natives, Egyptian treasure hidden in caves and a traditional national park curse of the land, even a simple rock.
The Grand Canyon: The National park of the Canyon encompasses over 1.2 million acres of rugged landscape, with the Colorado River carving a mile-deep gorge that stretches 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide around 5 or 6 million years ago. The park’s striking geological formations, vibrant hues, and dramatic vistas attract millions of visitors each year, offering opportunities for hiking, rafting, and exploring the highs and lows of the Canyon. It is also said to have several haunted places.
The Cursed Navajo Blanket
One of the most haunting tales involves trader Don Maguire, who in 1879, stumbled upon a beautiful but cursed Navajo blanket during his expedition through Arizona by the Colorado River.
Woman weaving a traditional Navajo rug around 1900.// Source
Maguire met Emma Lee at the ferry, a widow who offered him the blanket in exchange for some of his goods. She warned him of the blanket’s dark past after they had made the deal, explaining how it had brought misfortune and ultimately death to her husband who was executed after the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Undeterred, Maguire accepted the blanket and continued his journey, only to suffer a series of relentless calamities over the next two years. The curses ceased only when he lost the blanket, leading him to finally heed Emma Lee’s warning.
When a writer traced the blanket back to its weaver, he found the Navajo weaver Mariana who fell in love with the same man as her 17 year old daughter. Mariana was said to weave spells into her blankets, spending 3 months on it. But after realizing the man was only stringing them both along, not wanting to marry either, it was said it was cursed. The daughter was said to have died and the man’s horse returned home empty with a bloody saddle and the blanket hanging on a juniper branch, said to curse everyone it ended with.
How much of the now legend that is true is today uncertain as the story has passed many versions of it.
Many now claim that the objects stolen from the park are cursed, and it is even said that many treasure hunters have disappeared mysteriously. What is really behind the legend of the cursed Canyon?
The Cursed Artifacts from the Park
Tales of cursed Native American relics are plentiful, especially in the Grand Canyon. Park rangers regularly receive letters from tourists desperate to return artifacts stolen from sacred Burial grounds like pottery or certain stones and from the forbidden zone in the Grand Canyon.
The letters invariably describe extreme bad luck, plagues, and mysterious illnesses that befell the thieves after taking the artifacts. The park rangers often find the reasoning chillingly consistent: the stolen items bring about a curse that can only be lifted by returning them to their rightful place.
People fearing cursed artifacts after stealing them from National Parks is a well known phenomenon, and in the same thing with people sending back stuff they took from the parks fill up the park rangers mailboxes. Often the rumor of objects being cursed comes from park rangers being fed up with tourists taking things with them, and the rumor is put out to deter the thieves. But could it be something more behind the rumors when talking about the Grand Canyon National Park?
Where does the Legend about the Cursed Objects come from?
According to an elaborate hoax, there are legends about cursed artifacts from the Egyptians. The legend of an ancient Egyptian civilization in the Grand Canyon emerged in the early 20th century, fueled by an article published in the Arizona Gazette in 1909 when an Egyptomania swept over the western world. The article claimed that an explorer named G.E. Kincaid discovered an extensive network of caves filled with Egyptian artifacts, including mummies, hieroglyphics, and statues, within the forbidden zones in the Grand Canyon.
This sensational story captivated the public’s imagination, suggesting a mysterious link between ancient Egypt and North America. However, subsequent investigations revealed no evidence to support these claims, and the story was debunked as a hoax. The Smithsonian Institution, which was reportedly involved in the supposed discovery, denied any knowledge of the expedition or the artifacts. Despite its debunking, the legend persists as an intriguing, albeit fictitious, chapter in the folklore of the Grand Canyon.
Many legends about cursed tombs and Egyptian artifacts come from Egypt, and perhaps this has only fueled the legends of the curse in the Grand Canyon as well.
The Cursed Objects of the Canyon
Visitors are thus warned: the Grand Canyon, while breathtakingly beautiful, holds ancient secrets and curses according to more than one legend. The cursed artifacts of the Grand Canyon are more than just historical treasures; they are reminders of a profound respect owed to the land and its original inhabitants. So, if you ever find yourself tempted by the allure of a beautiful relic, remember the story of Don Maguire and the many others who have learned the hard way that some things are best left undisturbed.
In a souvenir shop in the Grand Canyon based on a traditional Hopi House, employees and visitors claim the place is haunted by a couple of mischievous ghosts they often call the Brown Boys.
On the South Rim of the Grand Canyon stands an adobe-style structure known as the Hopi House found on the trails next to the El Tovar Hotel that are also said to house some ghosts of their own. Built in 1904, this historic building was designed by architect Mary Colter to resemble a traditional Hopi pueblo, inspired from Hopi dwelling at Oraibi in Arizona.
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Its purpose was to showcase and sell the art and crafts of the local Hopi Indians. Over the years, Hopi House has continued to serve as a gift shop and as a living museum, attracting countless visitors with its unique charm and rich cultural heritage. What wasn’t planned however were the haunted rumors about the ghost of the “Brown Boys” said to linger around the house.
The Grand Canyon: The National park of the Canyon encompasses over 1.2 million acres of rugged landscape, with the Colorado River carving a mile-deep gorge that stretches 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide around 5 or 6 million years ago. The park’s striking geological formations, vibrant hues, and dramatic vistas attract millions of visitors each year, offering opportunities for hiking, rafting, and exploring the highs and lows of the Canyon. It is also said to have several haunted places.
The Hopi Tribe
The Hopi are one of the oldest Native American tribes in North America, with a history that dates back over a thousand years. Originating in the southwestern United States, the Hopi are descendants of the ancient Puebloan cultures, including the Ancestral Puebloans, who inhabited the region long before European contact.
Known for their sophisticated agricultural practices, they built terraced fields and intricate irrigation systems to sustain their crops in the arid environment. The Hopi people have maintained a rich cultural heritage, marked by complex religious ceremonies and the Kachina spirit system, which involves elaborate dances and masked performances. Despite facing numerous challenges, including forced relocations and pressures from modern development, the Hopi have preserved their traditions, languages, and way of life, continuing to live on their ancestral lands in northeastern Arizona, particularly on the Hopi Reservation.
Hopi Dancer at the Hopi House: There have also been shows for people showcasing the Hopi people. Here from a performance for his Majesty, Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Brigadier General Abdol Hussei Hedjazi, military aide, and Park Superintendent H.C. Bryant, watch a Hopi Indian dance presented at the Hopi House in 1949.
The Hopi Natives have a profound and ancient connection to the Grand Canyon as well as it being their ancestral land. According to Hopi tradition, the Grand Canyon is the site of their emergence into the world, where they ascended from the lower worlds through the Sipapu, a small hole in the canyon’s floor. They believe that the canyon and its surrounding landscape are inhabited by deities and ancestral spirits, such as Maasaw, the keeper of death. This profound spiritual connection underscores the Hopi’s respect for the natural environment and their enduring stewardship of the Grand Canyon’s sacred spaces.
The Legend of the Brown Boys
While the Hopi House is renowned for its architectural beauty and cultural significance, although not built by the Hopi themselves, it is also famous for its ghostly inhabitants, known as the “Brown Boys.”
These two spirits are often seen and felt within the walls of the historic structure. The “Brown Boys” are said to be mischievous spirits, making their presence known by causing disturbances and playing tricks on those who enter.
Who they are people don’t know. And like the authentic Hopi art in the reconstructed house, they remain as the artist, nameless. Could it be someone from the Hopi that perhaps worked or lived around the area? Could it even be some kids or tourists that once only passed through the Canyon? The answer to the question will most likely remain unanswered.
Paranormal Activity at Hopi House
Witnesses have reported seeing the spirits running around the structure during the evening hours. Electrical items are mysteriously turned off, and objects are thrown about seemingly of their own accord. Some mornings, employees also claim to have found the dolls they sell rearranged. These disturbances have led many to believe that the “Brown Boys” are perhaps some type of poltergeists.
Interior of Hopi House: Upstairs sales room in hopi house where the Brown Boys are said to haunt. Benches around room draped with navajo rugs. Circa 1905. // Source: Flickr
Employees of the Hopi House have grown accustomed to the presence of these spirits, often referring to them by name. Despite the playful nature of the “Brown Boys,” their antics can be unnerving, especially when experienced after dark.
The sense of being watched, the sudden cold spots, and the inexplicable sounds all contribute to the eerie atmosphere that surrounds the Hopi House after dark. Perhaps it is the “Brown Boys” out and about on their usual haunting mischief.
The fine restaurant, One If by Land, Two If by Sea in the old building in New York are said to be haunted by more than one ghost. The staff have even tried to appease the spirit over the years, even by serving them food, but still, they continue to linger.
If you’re a fan of history and fine dining, then you must have heard of One If by Land, Two If by Sea in the West Village in Manhattan. This iconic restaurant, marketing itself as one of the most romantic spots in the city, has been a staple in New York City’s culinary scene for over four decades.
The name “One if by land, and two, if by sea,” is from the poem Paul Revere’s Ride by Henry W Longellow. The saying was a secret signal to alert patriots about the route the British troops went on their way to Concord, perhaps a hint to all the secrets and hidden passageways the building at least used to have. Because this elegant eatery has a dark and mysterious past.
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One If by Land, Two If by Sea is said to be haunted by several ghosts, perhaps as many as twenty different ghosts. This includes the ghost of Aaron Burr’s daughter, Theodosia, who disappeared mysteriously at sea. The restaurant’s eerie ambiance, complete with antique chandeliers, flickering candles, and dark wood paneling, only adds to its haunted reputation.
One If by Land, Two If by Sea: Restaurant at 17 Barrow Street in Manhattan as it looked in 2024 said to be haunted by as many as twenty ghosts. // Source: Transpoman/Wikimedia
The History of the One If by Land, Two If by Sea Building
One If by Land, Two If by Sea is housed in a historic building that dates back to 1767. Originally built as a carriage house, the building has also served as a brothel, a speakeasy, and a residence for several prominent New Yorkers. Some even believe that the strange passageways down to the shore were used for forbidden contraband, or perhaps even used during the Revolutionary War. It was also used for runaway slaves in the underground railway.
The building’s storied past from carriage house, silent movie theater, bars and restaurants are reflected in its architecture, which features antique chandeliers, original brick walls, and dark wood paneling. But it’s not just the building’s physical attributes that make it unique; it’s also the ghosts that reportedly haunt its halls.
Ghostly Encounters and Haunted Tales
One If by Land, Two If by Sea is said to be haunted by several ghosts, including the ghost of Aaron Burr and his daughter, Theodosia. Theodosia was known for her beauty and intelligence, and her father, Aaron Burr, was one of the most controversial figures in American history.
In the 1790s, Aaron Burr kept his horses there when he was the Attorney General of the State of New York. Burr’s Wife, Theodosia Bartow Prevost had died early and he was raising his daughter by himself. His enemies said the daughter and father were too close.
There were many rumors floating around about their relationship being too intimate and many say that a famous duel between Burr and Alexander Hamilton started because of gossip about the father and daughter.
The two were rivals and tried to ruin each other’s reputation for years. On July 11, 1804 they held a duel in Weehawken in New Jersey. At this time, Burr was the Vice President of the United State, and Hamilton, a war hero as well as the first American Secretary of the Treasury. In the duel, Hamilton died and Burr lost everything. His carriage house was taken away from him and the building was used as an engine house for the fire station next door.
Aaron Burr Jr: (February 6, 1756 – September 14, 1836) was an American politician, businessman, lawyer, and Founding Father who served as the third vice president of the United States from 1801 to 1805 during Thomas Jefferson’s first presidential term. He is also said to haunt the restaurant as he owned the building when alive.
So what happened to his daughter? Theodosia married her husband, Joseph Alston, Governor and one of the most powerful and wealthy men in South Carolina, in 1801.
Theodosia Burr Alston: (June 21, 1783 – January 2 or 3, 1813) was an American socialite and the daughter of Aaron Burr. After she was lost at sea, she is said to haunt the restaurant with her father.
However, tragedy struck when Theodosia disappeared mysteriously at sea in 1813. She lived in Charleston, South Carolina after her fathers downfall, and she used to visit her father with her ship, the Patriot. She had just lost her ten year old son to malaria, and was only 29 years old. The ship sailed into the fog close to Cape Hatteras, one of the barrier islands of North Carolina and was never seen again.
Could it be enemies of her father or perhaps her husband who did something? Was it wreckers that had lured the ship to shore to rob them and kill the crew? Was it stormed by pirates and was she forced to walk the plank? Or was it just taken by a storm as her father insisted on until his death?
Her fate remains a mystery to this day, but many believe that she haunts the restaurant as well as her father. He died in a Staten Island boarding house in 1836, and they are often seen together in the restaurant’s mezzanine.
It is said that the ghost of Burr throws glass and plates around as well as moving chairs around. People claim to have seen his apparition, a hefty looking man in period clothing.
The ghost of Theodosia is said to walk up and down the stairs and one of the restaurant’s maître d’ quit after spotting her ghost. Earrings of women sitting in the bar are also said to keep disappearing, and people blame this on the ghost of Theodosia. This is said to have been most frequent in the 90s and it seems a long time since someone has made this claim.
Other Ghosts Haunting the Restaurant
The carriage house was sold in the late 1890’s and was used as a brothel and saloon as the area became an up and coming neighborhood. The building has several hidden passageways, running all the way to the Hudson river, making it a perfect place as a discreet meeting locale.
The ghosts of Theodosia and her lover are not the only spirits said to haunt One If by Land, Two If by Sea. Guests and staff working at the restaurant since it opened in 1973, have reported a variety of ghostly encounters over the years, including unexplained noises, cold spots, and the feeling of being watched. Some have even reported seeing apparitions of women in period clothing, which they believe to be the ghosts of former residents or prostitutes who worked in the building.
A woman wearing black is seen coming down the stairs as well. She is never seen going up them and some say that a strong stench of sulfur has come from the stairs. Some mediums claim she was a woman who tripped over her dress and broke her neck falling down the stairs.
A Flo Ziefield Follies girl is said to haunt the restaurant in the Constitution room. The term “Ziegfeld Follies Girl” is used broadly to describe the “singers, showgirls and dancers” who appeared in Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.’s theatrical Broadway revue spectaculars known as the Ziegfeld Follies from 1907 to the 1930s. The staff is said to light a candle for her ghost.
A Blacksmith is seen in the stairways in the upper stories of the building where he lived. Many years ago he was seen by a staff member who used to work there. Despite these spooky tales, One If by Land, Two If by Sea remains a popular destination for those looking to experience the restaurant’s haunted history firsthand.
The Haunted Restaurant: Over the years, guests and staff have claimed that something supernatural is going on in the old building. How much of the haunted rumors are true?//Source: Melanie Levi/Flickr
Ghostly Happenings in the Restaurant
Lights flicker in the restaurants, and some that have come to have a meal claim to have been shoved by an unseen force. In the kitchen there are strange and angry whispers of ghosts that want them out of the room. Ghosts are said to linger by the fireplace as well as the front door. Seemingly over the whole restaurant as the sound of glasses clink in empty rooms.
According to Rosanne Martino who was the manager of the restaurant, paintings and pictures put on the walls of the restaurant are also said to keep falling off and machinery malfunctions and goes off at odd times. At one point the staff has even tried to appease the spirits by serving them some Beef Wellington.
One If by Land, Two If by Sea is more than just a restaurant; it’s a piece of New York City history. From its haunted past to its famous guests and events, this iconic eatery has a story to tell.
The ghost stories about the cigar smoking cowboy, the two suicide brides as well as the playful ghost of a little girl has haunted the pristine rumor of The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas. But how much of the stories are true, and how many ghosts are still checked into the hotel?
Downtown in Austin, Texas, stands a grand hotel with a dark and mysterious past. The Driskill Hotel, built in 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill has been a staple of the city’s skyline for over a century and is the oldest operating hotel in the city. But behind its impressive architecture and luxurious amenities lies a darker side.
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Over the years, the Driskill has gained a reputation as one of the most haunted hotels in the country, with countless ghostly sightings and eerie occurrences reported by guests and staff alike. From the ghost of a young girl who fell to her death down the hotel’s grand staircase to the spirit of a cowboy who met his untimely demise in one of the guest rooms, Driskill’s history is steeped in supernatural lore.
History of The Driskill Hotel
The Driskill Hotel was built in 1886 by Jesse Driskill, a wealthy cattle baron who wanted to create a luxurious hotel that would be the jewel of Austin’s social scene. The hotel was designed by Jasper N. Preston, one of the most prominent architects of the time, and its grand exterior and opulent interior made it an instant icon after its grand opening close to Christmas that year. The Driskill quickly became the center of Austin’s social and political life, hosting events and galas that drew the city’s elite.
But the hotel’s fortunes took a turn when Jesse Driskill lost his fortune in a high-stakes poker game. He was forced to sell the hotel, and it changed hands several times over the years. By the 1920s, the Driskill had fallen into disrepair and was in danger of being demolished. That’s when a group of Austin citizens banded together to save the hotel and restore it to its former glory.
Driskill Hotel: The lobby of the Driskoll Hotel in Austin Texas, a portrait of the founder by the stairs believed to still haunt the hotel. // Source: Kenneth C. Zirkel/Wikimedia
Today, The Driskill Hotel is a beloved landmark in Austin, known for its rich history and luxurious amenities. But the hotel’s past is not all glamour and elegance – it’s also steeped in ghostly legends and spooky stories.
Ghostly legends of The Driskill Hotel
The Driskill Hotel is no stranger to supernatural activity. Over the years, countless guests and staff members have reported eerie encounters and ghostly sightings. Disembodied voices, apparitions, strange noises, mysterious leaks and cold sensations are only some of the rumors people staying and working at the Driskill have experienced.
The Haunted Song: “Ghost of a Texas Ladies’ Man” is a song from rock band Concrete Blonde, from 1992. Napolitano was inspired to write “Ghost of a Texas Ladies’ Man” after a supernatural experience she had during an overnight stay at the Driskill Hotel, in March 1991, on tour as the opening act for Sting: “There’s this horny ghost there that goes for women. ‘I wanna see you naked,’ that was the vibe. The minute I took my clothes off, I felt like there was someone watching me.He kept turning the lights on and off in my room. I finally unplugged all the lamps. Then he turned on the light in the closet and really slowly opened the closet door, just like a hand was opening it. The light in the closet shined out into the room onto the bed. Then I knew for sure he was there. I just said, ‘I know you’re here, but I know that you’re not going to hurt me, so I’m going to go to sleep now.’ I just got this feeling of amusement, like he was playing. He was just like a rascal. It was like a game. I guess I’m lucky he was in a good mood.”
The amount of information that has been passed down through the years have created many different variations and at times conflicting ghost stories. Here are just a few of the most chilling legends associated with the hotel.
The Ghost of Colonel Driskill
Jesse Driskill, the hotel’s founder, is said to haunt the halls of the Driskill to this day. Right after the hotel opened, he fell under financial stress as he had spent it all on alcohol, women and gambling as well as hotels. Besides the harsh winter and drought the following year after opening killed his cattle. Because of this, he had to give the Driskill up almost as soon as it opened and sold it to his brother in law. He had lost his fortune and built it up again many times, but this time, he wouldn’t recover financially. He died in May, 1890 of a stroke.
Legend has it that his restless spirit wanders the hotel, checking on the guests and staff and making sure everything is running smoothly. Some guests have reported hearing footsteps and the sound of a cane tapping on the floor, as if Colonel Driskill himself is still in residence. Driskill’s portrait hangs in the hotel’s grand lobby and some claim that this is the man they interacted with.
It is especially the room that was his favorite, overlooking 6th Street & Brazos that is haunted according to the stories. He has been seen by visitors, smoking a cigar as he looks out the window.
The smell of cigar is most connected with his haunting, the smell lingering in the lobby he used to greet guests. Security guards also claim to have heard his voice, asking for a match behind them, although nothing was there except the smell.
The Suicide Brides of The Driskill
Some of the more well known ghost stories from the Driskill are about the brides supposedly haunting it. The staff have reported about a woman crying on the floor when it is empty. Even the singer Annie Lennox claimed that one of the ghost brides had helped her choose a dress when she put two on the bed before taking a shower. When she came back, one of them was back in the closet.
Some say that perhaps in the 1950s, a bride stayed in room 525 when the fiance called the wedding off the day before. According to the lore, she hanged herself in the room.
The same thing happened several years later in the same room twenty years later on the same day. Or was it really the same room? Was it even a suicide the first time? Some claim that both brides killed themselves in room 525, but one of the stories is also said to have taken part in Room 329, and at least one source claiming it was in room 427 or 29.
One story goes like this: A bride checked into her room in the early 1990s. Or was it in the early 1980s? 1989 as some claim it was? This was by the way during a time when room 525 was shut off before it reopened for guests in 1998.
According to the legend, she was a socialite who had just been left by her fiance. She booked a five day stay at the Driskill. She had one final day where she went shopping for around 10 to 40k the second day she stayed there, all on her fiance’s credit card.
On her third day, she put up a “do not disturb” sign on her door. She lined up all of her new stuff by her bed before shooting herself in the head with a pillow muffling the sound. Some say they found her in the bathtub after they broke into the room after they suspected something was wrong.
The True Story of the Ghost Brides
How true this story is, is uncertain. There are many dates, room numbers and little detailing of the incidents, especially the first. According to the Austin Ghost Tour, this version was written by an employee in India for a company in New York that has never been to Austin. So what is the true story then?
Police reports talk about Tara, and she was not a socialite. She was said to have bought alcohol, cigarettes and a people magazine, instead of shopping goods. It is said that she would have died of alcohol poisoning if she hadn’t shot herself.
According to guests staying there, they claim to sometimes see the ghost of the woman dragging her many bags from her shopping day up and down in the halls of the hotel. There is also said to be a ghostly wailing coming from the rooms the brides died in.
The Child Ghost Playing at the The Driskill Hotel
On the fifth floor of the hotel is a mysterious portrait that is said to have caused supernatural occurrences. The portrait is unnamed, but based on a painting by Charles Trevor Garland (1855-1906) known as “Love Letter” by or for a Richard King.
It depicts a little girl with flowers in one hand and a letter in the other. Some claim it is haunted by the four year old daughter named Samantha Houson, of the US Senator Temple Lea Houston, who died in a horrible accident at the hotel.
The girl often called Samantha was playing in the Grand Staircase of the Mezzanine in 1887. This is before the painting was created though, or perhaps around this time. That May the hotel also closed its doors, so it had to have been before this.
Driskill hosted a function that year for a Legislative Session that year. US Senator Temple Lea Houston had seven children. Only four of their children survived childhood and one of them who didn’t was said to have been Samantha. The Senator had given his daughter a ball to play with. Skipping in the staircase she reached for her ball to bounce, but she fell and died of a broken neck.
People claim to have heard the sound of the ball bouncing from the walls as well as hearing the giggles of a little child. Guests have reported seeing apparitions of children playing in the hallways. When children come back from playing, they often claim to have played with a little girl called Samantha.
It is especially heard around the stairs, but as mentioned, the portrait on the fifth floor is also said to have strange things like dizziness and strange sensations around it that people often claim is connected to the girl. It is said that the painted girl looks eerily similar to Samantha. Perhaps the wildest story is how the girl’s expression in the painting seems to change when looking away.
The Presidential Ghost
One of the more famous ghosts said to haunt the hotel is Lady Bird and Lyndon B. Johnson, often referred to as LBJ. The couple first met in the Driskill Dining room in 1934 and returned every year for special occasions. It is said that the hotel was Lyndon B. Johnson’s favorite place in the city. It was even here he waited for the results of his 1948’s Senate run, his 1960’s Vice President run and in the presidential election in 1964.
According to those visiting the ballroom, they sometimes claim to see the late president with his wife in the mirrors as they pass by.
The Ghost of a Mrs. Bridge Minding the Front Desk
One of the former employees of the hotel said to haunt it, is Mrs. Bridge. She worked at the hotel for many years in the early 1900s and it is said she is sometimes still working. At night, people claim to have seen a woman in a Victorian dress, fussing over flower arrangements in the lobby. It is said that her apparitions are often accompanied by the smell of roses as she loved flowers when she was alive. She has also been seen walking from the vault to the lobby where the old front desk used to be.
The Ghost of Peter Lawless
One of the ghosts haunting the hotel is said to have a more poltergeist presence than the other. Peter Lawless worked as a ticket agent for the Great Northern Railroad in the early 20th century. Peter Lawless was born July 23, 1851 and died in Austin on June 29, 1931. After his wife passed, he moved into the Driskill.
From 1886 to 1916, he lived and worked from the fifth floor where he set up shop. Years it is said he lived there vary. Ever since his death people claim to have seen Lawless coming out from the elevators, looking at the time and his railroad watch and greeting the staff at the front desk before vanishing into thin air.
Housekeeping claims he is watching them as they are cleaning and there have even been those claiming to have seen him stepping in front of a bus outside the hotel. His ghost is said to have dark hair and pants with a white shirt and a pocket watch.
The Royal Haunting in the Mirrors
The Driskill Hotel is also said to be the place of a certain royal haunting.This haunting legend tied to Empress Carlotta of Mexico. She was born Charlotte and was a princess of Belgium. In the 1850s, Carlotta and her husband, Emperor Maximilian, ruled Mexico, seen as a puppet regime, but their reign ended in tragedy when Maximilian was executed, and Carlotta descended into madness. Heartbroken she survived with the support from European courts, suffering paranoid delusions.
The Ghost of an Empress: Empress Charlotte in mourning clothes. Photography by Eugène Disdéri, 1867.
After their fall, eight ornate gold-framed mirrors, originally meant as a belated wedding gift for Carlotta, made their way to the Driskill in 1930. It is not known if Empress Carlotta knew about the wedding gift at all, but some say that she is now haunting the mirrors. Adorned with a color palette of gold and white, the Maximilian Room features unique accents such as eight lavish gold leaf mirrors, originally discovered in the 1930s. This charming space has since been converted into an area for premium dining events, with 1,500 square feet of space and room for 20 to 150 attendees.
Since their installation in the hotel’s “Maximilian Room,” guests and staff have reported eerie experiences, including sightings of Carlotta’s ghost. One photographer claimed to see a woman in a white gown appear in the mirrors but vanish when he turned around, leaving only her reflection. Many believe Carlotta’s spirit haunts the mirrors, watching over the last remnants of her lost empire.
Why did the Hotel Become Haunted?
The Driskill has had many faiths coming through its doors throughout the years, but could it be another reason for it being haunted? Something older perhaps? One of the many reasons the hotel was built on this exact spot was because of the artesian water right by it. Driskoll thought that this would supply the hotel with water for years to come.
This artisan water used to be hollow ground for the native Americans though. Both the Apache, Tonkawas as well as the Comanche used to believe that the water from the spring had the power to hold spirits. Many believe this is the foundation that started the haunting.
Many paranormal investigators have spent numerous nights in the hotel in search of ghosts. Could the hotel really be haunted? Could it be that the ghost of Driskill is still smoking in the lobby, or could it actually be from the tobacco shop that used to be in the lobby still lingering? Could there be something lurking within the mirrors and paintings as well as the rooms not of this world?
Inside the Grand Canyon Caverns you can explore, have dinner in their restaurant or even sleep in their overnight suit. According to the stories, there are also stories about the possibility of encountering ghosts within the deep dark caves.
Venture to the western expanse of the Grand Canyon, and you’ll find yourself within the mystical embrace of the Hualapai Indian Reservation, home to a haunting mystery that unfolds in the depths of the Grand Canyon West Rim near the Peach Springs in Arizona along Route 66.
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Amidst the expansive terrain lies a subterranean wonder known as the Grand Canyon Caverns, discovered by Hualapai woodcutters in the year 1917, revealing itself as the largest dry cavern system in the United States. Some also claim they are some of the most haunted ones.
The Grand Canyon: The National park of the Canyon encompasses over 1.2 million acres of rugged landscape, with the Colorado River carving a mile-deep gorge that stretches 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide around 5 or 6 million years ago. The park’s striking geological formations, vibrant hues, and dramatic vistas attract millions of visitors each year, offering opportunities for hiking, rafting, and exploring the highs and lows of the Canyon. It is also said to have several haunted places.
The Grand Canyon Caverns History
These dry caverns, situated 220 feet below ground level, were formed 65 million years ago through the action of an ancient inland sea that covered the area. Visitors can explore the extensive underground network of rooms and passageways, which are known for their stunning geological formations, including stalactites and stalagmites.
The cave system is the largest dry caverns in the U.S and visitors can both tour, eat at the restaurant as well as stay the night. The caverns house the unique Grand Canyon Cavern Suite, a luxurious hotel room that provides an extraordinary and eerie overnight experience.
Yet, beneath the surface beauty of these colossal caverns lies a veil of spectral enigma, where shadows dance with the echoes of a bygone era, and the whispers of restless souls seem to linger in the eternal darkness.
Inside the Caves: Grand Canyon Caverns was designated a fallout shelter in 1961 and is believed to be haunted. // Source: Lauri Väin
It is said that the Grand Canyon Caverns are so dry that no bacteria or viruses can survive there for more than 72 hours. But could ghosts still be lingering here? According to the stories they do. The question that perplexes both visitors and locals alike is: Who are the spectral inhabitants of the Grand Canyon Caverns? Some believe that the ethereal presence of Native Americans, who found their final rest within these rocky chambers, continues to wander among the subterranean labyrinths.
It is said that many Hualapai tribe members were buried in the caverns centuries ago as an ancient burial place. It is the spirits of these tribesmen that haunt the caverns today. In the past 50 years, there have also been at least 8 people who have died or at least been buried on the property around the caves. Could some of these also be haunting the caves?
Other chilling accounts tell of a ghostly mine worker, a phantom of the past whose apparition has been glimpsed standing beside the cavern’s eerie elevator. His spectral form, frozen in time, echoes the tales of labor and sacrifice that once resonated within the subterranean depths.
The Haunted Grand Canyon Cavern Suite
For a truly haunted experience, there is also the Grand Canyon Cavern Suite found in the caves where a lot of the haunted rumors come from. This subterranean hotel room, situated within the expansive Grand Canyon Caverns, provides guests with an extraordinary opportunity to sleep in a lavishly appointed space surrounded by ancient rock formations. The room dates back to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when a corner of the caverns was set up as a fallout shelter.
Grand Canyon Caverns Luxury Suite: For around 1000 dollars you can stay underground in the caves. Several of the guests that have stayed the night claim to have experienced what they believe to be paranormal. // Source: Flickr
Haunting of the Cave Hotel
One of the most common reports from the cavern suite involves rocks inexplicably whizzing through the air, especially after the Grand Canyon Caverns appeared on an episode of “Ghost Adventures.”.
Many guests have been disturbed by strange noises emanating from around the bed’s headboard. These sounds range from soft whispers to loud thumps, and often occur in the dead of night when the caverns are at their quietest. Some visitors have even reported feeling an unseen presence moving near the bed, as if someone—or something—is watching them as they sleep.
Dancing Shadow Figures
Shadow figures are another common sight within the cavern suite. Guests have described seeing dark, humanoid shapes dancing along the walls of the room, moving in eerie, fluid motions. These shadowy apparitions often vanish as quickly as they appear, leaving behind an unsettling sense of unease and the feeling of being observed. Could it be the pressing feeling of being placed deep in a dark cave or could it be something else?
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Perhaps the most unnerving reports involve the sounds of chanting that echo through the cavern’s depths. These chants, often described as rhythmic and otherworldly, seem to emanate from deep within the earth, reverberating through the suite’s stone walls. Some believe these chants are connected to ancient rituals or spirits that dwell within the caverns, adding to the suite’s mystique and haunted reputation.
Who are Haunting the Caves?
As mentioned, there are not many names attached to the possible hauntings said to go on inside of the Grand Canyon Caverns.
Some believe one of the ghosts to be that of Walter Peck, the man who turned the cave into a tourist attraction after he stumbled over it in 1927 on his way to a poker game. Perhaps it could be the two brothers of the Hualapai woodcutters who died of the flue when they discovered it in 1917 and were buried there after being trapped in a snow storm in 1917?
Or could it perhaps be something more ancient and unknown, lost in the darkness and deepness of the Grand Canyon Caverns?
The ghost town of Cahawba is a remnant of southern antebellum life that died with the Civil War. It is said that the former state capital still has some ghosts living in Cahawba Town the rest of the world abandoned.
Along the confluence of the Cahaba and Alabama rivers lies Cahawba, Alabama’s first state capital and one of its most haunted places if we are to believe the legends. Established in 1819 not far from Selma, Cahawba Town thrived as a bustling antebellum river town for years. Today it is a ghost town in what is called Old Cahawba Archaeological Park.
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Cahawba Town is listed on many most haunted lists, and they also provide haunted ghost tours around the place. But what are the haunted legends from the ghost town said to be one of the more haunted places in the country?
The History of Cahawba Town
Let’s first have a look at the history of the town and those who lived there. Cahawba Town or Cahaba as it is sometimes spelled, used to be fertile tallgrass prairies before the 1830s. Then, as mentioned, it was the first permanent capital of Alabama from 1820 to 1825 as well as being the country seat of Dallas Country until 1866.
This was during the wealthy antebellum years, based on cotton money, made on the back of slaves. Even though it was wealthy it still had a reputation of not being the best place to live because of the location. The floods were said to be big and happened too often. The very air was thought to be bad, as they believed that miasma in the air caused diseases like malaria, yellow fever and cholera. In reality it was the mosquitoes who carried the diseases.
Cahawba Town: Kirkpatrick mansion on Oak Street, burned in 1935. The two-story brick slave quarters remains intact. // Source: Leigh T Harrell/Wikimedia
By the time the Civil War started, the town had around 2000 residents, where around 64 percent of the population were the black slaves. The Civil War changed everything here though, and during it, the prison known as Castle Morgan held more than 3000 Union soldiers.
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Its prosperity was short-lived, however, as the Civil War and subsequent flooding led to Cahawba Towns abandonment because it lost the businesses and jobs that were associated with it being the county seat. Some say that the story about the flooding was exaggerated, or even a lie seeing that 1925 was a drought year by the media because of the competition of becoming the capital.
The Selma newspapers called ‘The Mecca of the Radical Republican Party,’ after the white residents left and more black communities started to grow in town. Although it became a popular place for the freed slaves after the war for a while, they too soon left for a better place in the Reconstruction Period.
Today, the Cahawba Town is a ghost town, its empty buildings, slave burial grounds, and eerie cemeteries providing a chilling backdrop for tales of the supernatural.
The Legend of Pegues’s Ghost
Christopher Claudius Pegues
Among the many haunted tales of Cahawba Town, the most famous is that of the luminous floating orb known as “Pegues’s Ghost.” Shortly after Colonel C.C. Pegues, who was the head of Alabama’s Fifth Rifle Regiment. He was killed in the Battle of the Seven Pines in Virginia on July 15th in 1862, witnesses reported seeing a mysterious glowing light appearing in the garden maze of his former home and favorite Magnolia trees.
When the news of his death reached the village, a slave boy rang a bell, walking from his house with the funeral notice as well as a black streamers known as ‘weepers’ from his shoulders, a custom now gone.
One evening in 1862 a young couple was walking close to the cedar maze. It was then they saw a white orb floating past them. When they tried to touch it, the ghostly orb vanished into the green, although it appeared again. Because of its timing, the strange orb was named after the colonel.
The maze is now gone, and so is the house that used to be located on a lot that occupied a block between Pine and Chestnut streets. The unexplained phenomenon of the Will’O’the’Wisp like light has captivated locals and visitors alike, with many seeking out the ghostly light that continues to manifest to this day.
The Haunted Cemeteries
But “Pegues’s Ghost” is not the only source of eerie activity in Cahawba Town. The cemeteries of Cahawba are another focal point for ghostly encounters, especially the one known as The New Cemetery.
Eerie whispers, phantom footsteps, and shadowy figures are frequently reported by those who dare to venture into these hallowed grounds after dark. Many believe that the souls of the town’s former residents remain tethered to this place, unable to find peace.
It is especially around the burial grounds for the slaves many of the haunted reports come from. It was created in 1819 and many of the graves are unmarked and without headstones. It is said that the last burial was in 1957.
The abandoned streets and structures have given rise to numerous reports of ghostly apparitions and unexplained sounds. Visitors often speak of feeling a chilling presence while walking through the ruins of the once-grand statehouse and the numerous homes that have long since been vacated. The town’s slave burial ground is particularly noted for its paranormal occurrences, where the anguished spirits of those who suffered in life are said to roam.
An online magazine about the paranormal, haunted and macabre. We collect the ghost stories from all around the world as well as review horror and gothic media.
