Traveling to Missouri for holidays might not be as trendy as visiting New York or California. But it turns out that for horror enthusiasts, Missouri is far from a boring choice, and they especially adore visiting this place for fun.
While the state is generally full of incredible sights, the most intriguing aspect is that many of its spots have haunting background stories.
It is debatable if exploring haunted places in Missouri is completely safe, as obviously, there are going to be some challenges and even a slight danger. However, if you think you are confident enough to handle a little ghostly adventure, here are 5 haunted spots you can visit in Missouri.
1. Lemp Mansion, St. Louis
The Lemp Mansion in St. Louis used to be a gorgeous building with incredible architecture. It was owned by the Lemp family, who were one of the richest families amongst those who lived there.
Back in the day, people who were less wealthy used to joke that the mansion was worth gambling over, and this move indeed made sense in the 19th century, when online sports betting services and cricket online betting weren’t available. Unfortunately, after the tragic events that happened in these walls, this Mansion gained a haunted status.
The Lemp family members mysteriously passed away one by one under strange conditions. Apparently, their ghosts never left the building. Now that this place is a restaurant with a bed and breakfast, people who visit often notice eerie ghosts. There were also several reports of hearing unusual footsteps, knocking, and poltergeist activities.
2. Ravenswood, Bunceton
The mansion of Ravenswood was constructed in 1880, and it used to be owned by Nadine and Charles Leonard. This couple enjoyed entertainment so much that they would often host parties with a live orchestra so everyone could enjoy music. Nadine Leonard died at 90 years old in this house. Although her ghost still remains here.
After her passing, a servant was cleaning the house. Strangely, she could not open Nadine’s bedroom door, as it was locked from the inside. She went to get help for breaking the lock, but by the time she returned, the door was already open. Those who tried to explore this mansion have said that they can hear an unseen force turning on the broken music box that belonged to Nadine, as well as her laughter around the walls.
3. Thespian Hall, Boonville
The Thespian Hall in Boonville has existed since 1857. During its time, the building has functioned as a theater, a library, a dance hall, a cinema, a church, and a civil war hospital as well.
The reason why this place is believed to be haunted is connected to a woman who used to be a performer here. Her ghost can be noticed during rehearsals in the hall, just sitting and listening. Other eerie occurrences also involve music suddenly playing without knowing where it comes from, and wigs moving on their own in the direction that faces the mirrors.
4. Smallet’s Cave, Ava
In case you ever end up at Smallets Cave in Ava, Missouri, you have to be extremely careful. The stories and reports about this place suggest that a ghost who was nicknamed “a headless cobbler” lives here.
Two women who ended up in these caves have mentioned that they saw a man whose head was cut off, shoes hanging around the stump of his neck, and with a bible on his shoulder. They ran away, but the apparition appeared to them again.
Rumors say this man lives in this cave and his movements can be heard as the taps of his cobbling his shoes.
5. Missouri State Penitentiary, Jefferson City
The building of the Missouri State Penitentiary marks 168 years of existence. It is considered one of America’s most haunted spots. Because of its horrific past, Time magazine called this place “The Bloodiest 47 Acres in America.”
According to stories, a lot of prisoners were brutally executed. Gas chambers were often used here as well, and as we know, at least 40 people died in them, now knowing it would be their last breath of air.
After the building was investigated, many paranormal activities were noticed. These include eerie figures moving around the halls, hearing tortured screams from cells while no one is there, sudden temperature drops, and strange apparitions.
Bottom Line
Taking a vacation to visit haunted places might just turn out to be an exciting experience you’ve been longing for. It is important to carefully choose your holiday destination, especially if you plan to visit spots that have a haunted reputation.
Despite being dangerous, many people are courageous enough to challenge themselves by witnessing supernatural occurrences. If you’re one of them, lucky for you, Missouri offers quite a lot of such places, and after reading this article, now you know where to start from!.
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