You'll find ghostly adventures in nearly every town as you make your way across the beautiful and haunted state of Missouri.
Haunted Places in Missouri
The Ozarks, Route 66, Kansas City Barbecue and the adventurers Lewis and Clark all come to mind when one thinks of Missouri. With great cities and beautiful scenic areas, Missouri is a great place to visit, and ghost hunt!
Like most civil war touched areas, Missouri has no shortage of restless and confused civil war era apparitions.
Wilson's Creek Battlefield in Springfield Missouri is said to be inhabited by confederate soldiers still fighting their last battle. People have reported hearing the echoes of guns and cannon fire and actually seeing the wispy apparitions of uniformed ghosts. Nighttime visitors may hear the crunching of leaves under unseen boots and hear the sounds of whispered instructions between men.
The University Plaza Hotel, also in Springfield, is rumored to host a spirit dubbed "The Colonel." Thought to be a civil war hero and past owner of a plantation upon whose ground the hotel now sits, The Colonel is said to have been seen in dark clothing, walking the hallways in the dead of night.
Finally, the site of the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama at Inspiration Point in Branson is the spot where visitors have reported seeing the ghostly remains of a civil war soldier on horseback slowly trotting over the hills.
Cemeteries always seem to be a gathering point for lost souls. The famous Elmwood cemetery in Kansas City is no different. Final resting place of Butch Cassidy gang member Robert Lee, and various civil war soldiers and local celebrities, Elmwood is also the playground for two active young spirits. It is said that on cloudy days or in the early evenings you can see two girls playing together in long white dresses. There are many children buried at Elmwood, but perhaps these girls could be the spirits of Julia Drennon, daughter of a well known real estate tycoon who died in 1878, and Lizzie C Kern, a 12 year old who died in a tragic kerosene fire in 1889.
The Forrest Hill Cemetery in Kansas City also boasts some strange occurrences. Along the mid-south end sits a large mausoleum where it is said that at sunset you can sometimes hear music coming from inside! Visitors have also reported a feeling of being watched.
Old homes and hotels also seem to sometimes retain their previous tenants beyond death. The Hotel Savoy in Kansas City is one of the better known hot spots for ghost hunters looking for that direct encounter. A stay in room 505 is said to invite the ghost of Betsy Ward, who apparently died in the bathtub there.
The Sauer Castle also in Kansas City is said to have the spirit of an unknown little boy. Renovations of this building should be complete in 2005, when this 1875 Italian style villa with its foreboding carved lions will once again be open to the public. Ghost hunters may find out that the spirit is that of Sauer himself, who died in the home of tuberculosis, or perhaps of his son Julius, who died as an adult in a spectacular and fiery train wreck!
One last stop in Kansas City will bring us to the Donaldson House/ Kansas City Art Institute. Many stories of ghostly activity have come out of this location mostly centered on the second floor. The appearance of orbs, unexplained footsteps and the consistent ringing of a telephone between 3 and 4 am make this a must-see location for tourists looking for a little adventure.
The Thias House Bed and Breakfast in Washington Missouri offers more than a tour or a stop for lunch. Visitors might be witnesses to the familiar apparition of a Victorian age woman combing her hair, or floating down the main staircase. Others might experience the feeling of an unseen hand touching their shoulder, or even the ghostly meow of the otherworldly house cat!
Not to be outdone, St. Louis has some ghostly encounters on tap for you as well. Rose Hill is said to be yet another location where the local spirits act like AAA. Here, the story goes that a woman named Rose had car trouble and while tending to her vehicle, was approached and murdered. Legend has it that if you dust the trunk of your car with flour and place a rose on the back; you will find handprints on the rear of your car after you ascend the hill. The rose will also be taken- as payment for safe passage.
You'll also find more roadside encounters in Branson! Dewey Bald Mountain was the location of a plane crash during the 1990's, and still has passengers trying to make it home. Some have said that you may find a hitchhiker or two near the site of the crash, looking for a ride to the airport"¦ once inside your car, they disappear.
You'll find ghostly adventures in nearly every town as you make your way across the beautiful state of Missouri. Listening to the local stories of the history and lives of previous townsfolk make for a memorable road trip and an unforgettable adventure.
