Haunted Places in Wadena, Iowa



  • 0

    West Union Hardee's

    West Union, Iowa

    11.4 miles from Wadena, IA

    Reports say that highways were built over the old cemetery, which lies about where the Hardee's stands. Employees have heard their names being called when they were alone, have felt cold spots, and have had things misplaced. Some accounts tell of a Ouija board incident in which a spirit inhabited ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Franklin Hotel

    Strawberry Point, Iowa

    12.6 miles from Wadena, IA

    This 1900’s hotel is believed to be haunted by two ghosts, including that of a woman named Lily and of a former merchant. Singing voice, and the apparition of a woman in a ballroom outfit (most likely Lily) have been seen on various floors of the hotel. Objects move around ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Lover's Leap

    Elkader, Iowa

    12.7 miles from Wadena, IA

    Local legend says that in the early 1830s, a young man named Lou Millville became friendly with the Native Americans who lived nearby, especially the chief's daughter White Cloud. One day, Lou followed two braves into the woods to learn the whereabouts of some nearby lead mines. He was discovered, ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Mossy Glen Hollow

    Strawberry Point, Iowa

    14.1 miles from Wadena, IA

    Pearl Shine, a woman who in 1936 conspired with her hired hand to kill her husband, is said to haunt this peaceful area. Pearl was caught, tried, and convicted, and she died in prison. Other ghosts here include a man who committed suicide by walking into the muddy bog, and ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Stagecoach Inn Museum

    Manchester, Iowa

    24.6 miles from Wadena, IA

    The Stagecoach House, formerly an inn and a museum, is now a private residence, so please respect the owners' privacy. The building is said to be haunted by the Baker family, who used to own and run the museum and are buried in a nearby graveyard.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Pettlon Family House

    Manchester, Iowa

    26.9 miles from Wadena, IA

    This home was built by the Pettlon family back in 1913, and has been in the family all that time. It is now for sale as of 2014. A member of the Pettlon family has shared with us her paranormal experiences there: "Visiting my Grandmother in the family home ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Buchanan County Court House

    Independence, Iowa

    28.3 miles from Wadena, IA

    It is said that in the late 1800s or early 1900s a man was hung here, but something went awry with the process and he died a slow, painful death. His ghost is said to haunt the place at night; it has been seen hanging from a rope.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Conover Road Ghost Family

    Ridgeway, Iowa

    29.1 miles from Wadena, IA

    Acoording to local lore, a family of four once died near a group of evergreen trees along the road. Their four shadowy apparitions have been seen near the place.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Effigy Mounds

    Harpers Ferry, Iowa

    29.3 miles from Wadena, IA

    The historic Indian Mounds are said to be haunted by the spirits of the Native Americans. Residents who live nearby have reported ghostly moans on the wind at night.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Porter House Museum

    Decorah, Iowa

    32.4 miles from Wadena, IA

    Actual details of this haunting are vague and hard to come by. Most accounts simply refer to "playful spirits" who inhabit this estate, without any specifics on the actual details. If you've encountered any ghostly activity while visiting the museum, drop us a line and share some details!


    Read more »

  • Dubuque's Haunted History
    Richard Barker

    Haunted Iowa City
    Vernon Trollinger

    Haunted Iowa
    Kathleen Vyn
  • 0

    Larsen Hall - Luther College

    Decorah, Iowa

    33.2 miles from Wadena, IA

    The third floor is said to be haunted by Gertrude, a ghost who likes to pull fire alarms and hide students' belongings, or replace students' clothing with old-fashioned versions. She is reported to be the spirit of a prospective student of the college who was killed by a car while ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Regents Center - Luther College

    Decorah, Iowa

    33.4 miles from Wadena, IA

    Students tell the story of an unfortunate janitor at this sports facility who committed suicide in the 1990s. Staff members have reported seeing his ghost.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Camp Ingawanis

    Waverly, Iowa

    39.9 miles from Wadena, IA

    It is said that a 12-year-old boy died here when he jumped from a swing and hit his head on a rock. Folks in the area have noted a moving swing when there is no breeze, and some have heard the boy's giggle.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Lennox College

    Hopkinton, Iowa

    40.4 miles from Wadena, IA

    I was scrolling through the haunted places in Iowa and wanted to suggest adding the Lennox College campus in Hopkinton. A family friend is the mayor of the little town and said when people stop by for a tour, they've seen a woman in one of the dorm hall windows ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Walmart - Flammang Drive

    Waterloo, Iowa

    43.3 miles from Wadena, IA

    Even Wal-Mart is not immune to spirits. Employees say Jeremiah, a 12-year-old boy, haunts the store by playing pranks, moving merchandise and tugging on the employees' smocks. He also taps them on the shoulder at times. Those who have seen him say he is pale, thin, and wears black pants ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Swing Inn

    Ferryville, Wisconsin

    44.9 miles from Wadena, IA

    On nights when business is slow, the apparition of a prostitute nicknamed Blue Moon may show up. She can be heard walking up and down the stairs.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Satan's Hollow Bridge

    Shell Rock, Iowa

    46 miles from Wadena, IA

    According to reports, those who go underneath the bridge may see tall white figures and hear strange sounds. The figures and a feeling of general unease are said to follow you the further you go.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Bartlett Hall - University of Northern Iowa

    Cedar Falls, Iowa

    46.6 miles from Wadena, IA

    Students tell of a Halloween haunted house that was to be set up in the hall, but the resident spirits must have liked the idea and were willing to lend a ghostly hand. During the setup, so many eerie things happened, flickering lights, slamming doors, temperature changes, that the students ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Lawther Hall - University of Northern Iowa

    Cedar Falls, Iowa

    46.7 miles from Wadena, IA

    According to some reports, a soldier named Augie is said to haunt the building. It is said that he passed away there when the hall was used as the infirmary. Students have reported cold spots, strange sounds, and moving objects. Other reports say that the place was never an infirmary ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Strayer-Wood Theatre

    Cedar Falls, Iowa

    46.9 miles from Wadena, IA

    Zelda is the nickname students have for a ghost who plays the piano, makes strange noises, or causes some of the equipment to work by itself.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Pleasant Ridge Cemetery

    Palo, Iowa

    49.8 miles from Wadena, IA

    Locals will point out that there are 13 stairs that lead up a hill into this cemetery. Unexplained voices have been captured on tape here, and visitors have seen apparitions and felt the touch of something unseen.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Evergreen Cemetery

    Vinton, Iowa

    50.4 miles from Wadena, IA

    This cemetery is home to a ghostly woman on horseback who wears a white dress and rides up and down the train tracks. There are also reports of strange phenomena surrounding a statue and apparitions of military men who wander in the portion of the cemetery for unknown soldiers.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Matsell Bridge - Matt's Bridge

    Central City, Iowa

    51.1 miles from Wadena, IA

    Legend around town says that if you drive out the the middle of the bridge and shut off the car, an unseen force will push your car across the bridge. What's more, you will hear strange sounds outside around your car, and when you leave the place, you will see ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Boscobel Hotel

    Boscobel, Wisconsin

    52.1 miles from Wadena, IA

    This hotel's claim to fame is that it was the spot where the Gideon's Bible originated. The ghost of Adam Bobel, the hotel's original builder, has been seen here by employees and guests alike.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Shellsburg Cemetery

    Shellsburg, Iowa

    52.7 miles from Wadena, IA

    In the cemetery stands a statue of an angel, which marks the grave of two children who died in the 1940s. Locals say the angel statue will cry real tears at night.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Children of Iron Hill

    Charles City, Iowa

    53.1 miles from Wadena, IA

    According to local lore, in the 1920s there was a fiery train crash that killed many passengers. One car was full of orphan children who perished in the fires. It is said that the ghost children can still be heard crying, and sometimes the smell of burning is detected. Some ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Holy Cross Cemetary

    Anamosa, Iowa

    53.5 miles from Wadena, IA

    An old hanging tree is said to lie behind the first group of trees in back of this cemetery. Orbs and shadowy figures are reported to appear here; the area is said to be an old Native American burial ground.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Mary Frances Hall - Clarke College

    Dubuque, Iowa

    54.2 miles from Wadena, IA

    Called Mary Fran by students, this hall was built in 1924 and is said to be haunted by school founder Mary Frances Clarke. Students have experienced unexplained footsteps in the hall and an uneasy feeling of being watched, and they have seen a shrouded apparition near the chapel. In other ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Riverside Cemetery

    Charles City, Iowa

    54.6 miles from Wadena, IA

    Visitors here have reported dark figures and a feeling of being watched. The ghost of a Native American is said to have been seen -- perhaps it is he who keeps an eye on the place.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Big River Inn

    Genoa, Wisconsin

    55 miles from Wadena, IA

    This 1879 inn has a haunted restaurant. The ghost is said to be a former employee named Kenny who makes himself known by hiding things in the kitchen and turning on the TV.


    Read more »

  • Picture Yourself Ghost Hunting
    Christopher Balzano
  • 0

    Matthias Ham House

    Dubuque, Iowa

    55.4 miles from Wadena, IA

    No one knows exactly who is haunting the Matthias Ham museum, but ghostly tales abound. People have felt icy drafts in rooms that are closed, objects move and lights turn on independently of any explainable source. People also claim to hear strange noises and occasional whispering. One of ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Fischer Building

    Dubuque, Iowa

    55.5 miles from Wadena, IA

    There are two ghosts that appear from time to time in the mid-19th-century Fischer Building, according to those in the know. One is a tall man who walks in the basement, and the other is a woman wearing a 1920s- or '30s-style dress and furs who walks around on the ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Springville Cemetery‎

    Springville, Iowa

    55.5 miles from Wadena, IA

    According to reports, a gravedigger died in 1920 while digging a grave. He fell in and broke his neck, which killed him instantly. It is said you can still see him working at night, with a glowing green shovel.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Grand Opera House

    Dubuque, Iowa

    55.6 miles from Wadena, IA

    The haunts at this opera house, built between 1889 and 1890, like to pull pranks. The lights operate by themselves, and cameras and tape recorders behave strangely. Witnesses have also heard ghostly singing from a seemingly empty stage, and apparitions have been seen as well. The ghosts here are loved ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Redstone Inn and Suites

    Dubuque, Iowa

    55.6 miles from Wadena, IA

    The nineteenth century inn was built in 1894 by a man who was forced to jump ship in the town and ended up prospering and owning a wagon empire. Staff and guests nowadays have reported seeing the apparition of an distinguished gentleman, while the owner claims to have heard ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Edinburgh Manor

    Monticello, Iowa

    55.7 miles from Wadena, IA

    Built in 1908, this building is rumored to be hopping with haunts. It has been a mental institution among other things, and at least 80 people are said to have died here. For ghost enthusiasts, the place is available for private lockdowns.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Granger House Museum

    Marion, Iowa

    55.8 miles from Wadena, IA

    Folks around these parts will tell of a ghost at the Granger House Museum. Her white figure is said to be seen at midnight, sitting in front of a window.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Hotel Julien

    Dubuque, Iowa

    55.8 miles from Wadena, IA

    According to staff and guests at this historic boutique hotel, sightings of the apparition of a man in period clothing on the upper floors of the hotel aren't uncommon; and neither are the legends surrounding his appearance. Some believe this spectre is Al Capone, who frequently stayed in the ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Parkers Grove Cemetery

    Shellsburg, Iowa

    55.8 miles from Wadena, IA

    According to reports, one gravestone boasts a carving of a face. The stone face is said to cry tears at night.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Carlos O'Kelly's

    Marion, Iowa

    56.4 miles from Wadena, IA

    The bar is said to be haunted by prank-playing spirits. Workers say the lights flicker, the blenders start up by themselves even when unplugged, and plates fall off their racks.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Wildwood Apartments

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    56.7 miles from Wadena, IA

    It is said that a convicted child molestor once lived here and was beaten to death by one of the victims' parents. Some say you can hear the cries of his victims echoing through the apartment halls late at night.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Captain Merry Historic Inn

    East Dubuque, Illinois

    57 miles from Wadena, IA

    This historic inn is believed to have closed, and may now be a private residence. The building the inn was housed in has a colourful past, and is rumoured to be one of the most haunted houses in town. Reports range from sightings of a woman in a black ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Stello Performance Hall - Mount Mercy

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    58 miles from Wadena, IA

    Reports say that a nun once hanged herself from the choir loft balcony, and she now wanders the halls. Especially haunted is said to be Warde Hall.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Brucemore

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    58.8 miles from Wadena, IA

    The library is allegedly haunted by a poltergeist-type entity who moves objects, laughs and makes other noises. Some people claim to see a glowing "presence" in the library as well.


    Read more »
  • 0

    Coe College

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    59.1 miles from Wadena, IA

    The resident ghost here is Helen, a student who died of influenza in 1918. A grandfather clock located here is said to have been donated by her parents; it used to be in her dorm. Some say the clock is where her spirit lives, but she may come out at ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    59.7 miles from Wadena, IA

    The building was the town library until 1985. According to stories told by locals, one day in the 1960s a regular patron named Hazel visited the library. She was seen walking through the rooms by patrons and employees alike. However, it was soon realized that Hazel had passed away in ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Oak Hill Cemetery

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    59.9 miles from Wadena, IA

    The ghost of a little Czech girl named Tillie is said to linger in this cemetery, haunting through the night carrying a lit candle. It is said she may try to pull visitors into a mausoleum.


    Read more »
  • 0

    The Trunkless Tree - Campbell Cemetery

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    60.2 miles from Wadena, IA

    Is it an optical illusion or a spirited trick? Locals say that if you visit this cemetery at night and turn off your headlights, you will see a tree that looks as if it has no trunk. It appears to float in the air. Reports say there used to be ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    Mrs B's Bed and Breakfast Inn

    Lanesboro, Minnesota

    62.8 miles from Wadena, IA

    It just wouldn't be a haunted inn without a famous ghost, and this delightful historic bed and breakfast is allegedly haunted by Buffalo Bill, where he stayed the night on several occasions. In Room #001 (River Song Room), a curious apparition has been reported. Guests have reported seeing a shadowy ...


    Read more »
  • 0

    DiSciascio's - Legacy Grill

    Coon Valley, Wisconsin

    67.5 miles from Wadena, IA

    DiSciascio's was an Italian restaurant in operation for 26 years until 2013, when it was replaced by Legacy Grill. The spirits here were first noticed long ago when the building housed a bar. Witnesses have described a ghost lady, who has been nicknamed Mary by restaurant staff, and objects have ...


    Read more »


» Cemeteries near Wadena, IA

» Find museums in Wadena, IA