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Mercer County Courthouse
Aledo, Illinois
6.9 miles from Joy, IL
The courthouse building dates back to the 1890's, and in the 1930's a skeleton was removed from the basement when the interior was remodelled. Ever since, staff have reported hearing footsteps after the courthouse has been locked up for the night, and a woman leaving the building in the ...
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Hotel Wapello
Wapello, Iowa
15.9 miles from Joy, IL
The old-fashioned hotel, furnished with original antiques, used to be a schoolhouse and a law office. In 1906 the place became the Commercial Hotel, which became the premier place to stay in town after their main rival burnt to the ground. Now a bed and breakfast inn, the place ...
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Greenwood Cemetery
Muscatine, Iowa
18.2 miles from Joy, IL
The Blue Angel is a statue with a legend. Reports say that back in the 1950s, she was thought of as the benevolent spirit of the cemetery, protecting it from vandals. Sometime since then, tales about her have become more sinister. She is said to have once held a rose; ...
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Stony Hollow Road
Burlington, Iowa
22.1 miles from Joy, IL
Spooky tales told here revolve around a ghost named Lucinda. She is said to have committed suicide by jumping off a cliff when her beloved failed to meet her to run away together. There are many reports of people seeing the ghost. Local urban legend also says that if you ...
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Scott City Hall
Davenport, Iowa
27.5 miles from Joy, IL
An imposing building with a bell tower just begs to have a good ghost story associated with it, and this city hall building is no exception. People claim to see the ghost of a hanged man in the tower at night, allegedly from prisoners who were illegally hanged there. ...
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Hotel Blackhawk
Davenport, Iowa
27.6 miles from Joy, IL
This place has undergone extensive renovation since almost burning down in a fire started by a meth lab operating out of the eighth floor in 2006. Could meth fumes, seeping through the walls account for the reports of ghosts? Cary Grant suffered his fatal stroke on the eighth floor ...
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Masonic Temple
Davenport, Iowa
27.8 miles from Joy, IL
A wide assortment of haunted activity is claimed to occur at this former masonic temple. These phenomena include disembodied voices carrying on a conversation, noises without a recognizable source such as footsteps when there is no one seen, names being called when there is no one present, etc. Objects ...
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Phi Kappa Chi
Davenport, Iowa
27.8 miles from Joy, IL
This fraternity house has a haunt of its own, the apparition of a large man who enters at the front door and walks up the stairs to the front bedroom. He wears an overcoat with the collar turned up. Student lore says that the apparition belongs to a homeless man ...
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Palmer College of Chiropractic
Davenport, Iowa
27.9 miles from Joy, IL
There is a lecture hall, built in the 1800s, that is said to be haunted by ghosts who fly around the ceiling, making the hanging lamps sway. It is said that there are no air vents, fans, or windows of any sort placed in such a way that would cause ...
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Alice French House
Davenport, Iowa
28.1 miles from Joy, IL
This historic mansion was the residence of the notable writer, who spent her years throughout here during the warmer months. Her father, the town mayor, originally owned the house, and it may be his spirit that is often reported here by visitors. Witnesses claim to have seen a distinguished ...
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Ambrose Hall
Davenport, Iowa
28.3 miles from Joy, IL
At this hall in St. Ambrose University, witnesses have reported hearing strange noises and footsteps late at night. They have also seen flickering lights. Some attribute the occurrences to the spirit of an old priest who died many years ago.
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Highway 34 Ghost
Burlington, Iowa
28.9 miles from Joy, IL
The ghost who walks along the highway at night is said to be an escaped slave who died in the 1860s of diptheria and was buried in the basement of a nearby home. He carries a leather bag and walks westward on the north side of the road between 1 ...
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The Drake Bar and Restaurant
Burlington, Iowa
29 miles from Joy, IL
This upscale restaurant is housed in a historic building, and staff and diners report that the women's restroom is haunted by a lady in an old-fashioned dress, who has been known to walk through the walls. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
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Central Avenue Ghost
Bettendorf, Iowa
30.5 miles from Joy, IL
The spirit of a middle-aged washerwoman haunts the area with her wooden washtub. She has been reported since the late 1800s, but some say she upgraded her equipment and sometimes appears with a double-wringer washing machine.
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Burlington National Guard Armory
Burlington, Iowa
31.3 miles from Joy, IL
Horses' hooves and footsteps can be heard late at night, doors open and close by themselves, and one witness reported seeing a reflection of a man with a handlebar mustache in a computer screen, but when he turned around, no one was there.
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Julia Markham - Death Curve
Cambridge, Illinois
34.5 miles from Joy, IL
Locals say that a woman wearing a white flowing gown glides across the field on quiet nights. It is said she is the spirit of Julia Markham, who in 1905 killed her 7 children with an ax and then set her house on fire, killing herself.
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Friendly Cafe
Abingdon, Illinois
37 miles from Joy, IL
The café is rumoured to be haunted. Employees have been touched by unseen hands, and a woman in a long dress appeared to a former owner in the main kitchen. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
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Birthday Bridge - Giblin Bridge
Mount Pleasant, Iowa
39.4 miles from Joy, IL
This spot, near where Kentucky Avenue and US 218 meet, is said to be haunted by a local girl who hanged herself from the bridge after having an affair with a married doctor. The day she died was also her birthday. Legend has it that her ghost can be seen ...
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Riverside Cemetery
Riverside, Iowa
41.4 miles from Joy, IL
It is said that many pairs of glowing eyes, belonging to the many graveyard spirits, can be seen by those who drive past.
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Watt's Antiques and Collectables
Iowa City, Iowa
45.5 miles from Joy, IL
This address, at the corner of Muscatine Ave. and Dearborn Rd., is now an antique store that is rumored rumored to be haunted. People are said to have heard footsteps, voices, seen apparitions, and felt patches of paranormal feelings (ex. cold spots, uncomfortable feelings...) A great place to visit for ...
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Black Angel - Oakland Cemetery
Iowa City, Iowa
46.6 miles from Joy, IL
Strange phenomona occur here, seemingly revolving around two statues: the Black Angel and a young girl set on a pedestal. Folks have reported seeing strange lights and the Angel walking about as a glowing shape. It is said that the little girl statue will pick out one member of a ...
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Slater Hall - University of Iowa
University Heights, Iowa
46.9 miles from Joy, IL
It is reported that on the ninth floor a student once jumped to his death. Students say his ghost roams the halls carrying an ax, and footsteps and screams may be heard at night.
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Currier Hall - University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
46.9 miles from Joy, IL
Students like to tell of a triple suicide that occurred on the 4th floor. The reason? Three roommates fell in love with the same man. It is said that if roommates get into arguments, their ghosts will step in to restore harmony. Rumor also has it that the ghost of ...
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Super 8 Macomb
Macomb, Illinois
51.2 miles from Joy, IL
This Super 8 has been the site of numerous strange happenings. Witnesses say the lights and air conditioning will turn on and off by themselves, doors will open on their own, and mysterious whistling can be heard. Clerks have experienced electrical malfunctions with the phone, such as all the lines ...
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Western Illinois University
Macomb, Illinois
51.8 miles from Joy, IL
Lingering spirits are many at this university! Bayliss Hall, room 1117, is haunted by a former occupant who delivered a baby in secret, threw it down the trash chute, then hung herself in the closet. Cries and moans can be heard in her room. In room 501, a severely depressed ...
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Vishnu Springs
Colchester, Illinois
52.8 miles from Joy, IL
Back in the 1880s, the strange-tasting water at Vishnu Springs, named after a Hindu god, was thought to have healing properties. Holiness Camp Meetings of folks who wanted to partake of the magical waters drew 3,000 people to the area, and a town was formed. Witnesses say the area is ...
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Greencastle Cemetery
North Liberty, Iowa
57.7 miles from Joy, IL
Something eerie may be going on in this old cemetery. Even though no one has been buried here for a long time, reports say the earth looks freshly dug up. Tombstones are said to move about, and some have seen a teenage witch dressed in black with long, dark hair. ...
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Top of the Rock Grille
Fairfield, Iowa
57.9 miles from Joy, IL
The origin of the hauntings at this restaurant is uncertain. What IS certain, is that it's haunted. Witnesses have seen objects moving by themselves in the kitchen and heard whispering and voices in the bathrooms. They have also heard the sound of people walking on the upper floors when no ...
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Hickory Hill Cemetery
Charlotte, Iowa
58 miles from Joy, IL
Legend has it that the ghost of a little girl doesn't want visitors here at all, and she may point at the gates as if telling you to leave. The sound of crying babies also has been heard here.
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Cotton House
Clinton, Iowa
58.5 miles from Joy, IL
This historic gothic mansion belonged to a family of barristers, who moved out after seeing the apparition of a woman in white roaming the hallways and ground after dark. Visitors to the house will not go down to the basement alone, which is believed to be haunted by an ...
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Ghosts of Springfield and Southern Illinois & Other Haunted Tales from the Prairie State
Rachel Brooks Posadas
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Mason House Inn and Caboose Cottage
Keosauqua, Iowa
60.3 miles from Joy, IL
This historic 1846 hotel was also a stop on the Underground Railroad, and several spirits are living here. In Room 5, the ghost of a young boy pulls on people's clothing at night. His apparition has been seen on the landing. In Room 7, a man named Knapp was murdered, ...
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Mason House Inn and Caboose Cottage
Keosauqua, Iowa
60.3 miles from Joy, IL
This historic 1846 hotel was also a stop on the Underground Railroad, and several spirits are living here. In Room 5, the ghost of a young boy pulls on people's clothing at night. His apparition has been seen on the landing. In Room 7, a man named Knapp was murdered, ...
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220 North 4th - Keokuk
Keokuk, Iowa
61.1 miles from Joy, IL
Built by businessman Enos H. Harrison in 1857, this house is reported to be the home of a friendly ghost, according to many witnesses who have seen and heard the spirit.
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Hotel Iowa
Keokuk, Iowa
61.3 miles from Joy, IL
This historic hotel was built in the early twentieth century for workers constructing a nearby lock for the town dam. And according to some reports by guests, they may have never left. Ghostly music, disembodied footsteps, screams and a male apparition in workman clothes have all been reported by staff. ...
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1875 Decker Hotel
Maquoketa, Iowa
61.4 miles from Joy, IL
This hotel was built in (you guessed it) 1875, and is rumoured to be haunted by a prankster ghost who plays with the lights. (Submitted by Callum Swift)
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The Trunkless Tree - Campbell Cemetery
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
63.7 miles from Joy, IL
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 ...
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Mary Wright - Granny Sprague Cemetery
Homestead, Iowa
65.5 miles from Joy, IL
The ghost of Mary Wright, a child of 6 who died in 1854, appears as a pale blue light over her grave, some say. She is said to appear during the final minute of each year.
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Indian Dam - Indian Fish Trap State Preserve
Homestead, Iowa
65.8 miles from Joy, IL
The restless spirits of the Sauk Nation people who build the dam are said to haunt this area during full moons. The sounds of chanting and drums have been heard.
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Springville Cemetery
Springville, Iowa
66 miles from Joy, IL
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.
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Edinburgh Manor
Monticello, Iowa
66.1 miles from Joy, IL
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.
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Oak Hill Cemetery
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
66.8 miles from Joy, IL
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.
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Holy Cross Cemetary
Anamosa, Iowa
67 miles from Joy, IL
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.
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Brucemore
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
67.5 miles from Joy, IL
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.
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Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
67.5 miles from Joy, IL
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 ...
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Coe College
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
67.8 miles from Joy, IL
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 ...
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Machinist's Hall
Conroy, Iowa
68.4 miles from Joy, IL
This meetinghouse was once a school, and it is said to be haunted by flickering lights in the night. Voices have been heard behind the building, as well. Note: Some Internet sites mistakenly call it "Mechanists Hall."
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Stello Performance Hall - Mount Mercy
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
68.6 miles from Joy, IL
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.
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Carlos O'Kelly's
Marion, Iowa
68.8 miles from Joy, IL
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.
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Granger House Museum
Marion, Iowa
68.9 miles from Joy, IL
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.
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Wildwood Apartments
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
69.4 miles from Joy, IL
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.
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