Haunted Places in Oelwein, Iowa



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    Buchanan County Court House

    Independence, Iowa

    14.1 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Franklin Hotel

    Strawberry Point, Iowa

    19.3 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    West Union Hardee's

    West Union, Iowa

    20.6 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Stagecoach Inn Museum

    Manchester, Iowa

    22.7 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Mossy Glen Hollow

    Strawberry Point, Iowa

    25 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Camp Ingawanis

    Waverly, Iowa

    25.5 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Walmart - Flammang Drive

    Waterloo, Iowa

    25.9 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Pettlon Family House

    Manchester, Iowa

    27 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Lover's Leap

    Elkader, Iowa

    28.8 miles from Oelwein, 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, ...


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    Bartlett Hall - University of Northern Iowa

    Cedar Falls, Iowa

    29.8 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Lawther Hall - University of Northern Iowa

    Cedar Falls, Iowa

    29.9 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Strayer-Wood Theatre

    Cedar Falls, Iowa

    30.1 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Satan's Hollow Bridge

    Shell Rock, Iowa

    31.8 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Evergreen Cemetery

    Vinton, Iowa

    35.7 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Pleasant Ridge Cemetery

    Palo, Iowa

    37.8 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Conover Road Ghost Family

    Ridgeway, Iowa

    37.9 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Shellsburg Cemetery

    Shellsburg, Iowa

    39.7 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Lennox College

    Hopkinton, Iowa

    41 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Parkers Grove Cemetery

    Shellsburg, Iowa

    42.7 miles from Oelwein, IA

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


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    Porter House Museum

    Decorah, Iowa

    43.9 miles from Oelwein, 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!


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    Larsen Hall - Luther College

    Decorah, Iowa

    44.4 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Regents Center - Luther College

    Decorah, Iowa

    44.6 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Matsell Bridge - Matt's Bridge

    Central City, Iowa

    46.2 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Effigy Mounds

    Harpers Ferry, Iowa

    46.7 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Children of Iron Hill

    Charles City, Iowa

    46.8 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Granger House Museum

    Marion, Iowa

    46.9 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Wildwood Apartments

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    47 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Carlos O'Kelly's

    Marion, Iowa

    47.2 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Riverside Cemetery

    Charles City, Iowa

    48.1 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Stello Performance Hall - Mount Mercy

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    48.1 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Brucemore

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    49.1 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Springville Cemetery‎

    Springville, Iowa

    49.1 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Coe College

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    49.1 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    49.6 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Holy Cross Cemetary

    Anamosa, Iowa

    49.8 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Oak Hill Cemetery

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    50.1 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    The Trunkless Tree - Campbell Cemetery

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa

    51.9 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Edinburgh Manor

    Monticello, Iowa

    54.5 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Meskwaki Bingo Casino and Hotel

    Tama, Iowa

    60.6 miles from Oelwein, IA

    Screams and arguing voices have been heard when no one is around. (Submitted by Callum Swift)


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    Hazel Green Cemetery

    Ackley, Iowa

    61.4 miles from Oelwein, IA

    The gazebo in this old cemetery seems to be the central spot for the spiritual activity. In it, visitors have reported seeing an elderly woman's ghost sitting in a rocking chair, holding a baby. It is said that those who see her feel sadness, rather than fear. Reports say that ...


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    Indian Dam - Indian Fish Trap State Preserve

    Homestead, Iowa

    62.1 miles from Oelwein, IA

    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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    Swing Inn

    Ferryville, Wisconsin

    62.2 miles from Oelwein, 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.


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    Mary Wright - Granny Sprague Cemetery

    Homestead, Iowa

    62.7 miles from Oelwein, IA

    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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    Mary Frances Hall - Clarke College

    Dubuque, Iowa

    63.2 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Greencastle Cemetery

    North Liberty, Iowa

    63.4 miles from Oelwein, IA

    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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    Fischer Building

    Dubuque, Iowa

    64.5 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Redstone Inn and Suites

    Dubuque, Iowa

    64.5 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Grand Opera House

    Dubuque, Iowa

    64.5 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Hotel Julien

    Dubuque, Iowa

    64.7 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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    Matthias Ham House

    Dubuque, Iowa

    65 miles from Oelwein, 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 ...


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