Most Haunted Places in South Dakota

Fairmont Hotel

Deadwood, South Dakota

The building has a room that was the scene of a violent murder, and people have reported having objects thrown at them and encountering an evil presence. Staff and guests ghostly activity of the third floor, and many have seen the restless apparition of Maggie Broadcaster pacing an upstairs...

The Bullock Hotel

Deadwood, South Dakota

Folks say original owner Seth Bullock, who passed away in 1919, still remains in his hotel. Apparitions and orbs have been seen and an eerie presence has been felt, although witnesses say the ghost is not harmful. Ghost tours are held here...

Wild Bill's Saloon and Steakhouse

Deadwood, South Dakota

Patrons and staff have reported an arcade machine in this saloon that plays by itself for hours when there is no one around and when the building has closed for the night. Strange flashing lights have been seen by people from outside in the street, and it is rumoured that outlaw Bill Hickock...

Sports Rock Pizza - Hooky Jacks

Rapid City, South Dakota

Reported to be the oldest building in town, the local hangout housed in an 1800s structure is said to be haunted by John “Hooky Jack” Leary, a former local policeman and night watchman who once lived in the building until he died in a 1928 car accident. His apparition has been seen looking out...

Orpheum Theatre Center

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

At the 1913 Orpheum Theater, a deceased actor's ghost is said to linger. Nicknamed Larry, the unknown and angry ghost was first noticed by living actors around 1960. Larry was known to blow fuses and drop sandbags onto living actors. And in 1972, a technical director heard a loud noise behind him,...

Saloon #10

Deadwood, South Dakota

Ghostly phenomena reported here includes ghostly voices and a piano that plays by itself. (Submitted by Callum...

Shupic Park - City Park

Eagle Butte, South Dakota

A spooky local legend says that if you walk past the park late at night, you might hear the moaning and screams of a ghostly woman, one who was found frozen to death behind the nearby baseball field fence. Some folks claim to have seen her apparition walking in the...

Old Minnehaha Courthouse Museum

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

This historic courthouse is now the county museum, and is believed to be haunted by many different spirits. Staff and visitors claim to have heard someone falling down the stairs, and have heard disembodied footsteps walking between various rooms. Various visitors have also seen an elderly man...

Northern State University

Aberdeen, South Dakota

Two buildings at the university are rumored to be haunted. The Jerde Hall dormitory is home to a ghostly little girl who has been seen and heard in rooms and hallways. The Johnson Fine Arts Center has a ghost who whistles a tune from the empty men's restroom and occasionally jingles keys or tinkers...

Sioux San Hospital

Rapid City, South Dakota

It began in 1898 as a boarding school for Native Americans, but was turned into a sanitarium in 1933. In 1939 it was converted to a hospital for Native Americans with TB; then in the 1960s, it closed and stayed empty for a time. Currently it is a hospital. Reports say locals are trying to prevent...

Elks Theatre

Rapid City, South Dakota

Although this historic theatre has been remodeled on several occasions since its opening in the early twentieth century, patrons and staff say the resident ghost has never left. Known fondly as 'Jimmy', staff claim the spirit is benevolent, and is occasionally seen seated in the main theatre after...

Franklin Hotel

Deadwood, South Dakota

Guests have reported hearing footsteps following them around the historic hotel. A housekeeper quit after seeing a man in period clothing watching her while she was cleaning. People walking past have reported the sensation of being watched. (Submitted by Callum...

Herrick Hotel

Gary, South Dakota

Patrons have heard the ghostly laughter of a child who lived at the historic hotel when it was a blind school. Others have reported hearing footsteps on the upper floor of the building when no one is around. (Submitted by Callum...

Adams House

Deadwood, South Dakota

The 1893 Queen Anne Victorian Adams Mansion was built by entrepreneur Harris Franklin. Former owner W.E. Adams, who died of a stroke here, is said to have never left. When his wife Mary heard his spirit, out of respect for his privacy, she closed up the house and moved out, leaving everything as it...

Pettigrew House Museum

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

This historic mansion was built in 1889, and those on guided tours of the building may get more than they bargained for. The building is rumoured to be haunted by the wife of a former attorney who owned the building. Staff claim to have seen her inspecting the building, and occasionally smell her...

Keystone Cemetery

Keystone, South Dakota

Many workers who died during the construction of Mt. Rushmore are buried in this cemetery that overlooks the Mount itself. It is said that visitors who have taken video of this graveyard have caught images of ghostly figures and...

Mount Rushmore Brewing Company - Hill City Harley Davidson

Hill City, South Dakota

Formerly a restaurant and now a Harley-Davidson store, this building is no stranger to the spooky: It was once a funeral home and crematory. Reports say the crematory is still visible in the basement, and employees say objects move and strange noises are heard here. When the place housed pool...

Fort Sisseton State Park

Eden, South Dakota

Fort Sisseton State Park is said to be haunted. Witnesses here have described strange lights and a feeling of...

Hotel Alex Johnson

Rapid City, South Dakota

Site of a "white lady" haunting, allegedly the ghost of a young woman who jumped or was thrown from the window of room 812. She is often seen wandering the halls in a white gown, and the room associated with her has numerous report of haunted activity, including the window opening of its own...

IOOF Cemetery

Gregory, South Dakota

Passersby have become concerned upon seeing a white-haired man wandering alone through the cemetery as if lost, or looking for something. When they stop to see if they can help him, he simply...

Dakota Theatre

Yankton, South Dakota

This historic theatre opened in 1902,changed owners and names on several occasions. Theatre patrons and cast have reported sighting a spectral face floating through the seating area after closing hours, as well as feeling cold spots, hearing screams and a bloodstains which appears during certain...

715 South Phillips Avenue

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

This historic apartment block is believed to be haunted by the apparition of a barefooted man, who has been seen wandering through the corridors. Other paranormal activity reported includes disembodied footsteps, cold spots, ghostly voices and bizarre knocking noises. (Submitted by Callum...

Black Hills Playhouse

Custer, South Dakota

This historic building was once Camp Lodge, Depression-era housing for unemployed men who were to work on the then-new national parks system. One of the workmen's daughters is said to haunt the playhouse's costume room. The ghost likes to lay out certain costumes in the night, which are found by...

Daneville Inn

Viborg, South Dakota

There are reports at this historic building of people seeing a strange glowing apparition floating through the main bar area when the building has closed down for the night. Strange noises and disembodied footsteps have also been heard when there is no one around. It is unclear whether the inn is...

Alpine Inn

Hill City, South Dakota

The second floor of this inn is said to be haunted. Witnesses have reported that the lights have gone out unexpectedly, and they have also heard disembodied footsteps and...

Villa Theresa Guest House

Hot Springs, South Dakota

Not currently open, Villa Theresa Guest House has also been A Dakota Dream B&B and The Total House. Some reports say the place is for sale at $189,000. It is said to be haunted by many spirits, and several apparitions have been seen....

Little Oak Road

McLaughlin, South Dakota

Locals tell of a spooky figure of a 6-foot-tall man who dances and jumps in the roadway. It looks at passersby with red glowing eyes, then disappears. This and other ghosts that appear on this stretch are said to be a result of the road being built overtop a former...

South Dakota State University - Doner Auditorium

Brookings, South Dakota

The ghost who haunts Doner Auditorium is believed to be a former janitor who fell to his death in 1919 from an alcove that housed an organ. After that, the organ played randomly on its own until it was dismantled. The ghost still walks, though, tinkering with the electricity and playing pranks with...

1880 Train

Hill City, South Dakota

The 1880 train was the first locomotive steam engine brought into the region by a bull team. Employees in the Highliner Eatery, located in an actual train car, say they have seen the apparition of a man in a brown...

Washington Pavilion

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Locals tell of a construction worker who died after falling into an elevator shaft. Witnesses have described the unexplained sound of ghostly footsteps and an eerie feeling of being...

Mount Marty College

Yankton, South Dakota

Ghosts said to haunted this campus include construction workers who fiddle with the electricity, showers and water fountains; a nun; a music teacher; and numerous other apparitions. Students say Whitby Hall was so haunted that is was closed down, and it contains a ghost of a man in gray polyester...

Jackpot Bingo Hall - Bear Soldier Bingo

McLaughlin, South Dakota

A former employee reported hearing the ghostly sound of a baby crying and furniture moving on its own. Rumor has it that the hall was built on top of a former...

Black Hills State University

Spearfish, South Dakota

Students say the all-male Wenonah Cook dorm it is haunted by the ghost of a woman. They say her screams can sometimes be heard, and along with them may come the smell of decaying...

Mount Moriah Cemetery

Deadwood, South Dakota

Several popular Wild West characters have been buried here, including Wild Bill Hickock, Calamity Jane, Potato Creek Johnny and Seth Bullock. Folks say you can't set foot on these grounds without an eerie feeling that their ghostly eyes are upon...

Town of McLaughlin

McLaughlin, South Dakota

Yes, you read it right: The entire town of McLaughlin is haunted, locals say. Although many buildings in the town are said to be haunted, perhaps the most popular ghost story is that of the man who was in a car accident several decades ago. He lost his head, literally--it was found in a cow-pasture...

Sanford's

Rapid City, South Dakota

This diner is believed to be haunted by several spirits, although the origin of the haunting is as of yet unknown. Staff have reported plates flying off shelves, disembodied footsteps and the apparition of a man in a green jacket walking up and down the corridor. (Submitted by Callum...

Libby's Steakhouse

Springfield, South Dakota

Some say the basement of Libby’s Steakhouse, formerly Hoch Drugstore, was haunted by the ghost of a girl, whose apparition was glimpsed once. Witnesses say bowls will fall over if the basement door is left open, and folks have noticed an uneasy feeling on the basement stairs. Rumor has it that...

Isabel Post Office

Isabel, South Dakota

Stories have been told of ghostly reflections in the post office windows and of folks being locked inside the post office at night by prankish...