Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night thinking you’ve heard something? Or maybe you’ve seen something move out of the corner of your eye, just to find it vanish when you’ve looked closer? Either way, everyone has strange little experiences every now and then, and this can lead to great stories. I love visiting different states and learning what the local ghost stories are, finding out the ominous histories of a community. For those living in or visiting Iowa, here’s a list of three of my favorite haunted places in the state.
1. Squirrel Cage Jail – Council Bluffs
Built in 1885, this three-story, revolving jailhouse is one of the last of its kind. An experiment in jail design, the revolving cellblock allowed jailers to interact with fewer inmates at a time. The cells were cut into pie-shaped slices and put on a large lazy susan, which would spin when the jailer wanted it to. These types of cells never really caught on, and only three are left in the country. None, however, operate as actual jails.
This particular jail is said to be haunted by a number of its notorious inmates. One of the most infamous was the mass murderer Jake Bird. Legend says that during his trial, he cursed all those involved in his punishment, saying that they would all die before him, and many of them did. Other inmates who have also died mysteriously in the jail are said to haunt it. Odd shadows, yelling, and footsteps have all been heard within its walls.
2. Villisca Axe Murder House – Villisca
The Villisca Axe Murder House was home to one of the most brutal crimes of the early 20th century. Eight people were murdered with an axe in 1912, and although an intense investigation was undertaken to discover the perpetrators of this atrocity, no culprit was ever found.
Following this disaster, there were many tenants who lived in the house, but only for short periods of time—sometimes only a few weeks. Stories about flashing lights, memory loss, and odd sounds have all been reported in the house’s history. In the mid-1990s, it was purchased by amateur historians who renovated the house back to its former glory. It now operates as a museum and hotel, with many of its visitors citing odd events occurring during their stays, with some finding themselves in rooms that they don’t remember entering. It may be one of the most haunted places in Iowa.
3. Mason House Inn – Keosauqua
Tucked in among the impossibly quaint Villages of Van Buren, you’ll find the Mason House Inn. This historic hotel was built in 1846, and originally served as a rest stop for steamboat passengers coming down the Des Moines River to visit Keosauqua. It has worn many hats since then, including those of a hospital and even a stop along the Underground Railroad…