SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — As October begins, the colors of leaves turn, and Halloween approaches, Utah’s haunted history creeps into the spotlight. From ghostly apparitions to unexplained phenomena, these five iconic locations across the state have earned their reputations as some of the most haunted places in Utah.
1. Rio Grande Depot – The Purple Lady’s Domain
Built in 1910, the Rio Grande Depot at 300 S Rio Grande Street in downtown Salt Lake City is more than just a hub for state history offices and the Utah History Research Center—it’s home to one of Utah’s most famous ghosts: the Purple Lady. Visitors and staff have reported sightings of a woman in a purple dress wandering the halls, believed to be mourning a lost love. Legend has it a young woman in the early 1900s was in an argument at the train depot. Allegedly, her engagement ring was tossed to the tracks and in a desperate effort to retrieve it, was instantly killed by an oncoming train. Guests have since seen a beautiful but sad woman dressed in dark purple make an appearance in the bathroom and other locations along the depot. Security guards have also reported hearing footsteps on the mezzanine but have never been able to find anyone. The building also houses the Rio Gallery and the Rio Grande Café, making it a local cultural cornerstone with a slight paranormal charm.
2. Capitol Theatre – The Ghost of Richard Duffin…