These two destinations are the most spooky in Kansas, two national lists say
The Kansas City area is home to some of the spookiest spots in the United States, according to a couple of national lists. But they’re not horror-themed attractions or experiences.
One of them you can spend the night in, and the other has been referred to as a “gateway to hell” according to local legends and was once visited by pop superstar Ariana Grande.
The Sallie House in Atchison, Kansas, an hour northwest of Kansas City, and the Stull cemetery in Stull, Kansas, around an hour west of Kansas City, were each named the most haunted place in Kansas by two outlets. The Sallie House was named the most haunted by Forbes and the Stull cemetery received the honor from travel website Thrillist.
The Sallie House
The Sallie House was built in the early 1900s. It later became the home of an Atchison physician and the site of one patient’s infamous death.
A mother brought in her 6-year-old daughter, Sallie, who had collapsed from severe abdominal pain. The doctor diagnosed her with appendicitis and immediately cut Sallie open before the anesthesia took full effect, believing the appendix would soon burst, the city’s tourism website said.
“Sallie’s screams suddenly stopped and she grew pale and limp,” the tourism website said. “She died on the operating table – her last memories of a man whom she believed was torturing her.”
Visitors report hearing the cries of Sallie to this day, and Forbes writer Geraldine Orentas says the spirit of Sallie seems to be opposed to men who enter the house.
Visit Atchison says these events that have been witnessed by visitors:
You can book an hour-long self-guided tour for $20 or an overnight stay for a total of $250 for two people on the city’s tourism website.
Stull Cemetery
The cemetery in Stull is most known for a portal to hell that the devil allegedly comes through twice a year, travel editor Brock Wilbur said in a review. While the rumors sound outlandish, he said the ruins of a nearby church and architecture have people half-believing that it’s true.
“No satanic sightings have been confirmed, and anyone caught trespassing in the private cemetery can face a $1,000 fine,” Wilbur said. “But that only makes it a more appealing dare for the jumpy teens and courageous stoners looking to make the trip. Twice, in my case.”
Grande told Complex in 2013 that during her visit to the cemetery, she felt a sick, overwhelming feeling of negativity on the car ride. She also smelled sulfur, which she said is the sign of a demon.
“I was like, ‘This is scary, let’s leave.’ I rolled down the window before we left and said, ‘We apologize. We didn’t mean to disrupt your peace,’” Grande said. “Then I took a picture and there are three super distinct faces in the picture — they’re faces of textbook demons.”
The cemetery was also the inspiration for CW’s hit television series Supernatural, which ran for 15 seasons.
This story was originally published October 25, 2024 at 10:07 AM.
