Lookin’ for a little scare during the month of October? Be sure to check out the top 5 Haunted Houses and top 5 haunted places in Iowa, if you can handle it, that is!
Top 5 Haunted Houses in Iowa
1. D and D Ranch Haunted Hike in Clear Lake, IA
Located at 2532 S. Shore Dr
Clear Lake, IA 50028
Hours: October 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, 31 and November 1 from 7:00pm – 11:00pm
The hike begins in the Halloween museum featuring classic characters throughout the years. Once you finish there, a haunted, wild west town awaits the brave. This year, groups will be able to guide themselves through the haunted town and into the ranch’s eight acres of pasture where unexpected terrors await. The hike lasts about twenty minutes, leaving people screaming for more!
2. Davenport Jaycees Haunted House in Davenport, IA
Located at 319 Western Ave
Davenport, IA 52801
Hours: All Fridays and Saturdays of October from 7:00pm to midnight
This is the most terrifying haunted house in the Quad Cities with thrills, chills, and blood spills. This will be your final resting place for the scariest haunted house around.
3. Harris Haven Funeral Home in Evansdale, IA
Located at 3767 Lafayette Rd
Evansdale, IA 50707
The most famous apparition associated with the old funeral home is that of a caretaker, that still watches over the old place. Some say his lantern can still be seen lighting the path through the cemetery to the old house. So if you find yourself near the sleepy little town of Evansdale, stop by Harris Haven Funeral Home and see what you can’t see.
4. Nightmare on 3rd Street in Ottumwa, IA
Located at 105 E 3rd St
Ottumwa, IA 52501
Hours: October 18, 19, 25 and 26 from 6:00pm to midnight
We know that our visitors are not disappointed when they visit us, and each year our customers have a scary good time! We urge everyone to come see the haunted house and remember, the money made at this haunt goes to a great cause!
5. Circle of Ash Haunted House & Attraction in Cedar Rapids, IA
Located at 412 7th Ave SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Learn more about this spooky haunted house on their website: http://www.circleofash.com/site/
Top 5 Haunted Places in Iowa
1. Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton, IA
Located at 10th Ave and 10th St.
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.
2. Edinburg Manor in Scotch Grove, IA
Located at 13241 E23 County Home Road
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.
3. Thompson Hall Dormitory in Iowa Falls, IA
Located near 1300 Cedar St.
The dorm at Ellsworth Community College and Union Cemetery across the street are both said to be haunted. The spirit of town benefactor Mr. Ellsworth himself has been seen, and footsteps and voices have been heard in the dorm’s basement.
4. Old Red Horse Armory in Des Moines, IA
Located at 1915 Prospect Rd.
This old cavalry armory is now the housing for city school buses. There have been reports that members of the National Guard, when they occupied the building, heard ghostly sounds from long ago: clopping of horses’ hooves and jingling of harnesses. An apparition of an older man in cavalry garb was also seen in the back hall.
5. Mary Frances Hall in Dubuque, IA
Located at Clarke College at 1554 Clarke Dr.
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 reports, the fourth floor, used for storage, is haunted, and there is a ghostly nun who once hanged herself who bleeds on the floor. Students also have reported an etching on the window that reads “Help Me.” It is said that the paranormal activity decreases proportionately as more students occupy the dorm.
