It’s really not all that surprising that a town that’s been around since 1838 may have a few haunted spots. Here is a quick rundown of some said-to-be-haunted Springfield, MO locales:
Landers Theater – Springfield Little Theater: Built in 1909 on Walnut Street, this historic theater is known as one of the most haunted spots in Springfield. Some say that there are over 100 spirits roaming about, including that of a janitor who died in an early twentieth-century fire. The janitor is often seen pacing on the balcony. Rumor has it that a baby was accidentally dropped from an upper balcony, and actors occasionally see the ghost of the baby.
Photo courtesy of Springfield Little Theatre
Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield: Some visitors say they’ve seen apparitions of Confederate soldiers while visiting the battlefield, which was the site of a bloody Civil War battle in 1861, Also, some claim to hear noises like cannons and guns, or what sounds like soldiers walking and talking in the woods.
University Plaza Hotel: The spot at 333 South John Q. Hammons Parkway where University Plaza now stands was once part of a large plantation owned by a decorated Civil War hero. University Plaza employees sometimes see an older man dressed in black roaming the hallways, and believe he may be the owner of the plantation. “The Colonel,” as the man in black is called, is often seen roaming the ballroom and back hallways in the hours between midnight and 4 a.m.
Phelps Grove Park bridge: Just off of National on Bennett, at the third bridge in the park, the apparition of a woman in a white wedding dress is sometimes seen. Called “the bride under the bridge,” she’s thought to be the ghost of a woman who was killed on her wedding day.
Have any local haunts you’d love to investigate or have investigated? Be sure to comment here, send an email, or let me know on Facebook and Twitter!
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