15 Haunted Places in South Dakota That Are Seriously Scary
With its rolling prairies, historic ghost towns, and old buildings, South Dakota has more than a few spooky stories to tell. It may be known for Mount Rushmore, but the spooky legends and eerie places, not as well known, can give you goosebumps. For generations, locals have been swapping ghost stories, and for those who dare to step foot in these places, you may be in for quite a fright.
South Dakota has its fair share of spooky encounters, whether you’re a seasoned ghost hunter or someone looking for a thrill. Grab a flashlight and a friend and check out a few of the eeriest, most haunted places you’ll find in South Dakota.
Homestake Opera House
This opera house in Lead, where there was a history of performances, is said to be a favorite haunt of its past entertainers. A fire in the 1980s splintered much of the theater, leaving parts in ruin and making it all the more eerie. Staff and night visitors have reportedly heard whispered voices, footsteps, and even laughter in the halls at night. Some say the spirits are performers that never left, others believe it’s just the building’s tragic past repeating itself through time.
The Goss Opera House
The Goss Opera House in Watertown has had several reports of ghosts and paranormal activity. It’s said that the spirit of the building’s original owner still lingers, along with a couple of other spirits. People have shared reports of footsteps, strange whispers, and music playing without players. It’s a good place for ghost hunters to get a scare because of its eerie energy.
The Sanitarium Hill
Deadwood’s former tuberculosis hospital, Sanitarium Hill, lies on the outskirts of town. Tales that the grounds are haunted stem from the beliefs that those who didn’t survive the disease are unable to rest in peace. Ghostly shadows, terrible sounds, and a suffocating atmosphere only get worse the closer you get to the hill. It’s a pretty unsettling spot, locals avoid it after dark.
The Black Hills Cemetery
The Black Hills are full of history. With so many graves of miners, settlers, and outlaws, the cemetery is often called spooky for its eerie stillness. Ghost sightings, strange mist, and cold spots are common and the heavy atmosphere at the cemetery makes it worse according to visitors. Some believe that the spirits of the people buried here still wander the Black Hills.
Sica Hollow State Park
Sica Hollow, meaning ‘Evil Hollow’, is named for the Native American sacred site it surrounds Native tribes believed the blood-red springs in the park to be sacred and the park has long been rumored to be haunted by restless spirits. People claim to hear mysterious drumming sounds, whispering winds, and shadowy figures in the trees. If you consider South Dakota’s spookiest natural sites, you can’t deny Sica Hollow is one of them.
Orpheum Theatre
They say more than memories of past performances live in this historic theater in Sioux Falls. People have reportedly seen an apparition of a man in a top hat looking from the balcony or backstage. Some say they have seen a dead former actor or patron come to see the performance from the seats.
Mount Moriah Cemetery
Many of the graves of famous people such as Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are on a high hill in Deadwood. But the famous residents aren’t the only thing that makes this cemetery so eerie. They say they’ve seen ghostly figures among the headstones and heard disembodied voices, especially around Wild Bill’s grave. Many report that if you visit you’ll feel a strange energy, because the Old West spirits are still around.
The Room 812 in Alex Johnson Hotel
The reputation of this Rapid City hotel for paranormal activity is long-standing. They say a bride once died under mysterious circumstances in Room 812. Flickering lights, sudden drops in temperature, and strange noises seemingly made in empty rooms are reported by guests. Room 812 has become such a popular spot for ghost hunters that it’s one of the most famous haunted spots in the state.
Badlands National Park
Although the Badlands might be one of the most beautiful places in South Dakota, they are also filled with ghostly tales. Visitors have said they have seen phantom lights, ghostly figures, and even heard whispers in the wind. The rugged landscape of this hauntingly beautiful park is also the setting for Native American legends which feature roaming spirits.
The Bullock Hotel
The Bullock Hotel is one of the most infamous haunted sites in the state. The hotel is rumored to still host Bullock’s spirit, built by Seth Bullock, Deadwood’s first sheriff. Some guests have reported a tall man in a dark suit. Others have heard footsteps in the hallways, which were supposed to be empty. They say that even in his grave, Bullock’s presence remains, keeping an eye on his property.
Spook Road
It’s hard not to get a chill while driving through this eerie stretch near Brandon with a name like Spook Road. Rumored to play tricks on your mind as you pass through, this winding road is made up of twisted trees. Strange lights, unexplained fog, and a feeling of being watched are just some of the things drivers report. Some even say that if you drive down this road enough times, the number of bridges you cross changes, and there is no answer to that mystery.
Keystone Cemetery
In the daytime, Keystone Cemetery located a short distance from Mount Rushmore has a spooky feeling. Locals say that after dark spirits wander the graveyard, heads stones flickering with light and odd echoing voices in the air. Some have even reported seeing full apparitions, dressed in clothing from centuries ago, walking the grounds.
The Hotel Alex Johnson, Eighth Floor
At the Hotel Alex Johnson, especially on the eighth floor of the Historic Hotel, there have been strange happenings that visitors have observed which include doors closing by themselves, faint cries, and laughter down the hall. This floor is full of more than a few spooky stories especially if you like a good scare.
The Fairmont Hotel
The Fairmont Hotel was rumored to be a former Deadwood brothel haunted by the ghosts of women who worked there. Stories of apparitions and ghost sightings have circulated. Ghostly sounds and objects moving of their own accord have painted an uneasy reputation for the place. Guests and staff often feel this presence which is so intense on the upper floors.
Yankton State Hospital
One of the most haunted buildings in the state was built in the late 1800s and is now an abandoned mental hospital. The rumbling structure and awful history of abused patients might explain the various reports of unexplained noises and shadowy figures in hallways as though restless souls remain trapped there. It’s a chilling reminder of South Dakota’s darker history.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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