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From ancient myths to modern online debates and late-night chats, the idea of Hell and its potential entry points has fascinated humanity for centuries. Below are 10 alleged gateways or portals to Hell, though they are likely far from it. Still, would you dare to step through?
10. Stull Cemetery, Stull, Kansas
Stull, Kansas—particularly its cemetery—has become infamous for tales of satanic rituals, occult practices, and paranormal occurrences. According to legend, the Devil himself is said to appear here, and the cemetery is believed to be one of the entrances to Hell.
For decades, some residents have treated these stories as truth rather than folklore. The tales gained traction in the 1970s, with the modern legends reportedly originating from a fraternity prank.
However, unusual occurrences have been reported in Stull. Buildings have inexplicably caught fire without any clear reason. Eerie voices, particularly that of an elderly woman, have been heard and sometimes captured on tape recorders.
Legends also persist, especially among the youth who drank there, claiming that bottles thrown against the old church wouldn’t shatter. After the church was demolished due to concerns about its unstable walls endangering thrill-seekers, a tall fence was built around the cemetery.
The small town gained further fame when Slasher Films released the horror movie Nothing Left To Fear in 2013. The film drew inspiration from the legends surrounding Stull.
9. Satan’s Hollow, Blue Ash, Ohio
In the woods of Blue Ash, Ohio, lies a rumored gateway to Hell, locally referred to as Satan’s Hollow. Rick Fenbers, a local blogger, shared his account with wcpo.com:
It’s one of the most famous yet rarely witnessed urban legends in the area. A group of Satanists allegedly gathered there in an altar-like room to perform their rituals. [ . . . ] They must have been highly skilled, as the legend suggests they succeeded in opening a gateway to Hell.
Fenbers claims that a “shadow man” stands guard at the entrance to the portal. “He’s like a hall monitor from Hell, stationed here by Satan to protect these tunnels,” Fenbers explains on his blog. “The Shadow Man is described as human-like but entirely blacked out, which is how he got his name.”
Rumors say that screams echo from the tunnel, and anyone who ventures inside is overwhelmed by an intense sense of malevolence.
In 2012, paranormal filmmaker David Scott documented his exploration of Satan’s Hollow. However, his investigation was abruptly halted due to “overwhelming negative energy.”
Scott has handled more than 150 cases, but he declared that “this is one of the most terrifying places I’ve ever investigated!”
8. Seven Gates of Hell, Hellam, Pennsylvania
Hellam, Pennsylvania, is rumored to host “The Seven Gates of Hell,” situated in a forested area near Trout Run Road. Multiple legends explain the origins of this eerie gateway.
One tale suggests that an insane asylum once occupied the site. It allegedly burned down, freeing the inmates, but the seven gates surrounding the asylum trapped them in a fiery enclosure, leading to their deaths.
No official records confirm the existence of an asylum on the property, making the story unverifiable and likely fictional.
Another legend involves a peculiar doctor who installed a massive gate at the entrance to his secluded property. Stories emerged about additional gates along the road, supposedly leading to Hell. In truth, the doctor built the gates to deter trespassers.
Other tales connect the town’s name to Hell. However, “Hellam” is derived from “Hallamshire,” a district in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, where many of the area’s early settlers came from.
While the stories about the gates’ origins vary, they all agree on these details: Seven gates exist in Hellam’s woods, only one of which is visible during the day. Passing through all seven is said to transport you directly to Hell.
7. The Ancient City of Hierapolis, Pamukkale, Turkey
In 2013, archaeologists uncovered a temple entrance in Hierapolis (modern-day Pamukkale) in southwestern Turkey that was emitting deadly gases. Birds flying too close to the temple were observed dropping dead mid-air.
The ruins’ layout aligns with ancient descriptions. Temple columns bear inscriptions honoring the “gods of the underworld.” Mythologically known as Pluto’s Gate, this site served as an entrance to the underworld—a portal to Hell.
In the final years BC, the ancient Greek geographer Strabo described the entrance as follows:
It’s an opening large enough for a person to enter, but it descends to a considerable depth. The area is filled with a thick, dark vapor, making it nearly impossible to see the bottom. [ . . . ] Any animals that enter . . . perish instantly. Even bulls, when led inside, collapse and are removed lifeless. We personally tossed sparrows in, and they dropped dead immediately.
6. Black Prince Distillery, Clifton, New Jersey
The drainage system behind the Black Prince Distillery in Clifton, New Jersey, appears ordinary at first glance—until you venture inside. Satanic graffiti and murals cover the walls, and the tunnels stretch hundreds of feet underground.
The drains are structured in multiple layers, reminiscent of the circles of Hell. They also contain skeletal remains and decaying corpses, allegedly from satanic rituals.
Legends suggest that deep within the labyrinthine drainage system lies a final chamber, sealed by a pair of massive axes. Only those possessing special “powers” can move these barriers. Inside, a glowing human skull awaits, signaling the imminent presence of the Devil himself.
More grounded, yet equally grim, accounts describe adventurers and explorers who have become hopelessly lost in the extensive tunnels, ultimately drowning. Additionally, the drains are said to have served as a gathering spot for dark groups, including the local KKK and Devil worshipers.
5. Demon House, Gary, Indiana
In 2014, Zak Bagans, host of Ghost Adventures, bought a house in Indiana rumored to be a hotspot for paranormal activity and believed to be a gateway to Hell.
The property was infamous for alleged demonic possession. In 2012, it gained national attention when a mother and her two children reported terrifying experiences, including the 12-year-old daughter levitating above her bed and the nine-year-old son walking on the ceiling.
Official reports from Indiana’s Child Protective Services partially support the family’s claims. Overwhelmed by the relentless and sinister occurrences, the family abandoned the property. Bagans stepped in, offering to buy the house so he could live there and document the phenomena.
In February 2016, Bagans demolished the house to “seal the portal.” He recounted an encounter with dark energy and insisted that the demons within the house were genuine.
The property was bulldozed, reducing the house to rubble. Unsatisfied with this measure, Bagans collected the debris and stored it in a secure facility, declaring that the house must never be occupied again.
4. St. Patrick’s Purgatory, Lough Derg, Ireland
St. Patrick’s Purgatory, a monastery on Station Island (also known as Lough Derg), is said to sit atop a gateway to Hell, located in the center of a small Irish lake.
As the legend goes, Jesus revealed a cave on the island to St. Patrick, where he could witness visions of the torments inflicted in the shadowy depths of Hell. Jesus explained that this would enable St. Patrick to demonstrate the reality of a Christian afterlife to his uncertain followers.
The monastery was constructed in the 15th century, though there’s no concrete evidence that St. Patrick ever visited the island. It’s more probable that his name became linked to the site later.
Access to the sacred island is typically restricted, deterring those drawn to Devil worship from seeking the alleged gateway. However, once a year, a pilgrimage for devoted Christians takes place, involving a three-day journey of reflection performed barefoot. The Lough Derg website describes the pilgrimage as “the most challenging in Europe, possibly in the entire Christian world.”
3. Houska Castle, Czech Republic
Houska Castle, located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Prague in the Czech Republic, is a Gothic structure built between 1253 and 1278 during Ottokar II of Bohemia’s reign. It’s said to be constructed over a vast, bottomless pit—a gateway to Hell.
Local folklore claims that Houska Castle was constructed to contain the evil forces within its walls. From the exterior, the castle seems to have numerous windows, but a closer look reveals that most are merely decorative, with solid walls behind the glass panes.
Inside Houska Castle, a chapel stands directly above the supposed gateway to Hell, likely to seal it shut. During the castle’s construction, condemned prisoners were offered a chance at freedom in exchange for being lowered into the pit and describing what they encountered.
As the story goes, the first man lowered into the hole screamed in terror almost instantly. When he was brought back up, his hair had turned white, and he looked as though he had aged three decades.
When the Nazis occupied the castle as a base, rumors spread that they were attempting to reopen the portal. In 2009, the TV show Ghost Hunters International explored Houska Castle and concluded that it was, at the very least, haunted.
2. Cape Matapan Caves, Greece
The Cape Matapan caves are situated at the southernmost point of Greece on the Mani Peninsula. Like the Acheron River, this site played a significant role in Greek mythology, serving as a “backdoor” to the underworld for those seeking to bypass Charon, the ferryman.
In Book X of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Orpheus seeks to reunite with his recently deceased wife. He enters the underworld through the gate of Taenarus, located within the Cape Matapan caves.
Orpheus is granted permission to bring his wife back to the living world under one condition: he must not look at her during their journey. Tragically, Orpheus breaks his promise, and as his eyes meet hers, she disappears forever.
A temple honoring the Greek god Poseidon still stands above the caves today. In Greek mythology, Poseidon was the brother of Hades, ruler of the underworld.
1. Acheron River, Greece
The Acheron River, located in the Epirus region of northwest Greece, holds a significant place in Greek mythology as a key route to the underworld.
In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus is guided by Circe to locate the entrance to the underworld at the confluence of the Acheron, Pyriphlegethon, and Styx rivers.
Virgil’s The Aeneid also references the Acheron, describing it as the source of the Styx and Cocytus rivers. Charon, the ferryman, was believed to use the Acheron to carry the souls of the dead to their final resting place.
In Dante’s Inferno, the Acheron River serves as the eternal dwelling for the souls of the “uncommitted.” These individuals, neither accepted into Heaven nor condemned to Hell, endure perpetual torment as retribution for their inability to make decisive choices.
