Buzz
Nature's beauty is unparalleled. Picture yourself lounging on a bright, sunny day, enjoying a cool drink, and immersing yourself in a good book while nestled in the heart of a serene park.
Yet, not all parks share the same fate. Some were destined for a shadowy legacy from the very day they were established.
10. Griffith ParkLos Angeles, California
Griffith Park is a cornerstone of Los Angeles, home to a globally recognized observatory, a celebrated zoo, and the iconic “Hollywood” sign. Yet, beneath its charm lies a troubled past and a bustling supernatural scene. Reports of countless spirits roaming Griffith Park make it a hotspot for paranormal activity.
The most notable spirit is that of Don Antonio Feliz, the land's original proprietor. His niece, Dona Petranilla, was left destitute after being swindled out of her inheritance following her uncle's passing. Legend has it that she cursed the land, and this curse is said to have impacted every subsequent owner in various ways.
Over the years, both Feliz and Petranilla's ghosts have been sighted multiple times. In one particularly famous incident, Don Antonio's apparition was seen chasing a group of businessmen on horseback during a fiesta held in the park.
Other spectral figures have also been reported in the park, including Griffith J. Griffith himself, a wandering young girl believed to have been abandoned by her parents, a phantom often seen near the merry-go-round, and Peg Entwistle, a failed actress who tragically ended her life by leaping from the Hollywood sign in 1932.
Travel Town and the observatory within the park have experienced so many ghostly encounters that paranormal investigators have been called in. Another eerie location is the picnic bench where Rand Garrett and Nancy Jeanson met their untimely demise when a tree fell on them on October 31, 1976.
Tree trimmers and park rangers insist that a supernatural force prevents them from removing the fallen tree. Workers have reported hearing unearthly groans and eerie whispers. They have also found mysterious messages etched onto their car windows, even when no one else was around.
A terrifying, black-eyed humanoid figure has also been seen roaming the park. Combined with stories of satanic rituals and animal sacrifices, these eerie occurrences have solidified Griffith Park’s reputation as the most haunted park in the United States.
9. Gitchie Manitou State PreserveLyon County, Iowa
Located in the northwest corner of Iowa, Gitchie Manitou State Preserve is a picturesque nature sanctuary brimming with vibrant greenery, a serene river, and ancient Sioux quartzite formations dating back approximately 1.6 billion years. Yet, this natural beauty is overshadowed by the area’s grim past.
On November 17, 1973, five teenagers were camping in the park—enjoying marijuana and singing around a campfire—when the Fryer brothers unexpectedly opened fire on them with shotguns. By the night’s end, four of the five friends had been killed. The brothers took the sole survivor, Sandra Cheskey, to their farm, where they assaulted her before releasing her.
The park also contains several Native American burial mounds. The name Gitchie Manitou translates to “great spirit” in Anishinabe, the language of the tribe that once inhabited the region.
Given its history of violence and death, Gitchie Manitou is regarded as one of the most haunted locations in the Midwest. Those who visit the park have recounted unsettling supernatural experiences, such as hearing phantom drumbeats. There have also been reports of a shadowy figure, standing over 200 centimeters (7 ft) tall, hiding among the trees, believed to be a guardian Native American spirit.
Many adventure enthusiasts head to the decaying cabin where the Fryers initiated their killing spree. Now in ruins, the cabin is adorned with graffiti and satanic symbols. This area is notorious for paranormal activity, with visitors claiming to hear unearthly growls, see ghostly mists hovering over the river on clear nights, and sense an eerie feeling of being constantly observed.
The park also gained notoriety for an alleged UFO and alien encounter in 1976.
8. Hummel ParkOmaha, Nebraska
Hummel Park in Omaha, Nebraska, is a place of natural beauty but also a hotspot for tragedy, satanic rituals, and even rumors of a secluded tribe of albino individuals. It’s a treasure trove of paranormal activity.
The horrific origins of the park can be traced to the pre–civil rights era when most African Americans in Omaha lived near Hummel Park. Although never confirmed, it was reported that multiple people were lynched in the park, an ideal place to carry out the crime because the overhanging tree branches are sturdy and low. For decades, people have reported seeing ghostly hanging bodies swinging from the gnarled branches.
Since the 1980s, two more people have been found murdered at Hummel Park—a prostitute who was killed on-site and a 12-year-old girl whose skeletal remains were uncovered in 2006. People now report hearing tortured screams emanating from the woods, seeing spectral figures floating among the trees, and feeling dark energy in all areas of the park.
One of the most visited locations in Hummel Park is the “morphing stairs,” a long stone staircase at the top of the park. The stairs lead down to an opening in the woods where occultists have been performing rituals for years. According to legend, the staircase was nicknamed the “morphing stairs” because you will never count the same number of steps going down as going up.
Evidence of satanic worship appears all over the park. Slaughtered animals are routinely discovered by walkers and park officials. There are also graffiti pentagrams and symbols on the park’s structures. On the opposite side of the park, the “Devil’s slide” is a steep cliffside where multiple suicides may have occurred.
PRISM, an Omaha paranormal investigative collective, has visited Hummel Park many times and found paranormal evidence ranging from photographic anomalies to EVPs. You can view their findings here.
7. Jackson Park, Atchinson, Kansas
Jackson Park in Atchinson, Kansas, is renowned for a haunting legend that leaves a lasting impression. The story of Molly’s Hollow comes in two spine-chilling variations.
The most widely known version involves a girl named Molly, who had a heated argument with her boyfriend in Jackson Park following their senior prom. In a fit of rage, he abandoned her by driving away in his car. The next day, she was discovered hanging from one of the park’s twisted trees.
An alternate version of the legend claims Molly was a young African-American girl who fell victim to a lynching, her life ending tragically on one of the park’s trees. Regardless of the version, the story is undeniably spine-chilling.
Visitors to the park around midnight have recounted hearing a ghostly voice calling out “Molly,” accompanied by the terrifying sight of a woman suspended from a tree.
6. Cameron Park, Waco, Texas
Cameron Park in Waco, Texas, is a stunning natural wonder, offering breathtaking views of the Brazos River, dramatic limestone cliffs, and dense stretches of magical wilderness. However, it’s also home to a spectral population. Known for tales of biking mishaps and vigilante justice, Cameron Park is regarded as one of Texas’ most haunted locations.
At Lover’s Leap, legend has it that two Native American lovers from rival tribes leaped to their deaths from these picturesque cliffs. To this day, many claim to hear their soft murmurs and sense their lingering presence in the area.
Jacob’s Ladder, a crumbling stone staircase located on the park’s southern edge, is said to have an eerie reputation. Women ascending the steps often report feeling an unseen hand tugging at their clothes or brushing against them.
Witch’s Castle, the park’s most infamous landmark, is a dilapidated stone building hidden deep within the forest. While its history remains a mystery, the structure is adorned with bizarre graffiti. At night, visitors encounter foul odors, ghostly screams, and sightings of the witch’s spirit prowling the woods in search of her next prey.
Lindsay Hollow Road, which cuts through the park, is believed to be named after the Lindsay brothers, notorious cattle thieves who were killed by vigilante ranchers after the Civil War. Legend has it they were buried in the nearby woods, and their vengeful spirits now wander the area seeking retribution.
During the 1970s, motorcyclists frequently gathered at the park’s tar pits to perform daring stunts and jumps. One unfortunate rider reportedly lost his life while attempting a particularly risky maneuver.
His mother, overwhelmed by grief, visited the site daily to mourn until her own passing many years later. Today, visitors claim to hear ghostly sobs and the roar of engines, as well as witness mysterious orbs floating in the nearby woods.
5. Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, Tallapoosa County, Alabama
Between 1813 and 1814, the Muscogee Creek tribe endured a brutal civil war within their nation, known as the Creek War. This conflict eventually involved white Americans and their Native American allies, culminating in a horrific massacre on March 27, 1814.
On that fateful day, Red Stick warriors attempted to defend their position against American forces and their allies along the Tallapoosa River, now the site of Horseshoe Bend National Military Park. The battle ended in tragedy, with nearly 800 Red Stick fighters mercilessly killed.
Today, visitors to Horseshoe Bend National Military Park often report encountering foul odors, eerie sounds, and ghostly apparitions scattered across the grounds.
The Alabama Ghost Hunters conducted an investigation at the park, capturing a photo of a spectral figure and recording an unsettling, otherworldly scream. Their complete findings are available for review.
4. Hard Labor Creek State Park, Rutledge, Georgia
Hard Labor Creek State Park, located in Rutledge, Georgia, gained fame after being featured on the paranormal TV series Ghost Hunters. Originally a summer camp for children and later transformed into a nature reserve, this park boasts both natural beauty and a fascinating past.
The park has also served as a filming location for several camp-themed movies, including Friday the 13th, Part VI: Jason Lives. However, Jason isn’t the only eerie presence rumored to haunt these shadowy woods.
According to local tales, the park is home to two ghosts: an elderly man and a young boy named Ethan. The older ghost is known for slamming doors, knocking on walls, and wandering around the cabins at night, seemingly trying to scare intruders away from his territory.
The spirit of the boy, on the other hand, is said to roll a red ball toward unsuspecting visitors. Additionally, a small cemetery deep within the park is where many have witnessed a ghostly figure roaming the grounds.
The name of the land is believed to have originated from enslaved individuals who were compelled to labor in the cotton fields that once dominated this region before the Civil War.
3. Sunrise Park, Bartlett, Illinois
Even in a quaint town like Bartlett, Illinois—home to approximately 37,000 residents—the supernatural still makes its mark in the appropriately named Sunrise Park.
Residents often share the chilling tale of the schoolhouse killer. In the 1800s, a modest schoolhouse stood on the land that now forms Sunrise Park. A reclusive man in his forties lived in the nearby woods, completely detached from the Bartlett community.
Eventually, parents raised concerns about the man, having experienced eerie sensations, heard screams from the woods, and feared for their children’s well-being. In response, the community decided to tear down his house.
The man didn’t take kindly to this. Shortly after, children started vanishing without a trace on their way to and from school. While there’s no definitive evidence, it’s believed he abducted and killed these children, then scattered their remains across the park.
In addition to this tale, locals have reported sightings of a dark demonic dog with a human-like face, a Victorian-era woman in a white gown, and the spirits of African Americans who were victims of KKK-led burnings in the park.
2. Eden Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
On October 6, 1927, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Imogene Remus, a prominent socialite, was en route to her divorce hearing to finalize her separation from her husband, the notorious bootlegger George Remus. However, her taxi was intercepted by a black Cadillac and forced off the road into Eden Park.
Following a short pursuit, her husband trapped her and fatally shot her within the park. This tragic event marked the beginning of Eden Park’s haunted legends.
Since her untimely death on that October day, visitors to Eden Park have frequently reported sightings of a woman in a flowing black dress gliding mournfully across the grounds. Her ghost is said to appear most often in the autumn, around the anniversary of her murder, as if to remind the world of the park’s grim past.
Witnesses have also described her weeping quietly and gazing over the park’s reflecting pool, as though pondering her tragic fate.
1. Presidio Park, San Diego, California
Presidio Park in San Diego, California, is famed for its eerie tales of ghostly apparitions, including tragic suicide victims, mysterious hooded figures, and even a spectral doe. Legend has it that a ghostly deer roams the park's secluded areas.
Lucy, the deer, was born at the San Diego Zoo in 1965, distinguished by her striking all-white coat. After escaping the zoo, she found refuge in Presidio Park, where she became a local favorite. Residents often left food for her, and she quickly became a cherished symbol of the park.
Concerns about Lucy's safety led to an animal control officer being dispatched to capture her. Tragically, the officer miscalculated the tranquilizer dosage, administering a lethal amount. Lucy succumbed to the overdose and passed away in December 1975.
A memorial was erected to honor Lucy, yet her spirit appears to remain in the park. Visitors have reported glimpses of a pure white deer that vanishes into the foliage. Some locals even claim their gardens have been nibbled by what they believe to be a ghostly deer.
In addition to the spectral deer, Presidio Park is said to be home to a variety of other apparitions. Witnesses have reported shadowy, hooded figures near the Serra Museum and the Witches Tower, as well as a ghostly boy seen standing atop the mission tower.
The Witches Tower earned its name due to the cobblestone pentagram embedded in its floor. It is rumored to have been a site for occult rituals, with paranormal investigators discovering remnants like melted wax and other mysterious items in the vicinity.
