Iowa’s Most Haunted

Every town has its own urban legends and ghost stories. You know how they usually start off, “It was a cold night in a small town..” and so on. But how well do you know your own town? What’s happened there before? Well here are a few of Iowa’s spookiest tales.

The Blue Angel

To start off this piece let’s begin with a well-known legend; The Blue Angel. It is located in Muscatine, Iowa, in the Greenwood Cemetery on Lucas Street. The statue has been there since the 1950s. Back then, this statue was seen as a gracious spirit of the cemetery. This so-called spirit would protect the cemetery from vandals. However, as the years went on the tales of the statue grew more sinister.

Reports stated that the statue once held a rose, and if you looked at her and she dropped it, you were doomed to die. As of now her hand has been cut off so she won’t be able to hurt anyone, but it is said if you visit the cemetery on Halloween night, you can still see her hand holding the rose.

Villisca Ax Murder House

The Murder House, located in Villisca, Iowa, is where 8 people were brutally bludgeoned to death with an ax in their sleep (hence the name).

The murders took place back in 1912. The original house was then renovated in the 1990s to be a historical museum. The museum now displays the bedrooms of the 6 children and two adults who were killed. Visitors to the museum have reported doors swinging opening, objects falling, and eerie voices throughout the house. It is said that the spirits of the victims remain lingering. Or could it just be cursed due to the horrific crime played out within the walls?
The Villisca Ax Murder House also serves as a paranormal hotel. To book an overnight stay is quite pricey, ranging from a minimum of 400 dollars for 6 people. Those who have stayed overnight say it is worth it if you want to experience some paranormal activity. What makes this story all the more sinister is that the killer was never caught. To this day it remains a mystery.

Crybaby Bridge

Crybaby Bridge is located in Ottumwa, Iowa. This bridge has numerous rumors dating all the way back to the 1990s. The surrounding area also has an abandoned church which has its own series of stories. But here is one of the stories of Crybaby Bridge that really sticks out.

Many years ago a young girl ended up getting pregnant and hid it from her boyfriend. He assured her they would be together no matter what. Once the girl’s father found out she was pregnant she was kicked out of her house. She stayed with another family until her baby girl was born. A few weeks after giving birth she went to show their baby to her boyfriend. When she arrived at his house she found him with another woman. Enraged and heartbroken she ran off with their baby. As she came across this bridge she realized she did not want this baby with a man who no longer loved her. In a moment of rage, she threw her child over the rails and into the water. Realizing what she had done, she ran to her father’s house full of grief and regret, and hung herself in their barn. It is said now that if you visit this bridge at night you can hear the wails of the drowning infant. The area is notorious for ghost sightings.

Do you dare visit these haunted locations this Halloween?