Haunted Indiana: Parks, Caves and All the Outdoors

Indiana has hundreds of haunted spots scattered all across the state. When you hear the stories though, you may discover that the more interesting stories are those where the ghosts roam freely outside.

One of the most well known haunted spots in Anderson is the Mounds State Park. Delaware Indians were once prevalent here and even they had stories about the park. Supposedly the believed a tribe of people lived in the woods, half the size of a man but more violent. The campground at the park produces an unsettling feel and people claim that animals won't enter the campsites.

In Angola you can visit the haunted Wing Haven Nature Preserve. Local legend claims a group of witches conjured up a demon that still lives in the stream. There are stories of people having mechanical problems with their car in the preserve or experiencing dark feelings while standing by the water.

The Wing Haven Nature Preserve is not the only haunted area of water in Indiana. So too is Scales Lake in Boonville where a ghost by the name of Black Annie resides. Centerville's Blue Clay Falls is equally haunted. People claim to see several people huddled together on the road, but they quickly disappear.

Or you can visit the Blue River in Corydon. Years ago a girl was accidentally decapitated while canoeing on the river. The ghost of the girl can still be seen, looking for her lost head. Meanwhile Hanover Beach is haunted by the ghost of a local preacher who died while attempting to save people after a riverboat crash. You also have the haunted Wahaula Beach in Whiting. People hear the sounds of several people playing in the water and see the ghosts of people in the water.

Of course Indiana also has a few haunted memorials like the Battle Field Memorial in Battlefield. The memorial sits atop the site of a huge bloody battle and some claim the fight reenacts itself every night after dark. There are also stories of soldiers and Indians running through the woods.

Bluffton is where you'll find a haunted playground. For some reason a man living in the area was disliked by the community, though the children at the playground loved him. Someone killed the man and left his body on a nearby bridge. People now report hearing the sounds of children playing on the bridge at night.

The odd story of the Land of Moses exists in Butler. Legend claims that a band of gypsies living here killed the daughter of a local man, who then gathered up his friends and slaughtered the gypsies. The ghost of the gypsies then killed all the men involved before returning to their former home. There are stories today that those ghosts still live in the woods.

LaFontaine has two different haunted stories. One is the Missisinewa Reservoir Forest where people claim that hobbits run loose and the other is the Soldiers Memorial Park. A little boy who died near hear haunts the park.

Grand Kankakee Marsh in Lowell is haunted by several Indians and local legend claims this was a Native American Burial Ground. One ghost is that of an Indian warrior surrounded by a white fog. The other is an Indian maiden who supposedly lost her love and now appears to your couples in love.

Macarthur Woods in Cedar Lake is haunted by a violent ghost. People have supposedly seen the ghost of a bum in the area and felt someone pushing them. The same area is home to a haunted rock quarry. The story claims that a man molested young boys here until he was caught by his wife. He killed her in the quarry and then killed all 25 boys who were under their care. Supposedly you can hear the boys playing in the area and hear them screaming every year on the anniversary of their death.

In Daleville the story revolves around an area known as the Witches Circle. A red stain on the road supposedly marks the spot where a person was murdered and there are stories about a ghostly woman in a white dress.

The Gravel Pits in Disko are haunted by a female ghost dressed in a torn purple dress. Stories about people encountering her date back years.

You also have the story of the haunted horse field in French Lick. During the 1800s three horses were struck by lightning in the field, supposedly one at a time. There are stories that just before a storm comes through you can see the horses running through the field and during a storm, you'll see their ghosts standing under a tree.

Hammond has the interesting story of the Old Botanical Gardens. The ghosts of two women can be seen in the field behind the building and many believe they were the first owners. At Maumee Bottoms in Jackson County you can hear the growls of a wolf and the cries of a baby late at night.

Another haunted park is the Clifty Falls State Park in Madison, Indiana. When you're walking towards the falls, you might hear the sounds of someone moaning loudly in pain. Mansfield is supposedly haunted by the ghosts of people who once lived there. People claim to hear horses and buggies and people talking inside the mill. Elizabeth Town is another haunted Indiana town. Here people see dark shadows, hear people whispering and sometimes see a woman in a black dress.

The Spring Mill State Park in Mitchell is also haunted. There are stories of a strange figure wandering through the area as well as people looking out the windows of buildings in the park. Also haunted is the Falls Creek Park in Pendleton. In 1945 a young girl fell in the creek and died, but her boyfriend jumped in to save her and also drowned. Now people claim that the two reenact their final moments together.

New Corydon has the funny story of the laughing scarecrow. During the harvest season many people driving by have spotted a scarecrow coming out of the woods and laughing. Some believe this might be a teenager pulling a prank, but the story has existed for years now.

The Reners Quarry in Reelsville is also rumored to be haunted. Forty men were killed when the mine exploded and they were trapped inside. People claim to hear men screaming there even today.

Also haunted is the Potato Creek State Park in South Bend. Dozens of children have drowned in the water here over the years and even today people claim to hear someone screaming, crying or calling for their mother.

Hit the links at a Terre Haute area golf course and you're liable to run into a ghost. People who have been there claimed to see strange orbs or figures on the course. There's also a ghost named Alex who died of alcohol poisoning on the course. People also claim to see and hear him late at night. Also in Terre Haute is the Old Mil Dam where people sometimes see a little girl standing by the creek.

Wabash is hoe to the haunted Mississinewa Battle Grounds. Stories claim that you can hear people moaning in pain in the area and even see full bodied apparitions. Nearby is the haunted Wabash County State Forest. There are stories of a large creature walking on all four legs and mysterious lights. Some also claim that if you're there by yourself, the trails will change.

Last is the Devil's Kitchen in Williamsport, Indiana. Underneath the waterfall is a small cave where locals claim a cast iron stove sits. Supposedly the devil lives inside the cave and will tempt small children to their death.

If you think you can only run into ghosts inside, you've never been to Indiana before.

Sources:

http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/haunted/hauntedplacesofindiana.htm

http://theshadowlands.net/places/indiana.htm