The Scariest Haunted Places in Indianapolis, Indiana

Each year, as summer turns toward its dry, crispy stretch run and Hoosier children grudgingly try on their back-to-school clothes, dewy mornings hint at the clear, cool fall days to come. For many, the autumn months bring thoughts of ghouls and goblins, tales around the campfire, and hayrides through vacant and haunted fields. While Indianapolis has made significant progress in polishing its image during the last couple of decades, it remains the hub of the Indiana heartland and maintains its historical significance to the State, complete with all types of whispers from the past. Indeed, Indy is home to many of Indiana's most famous destinations for those seeking a little supernatural thrill. With that in mind here is a list of the scariest haunted places in Indianapolis.

Hannah House

Built by local farmer and politician Alexander Hannah in 1858, this south side manor maintains a prominent place in Indianapolis's storied past. A Historic Landmark, the Hannah House was a safe haven for escaping slaves as part of the Underground Railroad. This designation also plays into its reputation as a hotbed of paranormal activity, as an undocumented fire purportedly claimed the lives of several refugees one fateful night. The spirits of those victims, and of Hannah himself, are said to roam the corridors of the estate. The Hannah House is open to the public and even offers the chance to stay overnight and do a little ghost sleuthing...if you dare!

Central State Hospital

Originally christened the "Indiana Hospital for the Insane," Central State Hospital opened its doors in 1848. From a single building housing five patients, Central State grew into a veritable campus where thousands of patients were treated for various ailments, both mental and physical. At its height in the middle of the 20^th century, Central State encompassed nearly 100 acres, with two main buildings, several peripheral treatment centers, and enough businesses to have formed its own town. Not surprisingly, given the nature of its existence, the grounds of Central State Hospital, located on the near west side of Indy, is reportedly ripe with ghostly happenings.

The House of Blue Lights

Located on the city's east side, the House of Blue Lights was an estate owned by Skiles Test, and it was the subject of many spooky tales involving caskets, dogs, cats, misty blue lights, and other goodies! Although the house is long gone now, much of the property remains as it was during the heyday of these stories, and is home to the Skiles Test nature park. The Test grave is also a popular ghostly destination in nearby Crown Hill cemetery.

As this list demonstrates, there is no paucity of supernatural folklore surrounding the Circle City. The next time that you're enjoying the sights along the Canal Walk or exploring Indianapolis' revamped downtown attractions, try not to dwell too much on the possibility that the crowd around you may be much larger than you can actually see!