Curious about Iowa’s dark side? The Hawkeye State is home to a host of off-the-beaten-path attractions with hair-raisingly haunted — or simply strange and creepy — stories to tell. From haunted manors to ghost-filled theaters and hotels, Iowa’s dark tourism destinations and paranormal hot spots welcome believers and skeptics alike.
Hotel Ottumwa
Ottumwa
Built in 1917 and still in operation as a charming boutique hotel, Hotel Ottumwa purportedly has experience hosting ghosts alongside its human guests. Some say they’ve seen the apparition of a woman in white in the basement. Others claim to have seen the face of a man in the hallways. Still other guests say they’ve heard the sounds of breathing, though no one else was in the room. Newbie ghost hunters and seasoned investigators alike report having had noteworthy paranormal experiences within the hotel’s stately corridors. Groups hoping for a (possible) fright can make a reservation — for Halloween or at any time of year — with plans of exploring the hotel’s public spaces for any signs of spirits afoot.
Cresco Theatre & Opera House
Cresco
Voted as one of the top 10 most haunted theaters in the Midwest, the Cresco Theatre & Opera House manages to maintain its busy schedule of films and live performances, all while apparently playing host to a series of backstage ghosts. Visitors to the stately downtown theater, built in 1914, often report hearing odd sounds and voices, even when its rows of seats are empty. Many supposed spirits have been said to haunt the basement, while other apparitions — including a female presence and that of an older gentleman — have been spotted in the main theater area. Those in charge speculate the energy from the building’s century-long history of emotive performances may be what’s attracting spiritual entities to the space. Some theater staffers, including those in the costume department, have had strange experiences they can’t rationally explain. With so many ghost stories in hand, the theater has begun opening its doors to small groups of paranormal investigators. Groups can contact the theater to arrange a visit including tickets to an upcoming live performance, a private ghost hunt or perhaps even both.
The Day the Music Died Tour
Clear Lake
On February 3, 1959, a plane crash near Clear Lake claimed the lives of early rock ’n’ roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson. Visitors now flock to the site out of love for the trio’s music or simply to pay respect to an event that will be forever remembered — in the words of Don McLean’s famous song — as “the day the music died.” In Clear Lake, groups can tour the Surf Ballroom & Museum, where Holly, Valens and Richardson performed their final show. Next door, the Surf Music Experience Center’s “Not Fade Away” exhibit honors the lost rockers’ legacy through vivid, immersive projections and rare archival footage. At the crash site memorial, located in a cornfield five miles north of the Surf Ballroom, three stainless steel records mark the exact spot where the plane came to rest. An oversized pair of Holly’s signature glasses greets visitors to the memorial trailhead, which is open to the public year-round, despite being on private land.
clearlakeiowa.com/the-day-the-music-died-tour
Edinburgh Manor
Scotch Grove
Built around 1911 to house the elderly, poor and mentally ill, Scotch Grove’s Edinburgh Manor operated for nearly a century until its closure in 2010. Since then, it has sat empty — except for the ghosts and various apparitions who allegedly make their home there. In recent years, the site has become a popular destination for paranormal investigations, even drawing visitors from around the world. Edinburgh Manor’s new owners offer both daytime tours and overnight visits, allowing guests to set their own comfort levels when it comes to scare thresholds. Those who’ve been brave enough to enter report a mix of potential ghostly experiences, from the feeling of being pushed or scratched to hearing voices, also known as electronic voice phenomena (EVPs), in audio recordings. Daytime public tours last roughly two hours, perhaps offering just enough time to spot one of the manor’s “peekers,” a set of ghostly spirits said to appear in its windows.
edinburghmanor.wixsite.com/edinburgh
Iowa Funeral Museum
Marshalltown
Though some might view certain items at the Iowa Funeral Museum in Marshalltown as a bit macabre, staff there aim to create an experience that’s warm and welcoming. The museum’s displays share the history of mortuary science and funeral and burial practices across generations, with exhibits on everything from rare and unique caskets and antique embalming tools to Victorian-era hair art created from the hair of deceased loved ones. Groups can view the museum’s all-glass casket — one of only three known to exist — along with a model of Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train, a replica 1930s-era embalming room, vintage mourning clothing and even a rare mourning ring from the 1700s, among many other items. Taken together, the collections attempt to strip away some of the taboo around discussions of death and dying. Tours of the museum are free and offered by reservation only. Groups should contact Mitchell Family Funeral Home to arrange a visit.
