The Haunting of Sally House in Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas

Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas

Photo: https://visitatchison.com

The Sally House in Atchison, Kansas, is one of the most terrifying and thoroughly investigated haunted houses in the United States. This unassuming two-story brick home on the corner of North 2nd Street may look ordinary from the outside, but its reputation for paranormal activity is anything but.

The house gained national attention in the 1990s when a young couple, Tony and Debra Pickman, moved in shortly after getting married. Almost immediately, they began experiencing terrifying phenomena: lights flickering, objects moving, disembodied voices, unexplained scratches appearing on Tony's body, and even full-blown apparitions. What made this haunting unique was that it seemed to target Tony specifically, leading many to believe something more sinister than a typical ghost might be involved.

Paranormal investigators soon identified the entity as "Sally," the spirit of a young girl who allegedly died during a botched appendectomy in the house. However, many believe the "Sally" story is a lure—an innocent mask hiding something much darker. Paranormal investigators have reported a malevolent presence, claiming the house may be inhabited by a demonic entity rather than the ghost of a child. The dark energy is often described as manipulative, feeding off fear and emotional tension within those who enter.

Numerous ghost-hunting teams, psychics, and researchers have spent nights inside the Sally House. Video footage and audio recordings have captured unexplained voices, shadow figures, and even physical attacks. It's been featured on shows like "Sightings," "Ghost Adventures," and "Paranormal Witness." To this day, people report being scratched, shoved, or overwhelmed with dread while touring the home.

The town of Atchison, known for its many hauntings, has embraced the Sally House as a key attraction, but they also issue strong warnings: this house is not a funhouse-style haunt. Many who enter report feeling sick or emotionally disturbed for days afterward. Paranormal experts urge caution and respect when visiting this notorious location.

Visiting Information:

Address: 508 N 2nd St, Atchison, KS 66002

Self-guided tours and overnight investigations are offered seasonally, often during the fall. Visitors must sign waivers due to the property’s reputation for physical interactions. Bookings can be made through the city of Atchison's official website or the local tourism board.

The Haunting of the Pony Express Hollenberg Station

Hollenberg Station – Washington County, Hanover, Kansas

Photograph ©Keith Stokes

Preserved by the dedicated citizens of Hanover just eight years after its closure in the mid-1800s, this Pony Express station stands as a testament to the importance of preserving history. Beyond its historical significance, the station has earned a reputation for being haunted, drawing in numerous visitors each year.

Accounts from visitors resonate with phantom echoes of hoofbeats racing past the building, accompanied by boisterous shouts from unseen riders. Strikingly, these spectral sounds manifest not only in the cloak of night but also under the broad daylight. Witnesses have described an abrupt and drastic drop in temperature, creating unexplained cold spots in the surrounding air.

The apparitions of men, clad in chaps and cowboy hats, have been witnessed by many on the station grounds. These spectral figures materialize distinctly but vanish into thin air upon closer inspection. Some claim to have encountered the spirited presence of Mr. Great Hollenberg himself, believed to be the mischievous entity responsible for rearranging items throughout the building and occasionally concealing objects.

Another poignant apparition is that of a former Pony Express rider who met a tragic end during a delivery. Ambushed by Indians, the young man was found dead with severed fingers, a missing tongue, and arrows protruding from his back. His tormented spirit has been witnessed appearing on the floor of a room, bleeding and in agony, only to vanish into the unknown. This same spectral rider has been spotted wandering the grounds at nightfall, his ethereal form marked by bleeding wounds.

While paranormal activity reaches its zenith during the summer months, the museum remains open year-round, inviting brave souls to explore the spectral history that lingers within the walls of this preserved Pony Express station.

 

Photograph ©Orange County DOE

Address:
2889 23rd Road
Hanover, Kansas 66945
(785) 337-2635
Website

The Haunting of Sauer Castle

Sauer Castle – Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas

Photograph ©Historic Elmwood Cemetery

History Unveiled: The Enigmatic Sauer Castle

A testament to the bygone era, the Sauer Castle stands as an enduring relic of the eighteen-hundreds, a masterpiece crafted by the hands of Anton Sauer. Steeped in generational legacy, this stately abode has witnessed the comings and goings of five successive generations of the Sauer family. Remarkably, the mantle of ownership still rests in the hands of a direct descendant of its visionary creator, Anton Sauer.

As with any dwelling that has weathered the passage of time, the Sauer Castle bears witness to the ebb and flow of life, accompanied by the inevitable partings. Among the notable occurrences within its hallowed halls, several family members, including the venerable Anton Sauer and his second wife, drew their final breaths. The house also cradled the somber echoes of a reported suicide, the untimely demise of an infant, and the tragic accidental drowning of a young child.

Whispers from Beyond: Unveiling Paranormal Enigma

Beyond its historical tapestry, the Sauer Castle is veiled in paranormal mystique, where ethereal tales unfold.

Witnesses have reported ethereal lights meandering through the heights of the lookout tower and dancing across the expansive estate. Unexplainable noises punctuate the stillness, ranging from plaintive cries and boisterous shouts to joyous laughter, mysterious singing, and enigmatic voices from unseen entities.

In the eerie solitude of the "widow's walk" and the lookout tower, the full-bodied apparition of a woman materializes, her spectral presence weaving through the threads of time. Another spectral duo, a male and female, have been purportedly glimpsed within the tower's confines. Adding to the spectral ensemble, the apparition of a young boy frolics in and around the mansion, a silent but poignant reminder of lives once lived.

Even in contemporary times, the vicinity of the Sauer Castle is not exempt from tales of unexplained sightings and ethereal sounds. Neighbors and casual passersby occasionally contribute to the enduring lore of this enigmatic residence.

Cautionary Note: While the allure of the Sauer Castle is undeniable, it remains private property. Trespassers are sternly warned of prosecution. The family's commitment to privacy is underscored by the absence of guided tours. Those eager to catch a glimpse of this historic mansion are urged to show respect by remaining outside the fence and off the property.

 
Address:
935 Shawnee Road
Kansas City, Kansas 66103

The Haunting of the Strawberry Hill Mansion Museum

Strawberry Hill Museum – Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas

Photograph ©Blue Skyways

Address:
720 North Fourth Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66101
(913) 721-0081



The Historical Evolution of the House:

Constructed in the quaint year of 1887, the original section of the house, as captured in the image above, marked the inception of its architectural journey. Over the subsequent years, the mansion underwent four expansions, metamorphosing into a sprawling structure encompassing three floors, forty-two rooms, an attic, and a basement.

Fast forward to twelve years later, the mansion witnessed a new chapter when Margaret Kerstetter Cruise, a widow and mother of four, married John Scroggs. This blended family chose the mansion as their abode. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Margaret's eldest son passed away prematurely, leaving three children to grow up, marry, and establish their own families. Following the demise of Margaret and John, one of their offspring inherited the house, eventually selling it to the Sisters of the St. Francis of Christ the King. The nuns, moved by compassion after the 1918 flu epidemic, transformed the mansion into a haven for orphaned children.

In 1987, the Strawberry Hill Ethnic Cultural Society acquired the property, heralding the establishment of the Strawberry Hill Museum—a beacon of cultural history.

Accounts of Paranormal Phenomena:

The ethereal tapestry woven around the mansion includes the spectral presence of the "Lady in Red," purportedly a homeless woman sheltered by the nuns. Legend has it that she met her tragic end during a failed abortion. Her apparition, adorned in 1940s-style red attire with flowing red hair, has been encountered by numerous witnesses. The Lady in Red first materialized before two nuns during a chapel moment, inquiring about the "house of the priest" before vanishing. She has since posed the same question to others, appearing as a solid figure and even greeting visitors amicably.

Another ghostly inhabitant, an unidentified male entity, predominantly roams the third floor. Unappreciative of visitors on his floor, he's been known to startle and scare those who dare to explore. One particularly chilling encounter involved a woman who stumbled upon the apparition inside a closet; she claimed to have been pursued down the stairs, with the specter tapping her shoulder throughout.

A spectral child, often perceived in the first-floor tower room seated in an antique rocking chair, adds another layer to the paranormal narrative. Reports extend to sensing or hearing the child's presence, as well as playful movements in the basement.

The house is no stranger to various anomalies, including lights flickering autonomously, phantom footsteps echoing through empty corridors, mysterious music or singing resonating through unseen vocal cords, and doors engaging in a curious dance of unlocking, locking, opening, and closing—all seemingly orchestrated by the unseen forces lingering within its historical walls.