Haunting at Farrar Haunted Schoolhouse 2024

FARRAR – Built in 1921 on donated farmland, the once abandoned schoolhouse sits isolated with only a few buildings around, including a 150-year-old cemetery across the street. After closing its doors in 2001 and sitting abandoned for five years, a local couple purchased the building and quickly realized that it was not completely empty. Voices, slamming doors, shadow people and orbs commonly appear. A small boy was spotted standing motionless on the stairwell. An unseen figure helped steady one of the owners who lost their balance on the stairs. You can experience all of this for yourself by scheduling a daylight tour with the owners, while the bravest visitors can spend the night. https://hauntingatfarrar.com/

Franklin Hotel

STRAWBERRY POINT – Dating back to the 1900s, this fully restored Victorian Hotel in Strawberry Point will take visitors back in time with its vintage lobby, dining room and staircase. However, throughout its history it has attracted some visitors that refuse to leave. Many claim the hotel is home to two ghosts. One is a woman named Lily who wears a lavender gown and can be heard singing or moaning. She frequents what used to be her room, moving furniture to her preference and walking to and from the lobby. The other is a former merchant known as Leo, who operated the hotel’s laundry for 30 years and can be heard ringing the hotel’s old bell message system. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100043508954943

Cresco Theatre & Opera House

CRESCO – Voted as one of the top 10 most haunted theaters in the Midwest, the Cresco Theatre opened in 1915 and offers a 100-year history of live performances and modern motion pictures. While the theatre is still in operation, it is now home to some unwelcome guests. Visitors have witnessed what appear to be ghosts of vaudeville performers on the stage, while another lone ghost has been seen sitting in the theater while the lights are off, disappearing when anyone tries to approach. More unknown entities have been reported in the basement, where strange electrical disturbances occur and odd sounds and voices are heard when the Cresco theater is empty. https://www.crescotheatreoperahouse.com/

Stony Hollow Road

BURLINGTON – Though Iowa has a strange collection of haunted roads, this is known as the scariest one. This stretch of gravel outside of Burlington comes with the story of a woman named Lucinda who reportedly threw herself off a nearby cliff after learning her husband left her. While locals avoid this road at night, it is a popular spot for ghost hunters. It is said that if you say Lucinda’s name three times, her ghost will appear standing atop the cliff. But be warned — should she lay a rose at your feet, legend says you will meet your demise the following day.

Mathias Ham House

DUBUQUE – Known as a “textbook haunting,” this home-turned-museum offers plenty of history and scares for visitors. The home’s former owner, Mathias Ham, came to Dubuque in 1833 to take advantage of the steamboat business, where he met his wife and expanded this home to accommodate their six children. Throughout the years, several family members died in the home, including Ham, his first wife and their daughter May, as well as an intruder shot and killed by their daughter Sarah. Since being turned into a museum in 1964, employees and visitors have reported a variety of mysterious activities. While an apparition has never been seen, cold breezes randomly blow through the house, objects move unaided from room to room, lights flicker and disobey light switches and various sounds such as footsteps, scooting furniture and music from the inoperative organ can be heard. https://www.rivermuseum.org/ham/hamsite

Spooky Science

Oct. 26/DES MOINES- Dust the cobwebs off your costumes, and bring the whole family down to enjoy spooky, science-y and SAFE Halloween fun at the Science Center of Iowa. There will be hair-raising experiments, creepy-crawly critters and tons of other spook-ified programming.

All activities are included with admission – free for SCI members!

Costumes are encouraged. No costume weapons will be allowed in the building.

Visit website to buy tickets in advance.