The 10 Most Haunted Places Indianapolis

When people think of Indianapolis, the Indy 500 might come to mind, or maybe the city’s rich history nestled in the heart of the Midwest.

With its beautiful scenery, thrilling NASCAR races, military memorials like the USS Indianapolis National Memorial, and mouth-watering food, there are plenty of reasons to visit. But for some, there’s an even spookier draw…

Curious about the supernatural side of Indy? Take a look at our list of the most haunted places in Indianapolis and see if you’re up for a ghostly investigation of your own!

The Rivoli Theater, built in 1927, has a long history of entertaining Indianapolis residents. Designed by architect Henry Ziegler Dietz, it started as a single-screen movie theater owned by Universal Pictures before changing hands in 1937. From that point on, it continued to provide films and live performances until it finally closed its doors in 1992.

Since then, the Rivoli has mostly sat vacant, though it was acquired by the Rivoli Center for the Performing Arts in 2007 with the intent to restore and reopen it. In 2004, the theater earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, cementing its status as an Indianapolis landmark.

But it’s not just the building’s historic charm that gets people talking—it’s the paranormal activity. Visitors have reported hearing toilets flush and sinks turning on and off with no one in sight. Objects move on their own, and ghostly figures of women in fancy dresses and men in tuxedos have been seen wandering the theater.

Some say the hauntings stem from the theater’s construction on an old Indian burial ground. Whatever the cause, the Rivoli Theater seems to have more than just memories lingering in its halls.

The Slippery Noodle Inn has been around since 1850, and in that time, it’s been just about everything—a bar, a restaurant, a theater, and even a stop on the Underground Railroad. With such a wild history, it’s no wonder the place is packed with ghosts. I mean, who wouldn’t want to stick around for all the drama?

Some visitors claim to have seen the spirits of slaves who died seeking freedom, while others have bumped into the ghosts of ill-fated prostitutes who met their end here. And the cast of characters doesn’t stop there!

Patrons have also reported sightings of cowboys (because, why not?) and the old caretaker who apparently still likes to keep an eye on the place. The Slippery Noodle: where spirits aren’t just behind the bar, they’re roaming the halls!

The Wheeler-Stokely Mansion, built in 1912, was the ultimate picture of luxury, boasting Japanese gardens, a teahouse, a dog walk, and more. With owners like Frank Wheeler and William Stokely, it certainly saw its fair share of high society. But here’s the kicker: it seems the past residents aren’t ready to give up their playground just yet!

Visitors wandering the grounds have reported seeing a brown-haired woman dramatically running out the front door like she’s late for her carriage. Honestly, even ghosts can’t seem to get their schedules right! Then there’s the dapper gentleman seen walking his dog—eternally enjoying his strolls around the mansion.

But be warned, not all the spirits are so friendly. Some guests claim they’ve felt a phantom shove while on the dog walk, as if one of the ghosts decided, “Nah, this is my spot!” Looks like sharing is still a work in progress, even in the afterlife.

This mansion, built in the early 1900s by James Allison—a prominent figure in the auto and plane industry—has a history as dramatic as any Hollywood script. Though Allison found success in business, his love life was a different story.

After falling for his secretary, he divorced his wife in 1928 and later married Lucile Musset, a former employee. Sadly, his personal story was cut short when he died of pneumonia at age 56, putting the estate up for sale in 1936.

The property was then purchased by the Sisters of St. Francis of Oldenburg and repurposed as a college library, administrative office, classrooms, and sleeping quarters for the Sisters. But the mansion’s story didn’t end there.

Today, the mansion is believed to be haunted, most notably by the apparition of a little girl who drowned in the basement pool. Visitors and staff have reported seeing her ghostly figure, hearing disembodied voices in the attic, and watching objects move on their own. Located on the grounds of Marian College, this estate seems to hold onto its secrets—whether the Sisters like it or not!

The Indiana Repertory Theatre, known as the IRT, has been a creative hub for performers since 1972. With countless actors, directors, and set designers passing through its doors, it’s no surprise that a few spirits might still be hanging around backstage.

The most popular ghost story floating around the theater involves a former director who had a love for jogging. When bad weather struck, he’d simply jog through the halls of the theater. Tragically, his running routine ended when he was struck in a hit-and-run accident during one of his outdoor jogs.

But it seems he hasn’t let that stop him entirely! Former employees and visitors often report hearing the creak of floorboards, catching a glimpse of his ghostly figure jogging through the theater’s interior. Looks like his dedication to fitness wasn’t bound by the limits of the afterlife!

The Indianapolis Athletic Club, founded in 1886, was the premier club for Indiana’s businessmen and social elite, even playing a key role in state Democratic politics. It fielded one of Indiana’s first football teams and was a founding member of the Amateur Athletic Union in 1888.

The club’s Italian Renaissance-style building at 350 North Meridian Street, designed by Robert Frost Daggett and completed in 1924, featured athletic facilities, a ballroom, lounges, and overnight guest rooms. The club eventually closed in 2004, and the historic building was converted into luxury condos.

However, luxury doesn’t erase the past. In 1992, a tragic fire caused by faulty refrigerator wiring claimed the lives of one guest and two firefighters.

Since then, residents and visitors have reported eerie happenings, like footsteps echoing in empty hallways, doors closing on their own, and sudden cold spots. It seems the spirits of the building’s history still roam the halls of this former athletic haven.

No list of haunted places in Indianapolis would be complete without the infamous Hannah House.

Built in 1858, it was not only the home of Alexander Hannah but also served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. While Hannah successfully aided many in their escape to freedom, the mansion was also the site of a terrible tragedy.

The story goes that a fire broke out in the basement when an oil lamp tipped over, tragically killing the slaves taking refuge there. Rumor has it that Alexander Hannah buried their remains in the basement to keep his involvement in the Underground Railroad a secret.

Although the mansion was repaired, the spirits of those who perished haven’t moved on. Visitors often report feeling icy cold spots in the basement, hearing haunting screams, and even encountering ghostly apparitions of those who lost their lives in the fire.

Back in the early 1800s, the Paul Ruster family lived and farmed on what is now Paul Ruster State Park and cemetery. Seems peaceful enough, right? Well, things took a tragic turn when a young boy was killed near the train tracks on the property. And this is where the ghostly tales begin.

The boy, only twelve years old when tragedy struck, apparently never left. Visitors frequently report seeing his ghost wandering the park, often by the pond, playing as if he’s still just a kid having fun.

Others have seen him darting through the trees near the family burial site. Some even say they hear the faint sound of a harmonica. Nothing like a little ghostly music to set the mood for your nature walk!

But the chills don’t stop there. Paranormal investigators once called out to him using the name on the grave, John W. King, and captured an EVP of a young voice replying, “Yeah, I’m here behind you.” Now that’s a response you don’t want to hear when you’re standing alone in the dark!

Others have recorded their own unexplained voice phenomena, proving this ghostly kid has a lot to say… just not in the usual way.

The oldest mental asylum in Indiana, the Indiana Central State Hospital, is also one of the state’s most haunted spots.

Opened in 1848, this hospital was designed specifically to treat the mentally ill, but it quickly became known for all the wrong reasons. At its peak, it housed up to 3,000 patients, and rumors of neglect, abuse, and downright inhumane treatment started circulating.

We’re talking about patients chained to basement walls in conditions that would make your skin crawl. Yet somehow, the hospital kept its doors open until 1994.

Given its dark history filled with torment and suffering, it’s no surprise that many believe the spirits of its former residents never left. After its closure, ghost hunters flocked to the site, determined to validate claims of paranormal activity. Former employees, thrill-seekers, and paranormal investigators have all reported ghostly encounters here.

Apparitions of former patients are said to roam the grounds, a chilling reminder of the hospital’s past. Machinery and electrical devices randomly turn on by themselves—as if the ghosts are still running the place.

Then there are the screams, echoing from the basement, and the sightings of mysterious orbs floating through the air.

As of December 2022, only three original structures remain: the 1886 power plant, the 1895 pathology building, and another building of unidentified use. Even with most of the hospital gone, its haunted legacy refuses to disappear.

The Nicholson-Rand House, once known as the Rand Family Home, is one of Indiana’s most haunted spots—and it’s got quite the history to back it up. Built in 1870 by Scottish-born contractor David Nicholson, the Gothic mansion stood in its original location until 1997.

To save it from urban sprawl and potential demolition, the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana moved it a short distance from Southport Road. During the move, a photographer snapped a picture that seemed to capture a ghostly figure peering from an upstairs window, despite the house being empty. Talk about making an entrance at its new spot!

The house’s spooky reputation doesn’t end there. Some say it’s haunted by the spirit of a young girl who died in a nearby accident, while others claim to see a benign woman wandering the halls.

Stories of a former resident hanging himself in an upstairs bedroom and the screams of slaves trapped in the basement during a fire add to the house’s dark lore.

Guests have reported everything from blood dripping down the walls to the putrid smell of decay. With so many eerie tales, it’s no surprise that paranormal investigators flock to the property, often leaving with chilling evidence of their own!