The 10 Most Haunted Places in St. Louis, mO

St. Louis is often hailed as one of the most haunted cities in the United States. Some believe the convergence of the three rivers surrounding the city has created the perfect conditions for paranormal activity! It’s also famously tied to one of the most chilling tales of all time—William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist.

Ready for a spooky tour? Let’s explore the 10 most haunted places in St. Louis, MO.

The Lehmann House in St. Louis, built in 1893, originally served as a private residence. Its most famous occupants were attorney Frederick Lehmann and his wife, Nora, who lived there until his death.

Over time, the mansion fell into disrepair until it was finally rescued and restored to its former glory. Today, this 10,000-square-foot beauty operates as a bed & breakfast—and also happens to be one of the most haunted hotels in St. Louis!

The most frequent ghost sighting involves the home’s original owner, Edward S. Rowse, who is said to linger in his former bedroom. Guests often claim they can feel his presence or even catch glimpses of his ghost.

But he’s not alone; some visitors have captured a woman’s voice on EVP recordings—sometimes she sounds shocked, other times she whispers softly. Even without recording devices, many have reported hearing disembodied voices and conversations in empty rooms.

Shadowy figures also seem to roam the halls and grounds, and unexplained banging sounds are a regular occurrence. For guests brave enough to stay overnight, it’s not uncommon to be woken up by eerie noises or an unsettling feeling, as if someone—or something—is watching. | Check Availability 

When the Lemp family arrived in the United States from Germany, they built a brewing empire that made them a fortune. John Adam Lemp, the brewery’s founder, passed away a millionaire, leaving his son William to take over.

William then purchased the now-infamous Lemp Mansion. Built in the 1860s, the mansion underwent countless upgrades at William’s direction, transforming it into a true architectural masterpiece.

Today, the Lemp Mansion operates as a bed & breakfast, drawing visitors from far and wide eager to experience one of St. Louis’s most haunted hotels. The Lemp family’s history is steeped in tragedy, leading many to believe their spirits never left.

John Lemp’s eldest son died suddenly from heart failure, and John himself later committed suicide. The ghost of Zeke, a boy with Down’s Syndrome and the result of an affair, is said to haunt the attic where he spent most of his life.

But Zeke isn’t the only ghost roaming the mansion. The “Lavender Lady,” William Lemp’s wife, is frequently spotted around the second floor, her presence often marked by the scent of her favorite lavender. Passersby have even reported seeing her gaze out from the second-floor windows.

Shadow figures also seem to have made themselves at home, appearing both inside the mansion and on the grounds, often seen heading toward the carriage house.

Visitors report a range of unexplained paranormal activity: electrical malfunctions, cold spots, and disembodied voices echoing through the rooms. Some have even caught a whiff of cigar smoke or a man’s cologne lingering in the air. The mansion has an unnerving vibe, with many guests claiming they feel watched or even touched by unseen hands.

And of course, there’s the legend of “Monkey Boy,” the deformed, illegitimate son of William Lemp Jr., who was hidden away to avoid scandal and is now one of the mansion’s most commonly sighted spirits. With so many eerie encounters, it’s no wonder the Lemp Mansion is considered one of the most haunted places in the country!

Almost everyone has heard of The Exorcist—that terrifying book-turned-movie that made us all rethink playing with Ouija boards. But did you know it’s actually based on a real case of demonic possession? Yep, the nightmare was real!

The story revolves around a teenage boy, known by the pseudonym ‘Roland Doe,’ who was just a little too curious with a Ouija board back in Maryland. Next thing you know, he summoned a demonic entity that decided to stick around and make his life miserable. Things got so intense that mysterious bruises began to form on his chest, spelling out ‘Louis.’ Subtle, right?

Naturally, his family took this as a sign to hightail it to St. Louis, where Roland ended up in a house on Roanoke Drive—now infamously known as The Exorcist House.

Even today, strange happenings are reported in the house, especially in the boy’s old bedroom. Maybe he left behind a little “souvenir” from his encounter with the paranormal? Either way, it’s safe to say this is one house that’ll make you think twice before dusting off the old Ouija board!

The historic Bissell Mansion, built in 1823 by Captain Lewis Bissell, isn’t just any old house—it’s the oldest brick home in St. Louis. Up until its closure in 2023, it operated as the Bissell Mansion Restaurant & Dinner Theatre, where guests enjoyed dinner with a side of mystery.

Now, the mansion sits empty and up for sale, but even without actors on stage, the paranormal residents seem to be keeping the show going!

Rumor has it that Captain Bissell himself still haunts the property. He’s often spotted out in the parking lot, silently watching the house as if making sure everything’s in order. Then there’s the mysterious woman in white, thought to be one of Bissell’s wives, drifting through the halls like she’s right at home.

And let’s not forget the restaurant staff’s tales of ghostly pranks. Wine glasses would disappear from the bar only to reappear in the oddest places around the building. Managing a dinner crowd was one thing, but trying to keep track of vanishing glassware? Now, that’s a headache any future owner should brace for!

Zombie Road, officially known as Rock Hollow Trail in Wildwood, is hands down one of the most haunted spots in St. Louis. The legends tied to this eerie stretch of road are varied, and none of them are for the faint of heart!

Some say the name “Zombie Road” comes from tales of the ‘Zombie Killer’—a reclusive, unsettling figure who supposedly lived in a shack in the woods and attacked young couples in the 1950s looking for a quiet spot to be alone. But that’s just one piece of the puzzle. Over time, the stories only grew darker, with sightings of ghosts, strange disappearances, and unexplained noises becoming common.

One of the more well-known spirits said to haunt the area is that of Della Hamilton McCullough. Married to the local judge, she tragically died when she was hit by a train in 1876, and her ghost is often seen wandering the trail. Yet, even Della isn’t the scariest encounter on Zombie Road.

The most chilling aspect? The shadow figures. We’re not talking about a few fleeting shapes; we’re talking hundreds. Numerous photos have captured these dark forms lurking in the woods, silently watching the road. Some say these shadows are the souls of Native American children from a nearby orphanage, never given a proper burial. One thing’s for sure—Zombie Road is not a place you want to visit after dark!

The Payne-Gentry House, built in 1870, was home to the Payne and Gentry families for over a century. One of its most notable residents was Dr. William Payne, who even added an extension to serve as his doctor’s office.

But the real source of the hauntings isn’t inside the house—it’s out in the backyard. Beneath a large tree lies a small cemetery where several children are said to be buried.

This would explain why so many visitors have reported seeing the apparitions of little kids playing in the garden. It seems like these ghostly youngsters aren’t ready to leave their favorite playground anytime soon!

Jefferson Barracks and Cemetery is a hotbed of ghostly tales, and some are definitely creepier than others.

One story speaks of a little girl who quietly wanders among the headstones. Then there’s the hauntingly poignant sight of two Civil War soldiers—one Union, one Confederate—who appear at sundown. They nod to each other with a sad, knowing glance, as if in death they’ve realized just how futile war truly is. If only the living could take a page from their book!

Over at the barracks, the post headquarters seems to be the hub of paranormal activity. Lights flicker on and off by themselves, and an officer dressed in a 19th-century uniform has been spotted roaming the halls. Looks like the past is still keeping watch over this historic site!

The Mineral Springs Hotel, just on the outskirts of St. Louis, opened in 1914 and quickly became a regional sensation. Built by Alton’s wealthiest men, August and Herman Luer, the hotel originally started as an ice storage plant until a natural spring was discovered on the property.

Seizing the opportunity, the Luer brothers transformed the site into a luxurious Italian Villa-style spa with over 100 rooms, mineral baths, and the “largest swimming pool in Illinois.”

During its heyday in the 1910s and 1920s, the hotel attracted thousands seeking the “curative waters.” By the 1960s, however, the hotel began to decline and eventually closed in 1971. It was restored as a shopping mall in 1978 and has operated sporadically ever since.

With the restoration came tales of hauntings, shifting the hotel’s reputation from health spa to paranormal hotspot. The Mineral Springs Hotel is now considered one of the most haunted locations near St. Louis, with stories ranging from spectral suicide victims to phantom children.

Guests and paranormal investigators alike report eerie encounters, including shadowy figures, strange noises, and unexplained cold spots. The spirits here seem to have stuck around long after the mineral baths dried up!

The McPike Mansion in Alton, Illinois, on the outskirts of St. Louis, was built between 1869 and 1871 and once stood as the grandest home in town. It’s had its fair share of characters, from former mayor Henry Guest McPike to Paul Laichinger, who lived there until 1951.

The mansion sat abandoned for years, looking perfectly spooky before Sharyn and George Luedke impulsively bought it in 1994. Since then, ghostly tales have turned this place into a ghost hunter’s dream (or nightmare).

Among the spirits, Laichinger himself is said to stare out the windows, while Sarah, a friendly former servant, lingers in the attic, leaving behind the scent of lilies. Creepy children’s laughter, thought to be McPike’s kids who died young, often drifts through the backyard—because nothing says “welcome” like ghostly giggles.

The wine cellar is a paranormal hot spot, filled with mysterious mists, voices, and the ominous scrape of its heavy door. Shadow figures, phantom footsteps, and floating apparitions round out the spooky sights for those brave enough to pay a visit.

Opened in November 1925 as the St. Louis Theatre, Powell Symphony Hall became the home of the St. Louis Symphony Society in 1966, and let’s just say they aren’t the only ones who moved in. Some ghostly tenants have been sharing the space for years!

The most famous resident is George, a spirit with a handlebar mustache who prefers to wander the halls in his snazzy white tuxedo and hat—apparently, the afterlife calls for a dress code! There’s also a female ghost haunting the old projector room and another spirit named Richard who’s known to roam upstairs.

Things got extra creepy in 2010 when paranormal investigators spent a night in the theater. After a series of strange occurrences, the music director and his secretary found themselves locked in an auxiliary storage room as if the ghosts were saying, “This is our hall now!”

And just to add a little drama, the wall phone in the basement’s Whitaker Room rang exactly once at 3 a.m. during a ghostly Q&A session. While some of the knocks and slams might be acoustics playing tricks, other encounters are a bit tougher to laugh off!

Opened on January 31, 1929, the Fabulous Fox Theatre was the crown jewel of William Fox’s motion picture empire. Costing nearly $5 million—a jaw-dropping sum for the time—the theater attracted thousands of spectators over its nearly 80 years. And as it turns out, some of those spectators seem to be… spectral.

Over the years, the Fox Theatre has experienced more than its fair share of ghostly activity. Toilets flush on their own, the smell of cigar smoke drifts through empty corridors, and a shadowy figure has even been caught on camera lounging in the seats.

Then there’s the marquee room, situated beneath the Fox Club, where stomping footsteps and rattling doorknobs add to the creepy ambiance.

Employees upstairs in the projector room have reported hearing disembodied voices and spotting a red-haired woman in a light blue suit. Many believe this is none other than Eve Fox, William Fox’s wife, who apparently decided she loves the theater too much to ever leave!