Curious about why Atchison is considered one of the most haunted towns in the Midwest? If you love a good ghost story, you’re in the right place.
This guide walks you through several haunted houses in Atchison, Kansas, as well as other haunted places. For each location we’ve provided approachable, family-friendly explanations and history.
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Note: I visited many of these locations on Atchison’s Haunted Trolley Tour, sponsored by Kansas Tourism. All opinions are my own.
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Is the Haunted Trolley Tour worth it?
I really enjoyed the storytelling on the tour, as well as not having to drive to each location myself. Many of the haunted places in Atchison are not open to the public except by arrangement, so seeing them from the trolley worked just fine.
The haunted trolley tour also includes several locations that aren’t houses, such as a former community theater and an empty lot that was once a graveyard.
The Sallie House
Address: 508 North Second Street, Atchison, Kansas
The Sallie House is famous for being Kansas’s most haunted house. In the 1990s, a young couple, Tony and Debra Pickman, moved into this house and began experiencing strange occurrences. You can read about it in Debra’s book, The Sallie House Haunting.
@dinkumtribe #hosted This is how the Sallie House became one of the most haunted houses in America. I was recently able to take a haunted trolley tour around Atchison, Kansas, and the Sallie House was open for us to tour. Would you tour this house? #ghoststories #tothestarsks #haunted @visitatchison #ghosttour ♬ Eerie – Perfect, so dystopian
I visited the Sallie House as part of the Haunted Trolley Tour. It definitely gives spooky vibes, even from the outside. I was unable to enter due to the strong musty smell inside (the house is normally closed, so there’s very little fresh air).
However several members of my party did go inside and look around. One reported a door closed that she had left open previously, and more than one person felt a “presence”.
The Sallie House offers self-guided tours by appointment, and even overnight stays for the avid paranormal investigator! Note that a waiver is required for either option.
Reported Spirits
- Little Sallie, a young girl said to have died on the operating table during emergency surgery
- A second, darker presence frequently noted by paranormal experts
Reported Activity
- cold spots
- scratches
- moving objects
- batteries draining quickly
- consistent EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena)
Media & Paranormal Investigations
The Travel Channel, A Haunting, BuzzFeed Unsolved, Paranormal Lockdown, plus countless haunt hunters and investigation teams.
1889 McInteer Villa
Address: 1301 Kansas Avenue, Atchison, Kansas
This ornate Victorian mansion is one of Atchison’s most photographed (and most haunted) buildings. John McInteer built the house in the late 1800s, and it’s said to be haunted by the spirit of his second wife.
The current owners of the McInteer Villa host events (both haunted and historic) throughout the year. For an annual fee, you can access the McInteer Cams to observe paranormal activities from afar.
You can also book a self-guided tour or an overnight stay in this haunted mansion. It’s one of the regular stops on the Haunted Trolley Tour.
@dinkumtribe #hosted Do you believe in ghosts? Or are you fascinated by the paranormal? You should check out Atchison, Kansas! “For more than a decade, paranormal enthusiasts, brave travelers and those who like otherworldly diversions have been flocking to Atchison, intent on exploring its rich haunted history. The stories have been told since Atchison was a bustling transportation hub and launching point for westward migration in the late 1800s, and later a pioneering railroad town. That’s when many of our stately homes were built. The bizarre occurrences in these majestic dwellings continue to happen today and paranormal investigators still hold Atchison as a hotspot of ghostly happenings.” From the Haunted Trolley Tour website. @visitatchison #tothestarsks #ghoststories #hauntedhouse ♬ original sound – DinkumTribe ADHD family travel
Reported Spirits
- Isabelle McInteer
- A woman in black seen in the tower
- A child spirit often captured through EVPs
Reported Activity
- shadow figures
- footsteps
- crying and unexplained voices
- light anomalies
- opening doors
- Goldie’s rocking chair moving with no one around
Media & Paranormal Investigations
Featured by NPR’s KCUR, Kansas tourism outlets, Apex Paranormal, and several Midwest investigation teams.
Santa Fe Depot
Address: 200 South 10th Street, Atchison, Kansas
This historic 1880 rail depot is home to the Atchison County Historical Museum. Along with many excellent exhibits about Kansas history, this freight depot comes with more than a few ghost stories tied to railroad life.
The Haunted Trolley Tour starts and ends at the Atchison Depot. Plan to allot at least an additional hour if you want to see the museum exhibits.
You won’t want to miss the mini “presidential library” about the only person who was President of the United States for only one day!
Reported Spirits
- “Hangman Bill,” a railroad worker killed on-site
- Unidentified railway employees
Reported Activity
- footsteps on the missing second floor
- shadow figures
- phantom whistles
- distant voices
Media Mentions
Regularly covered by local news and paranormal groups who focus on EVP recordings.
Gargoyle Home (Waggener House)
Location: Private residence — exterior viewing only
Built in 1884 and famous for its roofline gargoyles, this red-brick mansion is connected to long-standing neighborhood folklore. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but is privately owned and not available for visiting.
The Gargoyle house is a brief stop on the Haunted Trolley Tour.
Reported Spirits
- A male figure on the staircase
- Possible leftover energy tied to the Waggener family
Reported Activity
- shadow forms
- unusual light in the windows
- an eerie “watched” feeling outdoors.
Muchnic Art Gallery
Address: 704 North 4th Street, Atchison, Kansas
This Victorian mansion has gorgeous Queen Anne architecture and handcrafted woodwork, and is now the home of the Atchison Art Association. It’s rumored to be haunted, but the resident ghosts here aren’t malicious or scary.
The art gallery is open throughout the year on specific days of the week for art classes, events and exhibits. Admission to the gallery is by donation, although events and classes may require a fee.
This is another short stop on the Haunted Trolley Tour.
Reported Spirit
- A maid who died on the staircase
Reported Activity
- footsteps
- shifting artwork
- flickering lights
- various EVPs
Glick Mansion
Address: 503 North Second Street, Atchison, Kansas
Built in 1873 for Kansas Governor George Washington Glick, this stunning Italianate mansion is known for cozy, low-intensity paranormal activity. It was formerly operated as a bed and breakfast, but that closed a few years ago.
The Glick-Orr House is also included on the Haunted Trolley Tour, as well as walking tours of Atchison. It’s almost directly across the street from the Sallie House.
Reported Activity
- lights flicking on and off
- hallway footsteps
- rocking chairs moving by an unseen force
- cold pockets
- the smell of pipe smoke
Benedictine College
Location: Atchison, Kansas
This historic Catholic college has collected ghost stories and spirit activity across decades of student life. Some of these are connected to religious experiences, while others are more of the traditional variety.
The Benedictine College is not a regular part of the Haunted Trolley Tour or the haunted walking tours.
Reported Spirits
- A monk-like figure
- The Ghost Nun
- A weeping female student
- Shadow figures in the library stacks
Reported Activity
- phantom knocking
- footsteps
- door movements
- occasional apparitions.
Maple Street House
The house at 1322 Maple Street is built over the site of what was once Atchison’s cemetery. When the bodies were moved to a new cemetery site, over 100 bodies were unable to be located, and remain in the ground.
Haunted tours and a haunted taxi ride are available in connection with the Maple Street house. It’s been featured in various media outlets, including the Discovery Channel.
Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum
Address: 223 North Terrace Street, Atchison, Kansas
This Gothic Revival home overlooking the Missouri River was the birthplace of Amelia Earhart and her childhood home. It’s currently a historical museum, but staff and volunteers report consistent paranormal activity.
Amelia’s unsolved disappearance during her around-the-world flight attempt also lends an air of mystery to her story. The museum is open to visitors, but not part of the Haunted Trolley Tour.
Reported Activity
- footsteps in the nursery
- tapping noises
- shifting display items
- cold spots
- humming
- occasional flickering lights
Media & Investigations
Highlighted in Haunted Kansas books, podcasts, and occasional TV segments. After-hours activity is often logged by museum volunteers.
More haunted historic houses to explore in Atchison
We stopped at several other historic homes and purportedly haunted locales in Atchison on our trolley tour. Some of the best known ones are the Dilgert House, the Ravenhearse Mansion, and the Cray mansion. Each of these places has ghost stories and haunted tales for those who want to explore deeper.
Is this the most haunted town in Kansas? You decide!
These are a few of the more well-known and well-documented haunted sites around Atchison. However, there’s plenty of other places around town for enthusiasts to explore.
Atchison is also a popular destination for Halloween tourists. If you’re visiting in the autumn, be sure to search look into additional haunted season events at various locations.
You may also enjoy these posts:
- Halloween activities for teens and families
- Fall activities for teens and families
- Review of Amelia Earhart Hangar Museum
- Museums around Kansas City
- Hotel at Old Town Wichita
©️ Copyright Jennifer D. Warren, 2026.
