Independence MO Invites You To Tour Its Paranormal Path

Missouri is no stranger to haunted places. In fact, some of them have even been investigated on paranormal shows, such as when Amy and Adam from Kindred Spirits went to the Belvoir Winery & Inn in Liberty, Missouri. Steve and Amy from The Dead Files have investigated several private homes in the state. And Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures have both been among the shows to investigate the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City.

Speaking of Jefferson City, our Haunted Capitals Project polls show it’s in a three-way tie for the most haunted city in Missouri, along with Kansas City and St. Louis. No one has cast a vote for Independence yet, even though it’s also on the list.

Which is both sort of a shame and sort of surprising because did you know Independence, Missouri, is proud of their paranormal activity? So much so their visitor center’s website has a Paranormal Path that highlights three historic haunted places in their city, all of which either offer public and/or private ghost hunts and/or ghost tours. Neither Jefferson City, Kansas City nor St. Louis have such a section on their tourism websites.

In addition to the Paranormal Path, Independence’s site also has a Haunting Heritage page. It provides more specific paranormal details about each place’s history, including who lived there, who may haunt there, and the accounts of paranormal activity reported there. Let’s take a peek!

Haunted Places on the Paranormal Path

Vaile Mansion

The 31-room Victorian mansion was built in 1881 and was occupied by Harvey and Sophia Vaile until she died from a morphine overdose in 1883. In 1911, it became a sanatorium. At least three of the patients died during lobotomies. And the basement is where the “more severely ill patients” were confined in shackles.

Some claim Sophia’s spirit still lingers in the bedroom that she died in. Others say they’ve seen apparitions in the basement. Perhaps those of former mental patients?

For those who are interested in seeing a beautiful historic home, the mansion now welcomes tourists to drink in its architecture and “era-appropriate furnishings.” They also sometimes host ghost tours and allow private paranormal investigations.

Bingham-Waggoner Estate

This historic gem was built in 1827 and has a unique tie to history: it “marks the starting point of the Santa Fe Trail, where thousands of pioneers took off for the promises of the West.”

In 1979 the City of Independence turned the 19.5-acre estate into a museum and a park. “The home remains a time capsule of 19th-century architecture and design.”

Some say the restless spirit of a woman in white —possibly a bride who tumbled to her death on the stairs?— roams the house.

1859 Jail, Marshal’s Home & Museum

Behind what was the home of Independence’s Marshal stands 12 limestone jail cells that also have ties to some interesting history.  In addition to holding Confederate leader William Clark Quantrill, outlaws Frank and Jesse James also spent time behind bars here.

As far as paranormal activity, it runs the gamut from disembodied footsteps, voices, and growls to visitors reporting feeling sick and cold.

Tour the Paranormal Path Trailer

To help promote their haunted places, Independence Tourism created a short promo video called Tour the Paranormal Path. They invite folks who like to jaunt to haunted places (me, and likely you if you’re reading this) to come visit.

I learned about it because FOX4KC covered a story about how it won a top international marketing award, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s 2020 Adrian Awards. Check it out!

For More Info

Visit visitindependence.com.

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