Following are the most haunted places in Salem, Oregon, where history and hauntings are entwined beneath the shadow of moss-draped oaks. These ghostly locations, steeped in voodoo, pirates, and tragedy, are said to echo with whispers from beyond, stirring in the humid night air.
23rd and 24th St off State
: "shadow/orb that manifests between 23rd and 24th Streets off State that will go between a body piercing shop and Sybillis Omelets."
Bush House
: "The Bush House is now a Art gallery has a ghost from the tern of the century, she was a young woman who suffered from schizophrenia, her family kept her in the basement in shame. She died there. She now haunts the house. The owners have residents who live in the upstairs they say the ghost of the young woman will play with the thermostat."
Capital Building
: "The capital was burned down twice by fire. One of the elevators shows its history when the carpeted floor mysteriously smolders. The capital has had to be evacuated once because of this unknown fire."
Croisan Creek Rd
: "Many years ago, little girl was hit and killed by a speeding care. Speeders going around that corner (near Kubler) report seeing a ball rolling into the road and a little girl chasing after it. It usually occurs on Friday nights. - October 2007 Update: Drivers that are exceeding the speed limit have seen the boy standing on the side of the road wagging his finger at them, but when they look for the boy in the rearview mirror he is not there. So slow down on Croisen Creek Rd in South Salem."
D Street 's Cemetery
: "Strange anomalies have been reported to be captured on film."
Denny's Restaurant
: "an evil entity is said to haunt this location."
Elsinore Theater
: "They say a boy was murdered in the men''s bathroom and you can still see the blood in mirror. Also the owners daughter fell off the top balcony and haunts the area she fell."
Fairview Training Center
: "This place was home to Salem''s Developmentally Disabled. Stories of brutality and murder about from this location. Many have said to see people walking across the lawns at night even though the place has been locked up since 2000. The cemetery there was built over by a building in 1930''s and the bodies were not moved when the building was torn down no one could account for the missing 12 or so bodies. Former employees have said that they have seen the walls bleed and chairs move by themselves."
Footlocker Downtown
: "The footlocker in Salem center, used to be a parking lot where a little girl was killed, and now employees say that they have heard and seen her ghost back in the shoe room."
Hayesville Area
: "Reports of a ghostly semi-truck is said to drive around here and pass you at very high speeds at night then its lights fade right before your eyes! It will also chase away hitchhikers blowing its air horn. A wraith is also seen walking in the filbert trees."
Lausanne Hall University Dormitory
: "Maintenance workers report seeing the ghost of a young woman in the attic, which has been out of use for years due to students not wanting to live in it."
Leslie Middle School
: "Believed to be haunted by the founder of the school, Mr. Leslie."
Mission Mill
: "Once a thriving woolen mill, it is now a museum and home to businesses such as the Salem Art Center. Also on the grounds you can find the original home of Jason Lee, the founder of Salem, and several other historical buildings that were transplanted to the grounds. Employees have had experiences of a young woman running across the bridge (from her spouse; she was rumored to have been murdered on the bridge), meetings with Wayne the groundskeeper (who, after death, is still caring and watching over the grounds), and can sense extreme anger and pain from the turbine room, where a male employee lost his life while maintaining a turbine - while it was still on. Some people can also feel the vibrations of the old machinery running and weaving wool on the top floor of the museum; a room void of machinery and often rented for parties and receptions."
Home Town Buffet at 636 Lancaster Dr
: "Doors slamming and running footsteps heard in the women''s restroom. And an apparition of a woman in a pure white 50''s style dress with pure white skin and pure white clothes as was her hair."
Oregon school for the deaf
: "Boy''s dorm - many years ago 3 kids went down to the basement and were mysteriously killed. A black figure has been sighted by many students at a certain time on certain nights. A doll was found that appeared to be possessed. Ghosts have been seen in both the girl''s and boy''s dorms. - March 2008 Update/Correction: A former student states, there are no reports of anyone murdered. There were No basements existed back then *AND* there were NO dorms back then. They were in SAME building as the school building back then."
Oregon State Hospital
: "When walking in the old sections of the tunnels that run under the various buildings, you can sense that you are not alone. On the older section of the building (Administration Building) You at times will catch a site of figures in the windows, This building is also the site of which One flew Over The Cuckoos Nest was filmed. The building is condemned, however still has tormented spirits that occupy its halls and rooms."
Oregon state Penitentiary
: "Due to fact this institution is a maximum-security prison which has been standing since the 1800''s, there are many stories of hauntings. One is of an deceased inmate in D Block who walks the tiers and landings at night. His footsteps can be heard on the metal stairs and floors as he walks up one side of the stairs and down the other. If you try to catch him, he only speeds up. He has also been seen standing outside of cells causing graveyard officers to rush to the cell, only to find nobody there. The furniture factory and woodshop is also a hangout for the spirit of an inmate who were murdered there. There is an intercom in one of the towers where if you listen closely you can hear the chanting of an inmate who committed suicide. He repeats the same words over and over again in almost a whisper.. the inmate bled to death in his cell.. from that day on the chanting continued through the intercom box which is outside next to the building where it happened."
Pentacle Theatre
: "A ghost called "Shelia" roams this theatre. She seems to be benevolent, and there is some disscussion as to wether or not she was one of the founders of the theatre."
Zena Church
: "Has been removed. No Trespassing"