The state’s tourism director says there are plenty of places across the state Missourians can go for a good scare before Halloween.
142-year-old Housing Unit 4, or A-Hall, at Missouri State Penitentiary.
Katie Steele Danner says that includes places that are purported to be haunted, some of which have earned international attention.
“One of the most famous of those is the Lemp Mansion in St. Louis, which was actually listed last year among the 10 spookiest buildings around the world by CNN Travel.” Danner also highlighted The Elms in Excelsior Springs and the 176-year-old Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City.
Other types of haunted houses are more theatrical in nature. Danner says one of the most famous is in Kansas City. “The Edge of Hell, which features some really creepy sites, including Medusa … the longest snake that ever has been held in captivity.” Others include The Beast, also in Kansas City, and The Darkness in St. Louis.
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Danner says there is a strong emphasis on history at many sites. “In Ste. Genevieve … you can have a deja vu spirit reunion on October 27 and go into the memorial cemetery and potentially have face-to-face encounters with some of the spirits that are actually costumed reenactors of some of the folks that played an important role in the city’s history.”
A similar event takes place under one of the state’s most nationally known landmarks. “Ghosts on the Arch Grounds on October the 25th on the Gateway Arch. Not typically someplace that we think of as being haunted. It’s kind of a ranger-led twilight walking tour … and you can kind of learn about various incarnations of the buildings and the people and the boats that have been there over the last 40-plus years.”
There are many other attractions that are more about the season than Halloween, such as corn mazes and pumpkin patches.
For the state’s listing of attractions, go to visitmo.com.