The Fouke Monster is said to roam
the timberlands of south Arkansas.
Legendary Monsters & Ghosts of Arkansas
From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord, deliver us! Scottish Saying
If you have no fear, discover where the monsters and ghosts of Arkansas haunt! You'll find haunted places in Arkansas, featuring Arkansas ghost towns, spooky legends, ghost tours, legendary monsters and mysterious lights.
Haunted Crescent Hotel & Basin Park
Ghost sightings have been reported in many Arkansas public buildings. Reports of apparitions in the 1886 Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas have given the hotel a reputation of being haunted. These stories. Several apparitions have reportedly been seen numerous times by guests and staff. They are so much a part of hotel's legacy it offers daily ghost tours. The Crescent's sister hotel, the 1905 Basin Park, is also a favorite haunt for restless spirits; nightly ghost tours are offered as well.
Paranormal Occurrences
Forrest City's 1906 Rush-Gates House has had its share of paranormal occurrences. Now the St. Francis County Museum, it hosts "A Night at the Museum" tours at various times during the year. Check www.SFCMuseum.org for scheduling information. Monticello's Allen House is an impressive 1906 structure with its own set of frightening tales. According to bestandworst.com, the home is the "Most Haunted House in America." Although a private residence, the owners offer tours by appointment year-round and special events in October. Visit www.AllenHouseTours.com for details.
King Opera House
Mysterious Lights
Gurdon and Crossett are well-known for creepy legends about mysterious lights. Both are paranormal yarns about railroad workers who were beheaded while working the rails. Witnesses claim the spirits use lanterns to search for their severed appendages.
Historic King Opera House
The historic King Opera House in Van Buren has been adopted by the ghost of a young actor who was killed at the train depot a few blocks away. It is believed he has taken residence there because, according to some experts, "ghosts have a tendency to drift back to what anchored them to earth." Group tours are offered by appointment.
Where the Ghosts of Arkansas Live
Calico Rock has a unique claim to fame: it has the only authentic ghost town in America located within a living community. A downloadable walking tour map of Peppersauce Bottom is available on calicorocket.org/ghosttown.html. Don't miss what may be the best-known Arkansas ghost town, the old zinc mining town of Rush on the Buffalo National River.
White River & Fouke Monsters
For a different experience try spotting the White River and Fouke Monsters, both celebrated in Arkansas folklore. The White River creature has been reported as being "a gigantic sea serpent-like beast." For years, the Fouke Monster has been described as "a hairy, ape-like creature that haunts the swampy Sulphur River bottoms in Miller County."
Numerous other sites around the state have eerie reputations but are not open to the public. Learn more about spooky places and haunted events in Arkansas.