ghostly kc things!

In 2012, according to CBS Moneywatch, Kansas City was named “haunted house capital of US,” which is no surprise to locals, since Kansas Citians love a great ghost story. One such haunted place was serial killer Bob Berdella’s home on Charlotte Street; many witnessed ghosts of young men in the windows of the home before it was demolished in 1993

The Hotel Savoy The Hotel Savoy was built in 1888 on the corner of Ninth and Central streets by Arbuckle Brothers of the Arbuckle Coffee Company. During th Ross Griff via Flickr The Hotel Savoy was built in 1888 on the corner of Ninth and Central streets by Arbuckle Brothers of the Arbuckle Coffee Company. During the turn of the century it was the only hotel seen as folks departed the Union Depot offering luxury dining, marble walls, rooftop garden and ballrooms. This hotel was visited by some famous historical figures such as Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Sara Bernhardt and John D. Rockefeller. The hotel does not offer ghost tours but spend a night at the hotel and you may experience a haunting of two spirits, which roam Hotel Savoy today. One spirit, Betsy Ward is said to have passed away in room 505 of a heart attack. Those who stay in this room report the shower and faucets turning off and on by themselves, mysterious music and doors inside the room opening on their own. Another ghostly resident is Fred Lightner who haunts the fourth floor of the hotel, which used to be his apartment. Guest and staff claim to hear strange voices, laughter, doors opening and shutting on their own, unexplainable shadows and full body apparitions of a man dressed in 1930’s attire. Hotel Savoy 9th & Central Kansas City, Mo. 816.842.3575

John Wornall House The John Wornall House is one of Kansas City’s oldest homes in the area with a rich history of the civil war that haunts the home today. Th Paul Sableman via Flickr The John Wornall House is one of Kansas City’s oldest homes in the area with a rich history of the civil war that haunts the home today. The house is so haunted, according to the tour guide, “One neighbor keeps their lights on every night and hangs crosses all over their window that faces the Wornall house. While another neighbor complained of so many disturbances of vanishing people walking in their backyard -- which faced the Wornall carriage house -- that they whited out their windows.” During the month of October on Friday and Saturday nights you can participate in a Ghost tour to learn and experience some of these spooky events. Some hauntings you may see are armed soldiers patrolling the doors and balconies, smell of pipe tobacco, a woman in the kitchen bent in front of the fireplace, light orbs floating on the rocking chair in the children’s bedroom and other unexplained noises and voices. One particular disturbing incident reported by a staff member is when the guns hanging in the home all turned to aim at the front door.

The John Wornall House 6115 Wornall Road Kansas City, Mo. 816.444.1858

The Elms Hotel is another historic and haunted site built in 1888 in Excelsior Springs just 34 minutes Northeast of Kansas City, which is a Americasroof via Wikimedia.org The Elms Hotel is another historic and haunted site built in 1888 in Excelsior Springs just 34 minutes Northeast of Kansas City, which is a must-see and visit. The hotel was originally built so folks could enjoy the healing powers of the mineral spring. Unfortunately the hotel had a devastating fire in 1898 and was rebuilt in 1909 and has entertained many famous folks; such as Al Capone, “Pretty Boy” Floyd and Bugsy Moran who reportedly hosted illegal gambling and bathtub gin parties at the hotel. Other famous celebrities include President Harry S. Truman, Jack Dempsey and the New York Giants who visited and trained there. While they currently do not have any ghost tours scheduled, a stay at the hotel to enjoy the calming lap pool, luxurious rooms and see friendly ghost is always recommended. Some of the hauntings reported by guest and staff are the spirits of gamblers who hangout around the lap pools where the illegal gambling occurred and the presence of full apparitions wearing 1920’s style housemaid uniforms. The Elm’s Hotel and Spa 401 Regent Street Excelsior Springs, Mo. Phone: 816.630.5500