Oklahoma may seem like a boring state to some, but those people don’t know the ghost stories and haunted spots in Oklahoma.
First is Fort Gibson. During the 1870s a young man arrived at Fort Gibson and enlisted in the service. Just a few weeks later Private Thomas was found dead on one of the graves in the nearby cemetery and doctors discovered that the young man was actually in fact, a young woman. Private Thomas was actually Vivia Thomas from back East.
Vivia was a socialite who became engaged to a soldier who deserted her. The man simply left a note behind and took off West. The only thing she knew for sure was that at one point he was at Fort Gibson and so she followed him West. Traveling that way at that time was a hard thing for anyone, but especially a woman. She posed as a man simply to make things a little easier and kept up the façade when she arrived at Fort Gibson.
While Vivia did manage to pass herself off as a man, she also found life even harder than she imagined. Her former fiancé was still stationed there, but the man was now involved with a Native American lady. She saw them together numerous times and felt abandoned and lost.
Eventually the woman snapped and killed her former love, leaving his body near the Fort. The man was buried and Vivia confessed her sins to a local priest. Then she took to visiting his grave every night, trying to make amends for her actions. Now people still claim to see someone walking through the cemetery at Fort Gibson, crying near one specific grave. Apparently Vivia isn’t ready to move on.
Fort Gibson isn’t the only haunted fort in Oklahoma, so too is Fort Washita. The Fort was used during the Civil War and at one point a woman was murdered there, or at least that’s what local legend says. The woman was decapitated and now walks the old ruins of the Fort Washita, looking for either her head or some gold she buried there, depending on what story you hear. There are also stories of things disappearing and even tales of an odd man dressed in an old Civil War uniform.
In Weatherford, Oklahoma you’ll find the haunted tale known as Dead Woman’s Crossing. According to local legend a woman named Katie Henry died on the bridge in 1905 when traveling with her young daughter. The woman stayed with a local woman who was well known as a prostitute by the name of Norton.
One day the two women drove off together in a buggy with Katie’s daughter and only Norton returned. Norton left the child with strangers and disappeared to another town. When contacted by the police investigating Katie’s disappearance, Norton killed herself with a dose of poison. A few weeks later Katie’s body was found in the river, though her head was several feet away. Police said that the other woman had shot her and left her body in the wild.
Legend says that people now hear the sounds of a buggy moving across the bridge and the sounds of someone crying. The old fashioned bridge was replaced by a more modern affair and yet the stories still exist. Many people claim that Katie is still looking for her little girl.
Oklahoma is also the site of the Spooksville Triangle. The Triangle actually comprises several different states and is where people have seen strange lights at night. In different areas this phenomenon is known by different names, but in Oklahoma it’s simply the Spooksville Triangle or the Miami Spook Light.
The story says that a young girl went missing years ago and her mother tried to find her. She was distraught for years and continually tried to find her missing daughter, though she never did. Now her ghost is still out searching for her lost child. Thousands of people have seen the light over the years and no one has been able to explain what it is.
One of the most famous haunted places in all of Oklahoma is the Stone Lion Inn in Guthrie. This old fashioned bed and breakfast is home to several different ghosts. Owners and guests alike have shared experiences over the years. There are stories of someone walking through the halls after dark, doors opening on their own, and things disappearing on a reappearing on their own. Supposedly a young girl died in the house during the early 1900s and now haunts her former home.
Also in Guthrie is the old Guthrie Boy’s Home. Supposedly an old janitor killed himself in the building and now haunts it. The man hung himself from the bell tower or at least committed suicide in the tower. People claim to sometimes hear the man walking in the tower or moaning. The bigger story told though involves a wicked nurse that once worked for the school.
The nurse supposedly abused six boys at the school for no reason except that she wanted to and felt she had that right. Eventually the boys spoke up and she was investigated by officials and found guilty. She walked into the school and coldly murdered all six boys, believing that they ruined her life. Supposedly the nurse haunts the school, making people feel uneasy and uncomfortable and the screams of the boys dying can be heard as well.
In Ponca City, Oklahoma you’ll find the haunted 101 ranch. At one point in history the ranch was used by working cowboys as a place to relax when not performing. Even Will Rogers was known to stop by a time or two. Everyone would relax around the campfire, share stories and even sing songs. Today people claim that at night you can still hear the sounds of people singing and joking, even though there’s no one and nothing there.
Looks like there’s a little more to Oklahoma than you thought!
