The town of Ames, Iowa, is best known for being home to Iowa State University, where thousands of young Iowans continue their education and embark on the first journey of their adult lives. Ames is hiding a bit of a secret, though, and you may not find it on an admissions brochure. Iowa State's campus is one of the most haunted in the country, and nearly everyone who attends ends up with a ghost story of their own. If you're a fan of haunted Iowa, this is one creepy college campus you definitely don't want to miss.
For decades, Iowa residents have known the town of Ames to be one of the most haunted places in the state.
Chances are, you know someone who attended Iowa State University.
Ask them about the ghosts they saw while they were on campus!
On campus, the gorgeous Lake Laverne is a spot for relaxing and picnicking - but keep an eye out.
It's said that figures rise out of the mist, and cold spots appear out of nowhere.
Memorial Union looks out over Lake Laverne, and it's just as haunted.
Low moans and groans can be heard throughout the halls. The rumor is that the building is haunted by a female graduate of the school who died in World War I.
Even the campus administration building, Beardshear Hall, is thought to be haunted.
The ghost of an unruly janitor can be seen floating through the halls.
Many students avoid sections of the school's library, where books have been known to fall off of the shelves on their own, ghostly figures have appeared from nowhere, and cold spots pop up with no warning.
In the Stephens Theater, a lonely visitor watches out over rehearsals and performances from the balcony.
When approached, he completely disappears.
Perhaps the most chilling discovery that any ISU student makes is discovering they're assigned to live in Friley Hall.
One of the largest residential dorms in the country is also one of the most haunted. One room, dubbed "Satan's Legion", is connected to so much paranormal activity that it remains indefinitely unoccupied.
Of course, the campus of ISU is not the only part of Ames that remains haunted.
Local legends tell of ghosts at the Post Office and spirits at the Farm House Museum.
Oh, and if the paranormal activity on campus and around town wasn't creepy enough, the notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer spent years here while his father attended school. Dahmer lived at Pammel Court, and local rumor says that during renovations to the building, small animal carcasses were found in the walls.
Have you ever visited Iowa State's haunted buildings? Tell us your favorite Iowa ghost story in the comments!
If you can't get enough of the creepiest towns in Iowa, you might want to embark on the haunted road trip that will lead you to the scariest places in Iowa.
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