Cemeteries are creepy enough on their own, but add some urban legends and eerie sightings and they become downright terrifying. If you’re scared of things that go bump in the night, we are pretty sure you’ll want to avoid the following six haunted and abandoned cemeteries in Missouri.

1. Peace Church Cemetery – Joplin
Peace Church Cemetery, N Peace Church Ave, Joplin, MO 64801, USA
Peace Church Cemetery/Facebook
Peace Church Cemetery was founded in the 1800s. One of its "residents" includes Billy Cook, who murdered six people during a three-week killing spree in the 1950s. Cook was executed in a San Quentin gas chamber and buried in an unmarked grave. Many people have claimed to see ghostly figures, with some even leaving the cemetery with strange scratches on them.
2. Mound Grove – Independence
Mound Grove Cemetery, 1818 N River Blvd, Independence, MO 64050, USA
Mound Grove Cemetery/Facebook
There have been reports of a woman in a nightgown walking around eerie Mound Grove Cemetery. She often follows visitors, disappearing at the graveyard's gate. Here's another little historical tidbit about Mound Grove: Joseph Smith III, son of Mormon church founder Joseph Smith, is buried here.
3. Springfield National Cemetery – Springfield
Springfield National Cemetery, 1702 E Seminole St, Springfield, MO 65804, USA
Ron Doke/Flickr
Founded in 1860, Springfield National Cemetery has some regular guests. There have been numerous reports of Civil War soldiers, glowing gravestones, and eerie orbs. If you've ever been to this cemetery, you've likely had a paranormal experience.

Related Stories

These 6 Haunted Hotels in Missouri Will Make Your Stay a Nightmare

These 6 Haunted Hotels in Missouri Will Make Your Stay a Nightmare

 12 Creepy Houses in Missouri That Could Be Haunted

12 Creepy Houses in Missouri That Could Be Haunted

 One Of The Most Haunted Cemeteries In Missouri Is Also The Most Beautiful

One Of The Most Haunted Cemeteries In Missouri Is Also The Most Beautiful
4. Old Lorimier Cemetery – Cape Girardeau
Lorimier Cemetery, 500 N Fountain St, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, USA
Larry J. Summary/Wikimedia Commons
It's always the old cemeteries that are haunted. Old Lorimier Cemetery, founded in the early 1800s, has an oft-reported phenomenon called the Tapping Ghost. Visitors report feeling someone, or something, repeatedly tapping them on the shoulder, but no one is there. Some have also had their hair pulled. Sounds like a mischief-loving spirit! This cemetery is the final resting spot for upward of 6,000 people, with most of the graves being unmarked. The graveyard also has supposedly been used as a mass burial site during times of epidemics or large, tragic accidents.
5. Oak Ridge Cemetery – Elsberry
Oak Ridge Cemetery, Elsberry, MO 63343, USA
seeAghost/YouTube
In the 1940s, the female caretaker of Oak Ridge Cemetery, which was founded in 1876, was found murdered on the premises. Her family couldn't afford a burial, so she was placed in an unmarked grave in the cemetery she used to watch over. Visitors of this cemetery have reported eerie voices and seeing a lantern moving around at night.
6. Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery – St. Louis
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 2900 Sheridan Rd, St. Louis, MO 63125, USA
flickr/Heather Bradley
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, named after Thomas Jefferson, was founded in 1826. The military buildings near the cemetery are supposedly haunted by quite a few spirits, including a Confederate Civil War general, frequently spotted at the post commander's office in Building 1. In Building 25, lights occasionally turn on by themselves, and in Building 29, toilets flush by themselves and the sounds of footsteps, as well as a voice saying "Dismissed" have been heard.

If you were to do a search for “abandoned cemeteries near me,” one of these spots would most certainly pop up at the top of the list!

Have you ever been to any of these creepy haunted cemeteries in Missouri? If so, which ones made the biggest impression on you? Would you agree that these are among the most haunted abandoned cemeteries in Missouri? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments section below! Also, if you can think of any other haunted cemeteries in Missouri to add to this list, please share those with us as well.

Do you enjoy fall? Then you might like to read Get Lost In These 11 Awesome Corn Mazes In Missouri This Fall.

If you’re like us and get hungry when you go check out cemeteries, you could probably use these food containers. And you can use them with our ultimate list of 50 on-the-go food ideas.

For a mini tour of oak Ridge cemetery, watch this:

If you’re still in the mood for more Show Me State adventures, take a look at this video:

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

More Missouri Adventures

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | September 19, 2023

Where can we find waterfalls in Missouri?

  • Dogwood Canyon near Branson features several beautiful waterfalls across its 10,000-acre expanse.
  • Grand Falls located south of Joplin is the largest natural flowing waterfall in Missouri.
  • The Hodgson Mill Waterfall near Sycamore is one of the state’s great landmarks.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other beautiful waterfalls in Missouri.

Where can we find beautiful bridges in Missouri?

  • The Martin Luther King Bridge in St. Louis is a 4,000-foot cantilever truss bridge spanning across the Mississippi River.
  • The Windsor Harbor Road Bridge in Kimmswick is the oldest known wrought iron span in Missouri.
  • The Paseo Bridge (also known as the ICON Bond Bridge) in Kansas City is one of the most beautiful structures in the area.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other beautiful bridges in Missouri.

Where can we find hiking trails in Missouri?

  • The Bell Mountain Loop Trail in Belleview is for more advanced hikers due to its 11.6-mile length, but the views of the surrounding oak forested hills are worth it.
  • The Clifty Creek Nature Area Trail in Dixon is a 2.5-mile loop trail that passes by beautiful limestone rock formations along some moderately rocky terrain.
  • The Klondike Park Trail meanders through a former quarry and offers scenic views of the Missouri River.

Read on to learn about some of the many other great hiking trails in Missouri.

Related Articles

Explore Missouri