This Haunted 1882 Jailhouse Is Where John Dillinger Once Made A Famous Escape
By Tori Jane|Published August 18, 2021
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Indiana is a state filled with interesting history, both educational and intriguing. It has its fair share of old wives’ tales, local legends, and strange points of state pride. Speaking of strange state pride: did you know that once upon a time in the town of Crown Point, infamous outlaw John Dillinger made a quick escape from a jailhouse he was locked up in? It’s true – right here in the Hoosier State! And the best part is that you can still visit this old, allegedly haunted jail in Indiana where it all happened.
The town of Crown Point was established in 1840, in Lake County, as the new county seat.
Dillinger had been arrested in Arizona for an Illinois bank robbery that resulted in the death of one man. He was extradited to Indiana and locked up at the Crown Point jail. The jail was thought to be iron-clad and inescapable; nobody had managed to get out before.
The story goes that he crafted a "gun" out of wood, but it's possible that he could have smuggled a real one in as well. After forcing a jail employee to lock up 14 jailers (as well as the fingerprint guy... and the warden) using the "gun," he fled with another prisoner and two hostages they had taken in tow using a stolen cop car.
Just a few months later, Dillinger was dead, having been shot and killed by FBI agents in Chicago.
Today, there's something creepy about the place. It's something other than the normal creepiness that comes with old and/or abandoned buildings; it's the kind of creepiness that makes visitors feel like they're being watched as soon as they come inside.
It certainly doesn't help that the building can seem rather imposing, especially at night.
Today, you can still tour the sheriff's house and attached jail. Tours are offered on Thursdays and Saturdays from May through September. If ghost hunting is more of your forte, you're in luck - nighttime ghost tours are available, too.
For information and inquiries about the haunted nighttime tours, click here. For the most up-to-date information on daytime tours and more, click here. What are your thoughts on this (supposedly) haunted jail in Indiana? Have you ever toured it? Tell us your tales in the comments!
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