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For all of Iowa’s beauty and friendliness, there is a darker side. The Villisca Ax Murder House tells a haunting story of one of the most brutal crimes in Iowa history, and it will definitely keep you up at night. In 1912, the bodies of two adults and six children were discovered in a peaceful looking home in small town Villisca, Iowa. They had all been brutally murdered in their beds with an ax. The victims were the Moore family and two overnight guests who happened to be staying at their home at the time.

Much speculation and opinion about who was behind the crimes tore through the town, and differing opinions caused alliances and distrust to crop up between the townspeople. While local law enforcement came out in full force to figure out who was behind the murders and there were plenty of suspects, tragically, the mystery has remained unsolved.

Flickr/Laura Bernhardt
Many believe that the spirits of all of the victims of that tragic crime still reside in the home. In 1998, the home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and is now open to the public.
Facebook/Villisca Ax Murder House (official)
The house is now open for daylight and overnight tours. Video and audio recordings are allowed in the home, and many guests of the house have reported and recorded what they believe to be paranormal activity.
Yelp/Cynthia E.
Over the years, the house became dilapidated and run down, and it was in danger of being razed.
Flickr/Jo Naylor
After the grisly murders took place, there have been several owners of the home. It has also had a history of being a rental property, although it was known for never being able to hold tenants for long. Hmm...I wonder why?

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Flickr/Jo Naylor
A man named Darwin Linn bought the property in 1994 and went about the process of restoring the home.
Facebook/Villisca Ax Murder House (official)
Visitors have captured numerous electronic voice phenomena (EVPs), audio recordings that are interpreted as supernatural, video of strange occurrences, photos, and have felt cold spots that are commonly associated with ghosts.
Facebook/Villisca Ax Murder House (official)
You might be brave enough to spend the night, but are you brave enough to go into the attic?
Facebook/Villisca Ax Murder House (official)
Plenty of visitors went into their visit as skeptics and came out as believers that the house is haunted.
Flickr/Jo Naylor
Overnight tours are by reservation only and they are for groups of ten or less. Upon checking in, you’ll be given a tour of the house and the grounds. After that, you’ll be left with the key and the prospect of a terrifying night in a haunted house. Do you dare to spend the night?

The price for an overnight visit can be a little pricey, but if you have a large group, that can help offset the cost. It’s a minimum of $428.00 per night for one to six guests, with an additional charge of $74.90 for each additional guest. Daylight tours run from March 26th through October 31st, daily, from 1pm-3:30pm on Tuesdays through Sundays. They’re closed on Mondays. Cost is $10.00 per person 12 and over. Children 7-11 and seniors over 65 pay $5.00.

Call Martha at 712-621-1530 to book an overnight tour.

Address: 508 E 2nd St, Villisca, IA

You can take a virtual tour of the home here.

Have you spent the night at this terrifying house? Curious about other Iowa hauntings? These 10 Hauntings In Iowa Will Send Chills Down Your Spine.

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