The Story Behind This Evil Place In Iowa Will Make Your Blood Turn Cold
The story of the Villisca Axe Murders of 1912 is chilling. Many visitors report seeing, feeling, and hearing strange things as they tour the property where two adults and six children were murdered in their beds.

On the evening of June 10, 1912, an entire family and their two overnight guests were murdered in their beds with an axe. The killer was never caught.

Their neighbor, Mary Peckham, noticed the house remained lifeless at 8am the next morning and went for help. Upon entering the home, Ross Moore, a family friend stated to Ms. Peckham, "I am afraid there is something awful happened, there is blood in the beds."
Ms. Peckham was eventually committed to an insane asylum. Many speculate that the trauma of finding out what happened to her neighbors was too much for her to bear.
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The home where J.B. Moore, Sara Moore, and six children were murdered was purchased by Darwin and Martha Linn of Corning, Iowa in 1994. They restored the home to its condition in 1910, it was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places, and the couple opened it for tours.
Old photos of the crime scene and funeral exist. They are somewhat blurry, but still quite chilling. The entire community was shaken to its core. The funeral for the family was the biggest the town had ever experienced.
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Villisca Ax Murder House/Facebook

Villisca Ax Murder House/Facebook

Open for tours on April 1 of this year, this historic home is located at 508 E 2nd Street in Villisca, Iowa.


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The film makers are Iowa-natives who spent a great deal of time between 1994 and 2004 developing the movie and shooting the scenes.

Some say daylight tours are the best option if you'd like to learn about the history and the story behind the house. Walk-in tours are available Tuesday through Sunday from 1pm until 3:30pm. The house is closed at 4pm. Individual daytime tours are $10 each unless you are over 60 or between 7 and 11, then your price is $5. This is a cash-only tour.

That's right; overnight stays are available for between one and six people.
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Similar murders occurred in Ellsworth, Kansas, Guilford, Missouri, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Many people believed that the victims died at the hands of a single murderer.

Mr. Moore was a prime suspect in the Villisca axe murders. He committed a similar act when he killed his mother and grandmother a few months after the Villisca incident. Although he was one of the suspects, he was not convicted of the crimes in Villisca.
The Villisca Ax Murder House is certainly one of the most famous haunted, sad, mysterious, and terrifying places in Iowa. You can learn more about tours, booking an overnight stay, and the story behind this house by visiting the Villisca Ax Murder House website.
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