This Ghost Town Hiding In Kansas Is Hauntingly Beautiful
Annie
Author
Diamond Springs, Kansas… have you heard of it? Neither have we… but there is good reason for it, as the once-booming Morris County town is no more, leaving behind only a few dilapidated buildings and hauntingly beautiful memories of the past. Read on to learn about one of the more fascinating Kansas Ghost Towns.
Originally discovered during the early 1820s, the town of Diamond Springs was a popular stop for early travelers on the Santa Fe Trail, earning the nickname of the “Diamond of the Plains” because of the area’s large and abundant spring. As the town gained even more popularity amongst emigrants, businesses began to gradually incorporate, quickly bringing in an official mail station, hotel, restaurant, store, and more during the spring of 1849. Despite being a popular place to regroup and rest, the Diamond of the Plains soon earned a second nickname: the “Journey of the Dead,” as attacks from Native Americans and lack of water were becoming increasingly common.
Despite the impending dangers, travelers continued to visit the area, leading the post office to name it an official town in 1859. Things were looking up for Diamond Springs until 1863, when the Civil War was in full swing and a Quantrill Confederate by the name of Dick Yeager stopped into town. Yeager robbed the stage station, brutally killed the manager, and severely injured his wife. After the attack, Yeager set the building on fire and skipped town, leaving behind more damage and destruction than one could possibly imagine. The station, one of the few operating town businesses, was moved down the road to Six Mile Creek, and the town eventually folded due to the lack of traffic along the Santa Fe Trail.
In 1868, a new and improved Diamond Springs was established in the same location and became a minor Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad shipping point for local farmers. Sadly, the fate of the new Diamond Springs remained the same as that of the former, with the post office closing in 1930.
Although the town of Diamond Springs is no more, there are several still-standing buildings in the area, which subtly tell the story of a once bustling town that is no more.
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Take a look at this video of the town to learn a bit more.
If you’ve ever wondered “is Diamond Springs, Kansas a ghost town, now you know! Have you ever been here? Tell us all about it. Read our article if you want to learn more about the ghost towns in Kansas.
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More to Explore
Creepy Kansas
Which ghost towns in Kansas should I visit?
There are a few ghost towns in Kansas that lovers of all things creepy and historical enthusiasts alike will enjoy. Try visiting one of these:
- Dunlap is over 150 years old and was once a thriving town, now all that remains are a few hundred residents and many crumbling buildings.
- LeHunt is said to be haunted by the spirit of one of the employees who passed away in the towns cement plant! Very creepy.
- Bushong was tragically devastated by a large fire that sent most of its residents packing, but now it is known as one of the smallest towns in Kansas!
What are most haunted places in Kansas?
If you love a good chill up your spine, make the trip to one of these fascinating haunted places in Kansas:
- The Wolf Hotel is over 120 years old and its underground tunnel system is supposedly haunted by multiple spirits.
- The Kansas Insane Asylum hosted many horrors against humanity in the years it was open. It's no wonder that there have been rumblings of spirit activities here.
- Sauer Castle saw many untimely deaths of its residents while people lived in it, and now that the building has been left to be reclaimed by nature it looks quite creepy.
Are there any abandoned places in Kansas that I can go to?
There are a few interesting abandoned places in Kansas that are worth checking out, but some lie on private property or may be unsafe to venture inside, so make sure to do your research before visiting these spots:
- Atlas E Missile Base is a now abandoned military base that is for sale for a shockingly low price. But the dilapidated state of it might explain that.
- St. Aloysious Church is a beautiful old stone building that was partially destroyed in 1982. The ruins are now being reclaimed by nature in a quite beautiful way.
- Joyland was a beloved Kansas theme park that unfortunately went bankrupt. What remains of the rides and attractions lies out there in ruin. It's quite fascinating.