Sometimes, it can seem as though every single corner of the Sunflower State is plagued by the paranormal. It can feel like just about everywhere in the state is a haunted place in Kansas! Today’s story comes out of Valley Center, just outside of Wichita. This one may be one of the creepiest urban legends in the state’s history. If you feel like you’re brave enough, this haunted bridge in Kansas is well worth the visit. Read on to learn more about Theorosa’s Bridge, the bridge found on 109th at Jester Creek in Valley Center:

The bridge that stands here today is actually not the original bridge. That one was made of iron and wood and burned down in 1974 - and then again just a few years later. The current bridge is made of concrete.
Delaiah Willett/Google Local
Over the years, many legends have plagued this bridge. None of them have ever been confirmed, but one thing is for sure: those who cross this historic bridge, especially at night, cannot help but feel a sense of eeriness.
One of the stories to come from Theorosa's Bridge is that of baby Theorosa, a daughter of 19th-century settlers. It is said that she was stolen by a Native American tribe during a rampage on the bridge.
Hoenir_the_silent/Google Local
Her grief-stricken and worried mother left camp to search for the child to no avail. To this day, visitors claim that you can see the ghost of Theorosa's mother still looking for the baby girl she lost so long ago.

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Another origin story regarding the bridge's name is that Theorosa was a young Native American girl. After having a child with a married settler, she threw herself and her baby from the bridge into the cascading waters below.
Donna Rickard/Google Local
It is said that if you look and listen carefully, you can still see and hear the young woman thrashing in the waters of the creek.
Yet another story is that a blonde-haired, blue-eyed farmer's wife had a brown-haired, dark-eyed daughter. Her father suspected that the girl was the illegitimate child of the neighbor, and drowned the young child.
Bill W/Google Local
The father and two sons abandoned the mother as she desperately searched the creek for her daughter. She never gave up hope that her child would one day return.

While all of these stories vary, one thing is for sure: someone could be haunting the bridge. Witnesses have reported all sorts of oddities on Theorosa’s Bridge including strange lights, sounds, temperature changes, and orbs. It’s said that the spirits on this haunted bridge in Kansas are much more active at night.

Have you ever visited the area? Did you notice any strange occurrences? Share your experiences in the comments!

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Theorosa's Bridge

Tori Jane | May 14, 2021

What are some creepy haunted places in Kansas?

Kansas is an older state, and with older states come plenty of spooky histories! Some of the most famous haunted places in Kansas are such spooky gems like the Stull Cemetery, in Stull, where you might just find a stairway that descends straight down to Hell. There's also the Sallie House, in Atchison, which is probably the most famous Kansas haunt, as well as one of the scariest. If you'd like to take a trip to some of the most haunted places in Kansas, this article will help guide you! 

What kind of Kansas ghost stories are there?

Kansas is a place with lots of history - some of which is pretty creepy! We've got lots of urban legends, ghost stories, and other tales of the uneasy to tell around a campfire. There's the famous tale of a ghost train, which, in 1878, terrified a group of railroad section men as they thought a train was headed straight for them. An explanation for the specter seen by several men was never found. It's said that the wayward spirit of an albino woman still walks the road she always used to when she was alive, staring down children on their way to school. 

Where can I find creepy places in Kansas?

Plenty of places! Honestly, if you just hop in the car and start driving, you're bound to find dozens of abandoned homesteads that make for excellently spooky exploration. You can visit the small town of Atchison, where what's said to be the most haunted house in the entire state, the Sallie House, still stands. We're home to numerous old graveyards, and those are always a great spooky thrill to visit - especially at night! The older the cemetery, they say, the more likely you are to run into someone who is no longer as alive as you are.

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