The 4 Most Haunted Graveyards In Indiana

  • By Sam Ashford
  • First Published: April 21, 2025
  • Last Updated: September 18, 2025

Crown Hill Cemetery, Indiana

Indiana‘s long and turbulent history makes it a prime location for spiritual activity. In the years following the state’s formation in 1816, local indigenous tribes were forcibly expelled from the territory and the state started mobilising for the American Civil War.

Throughout its lifetime Indiana has collected many mournful spirits that today wander the state’s cemeteries. In this blog, we will be focusing on the 4 most spiritually active cemeteries in the state:

  1. Stepp Cemetery
  2. Crown Hill Cemetery
  3. The Old Blackford County jail cemeteries
  4. The Oakhill Cemetery

While many famous areas like the Hoosier National Forest and Lake Michigan have a plethora of spooky activity, today we will only be focusing on legendary grave sites. We will also go through a few commonly asked questions about visiting haunted cemeteries in Indiana.

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1. Stepp Cemetery

Stepp Cemetery is one of the most infamous haunted cemetery sites. It is located within the Morgan Monroe state forest, just off Old State Road 37.  The cemetery is named after the original owner of the land, Reuben Stepp. He purchased the land in 1856. The property fell into the care of the state 70 years later in 1929.

It wasn’t until after the state took ownership that the Stepp Cemetery gained its reputation as a place of mournful spirits. Locals specifically note the arrival of the Crabbite cult as the start of the mysterious activities at night.

The cult and ghosts

Not much is known about the Crabbites. The story goes that the cult was started by William Crabb. Local archivist Rhona Ann Dunn from the Brown County Historical Society notes one of their strange beliefs: “In revelations… it mentions that angels will come from the 4 corners of the Earth which led the Crabbites to believe the Earth was a square”

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Stepp Cemetery also has a few far darker stories attached to it. There is an infamous tree stump known as the “Warlock’s chair”. People have reported seeing spectral children and a woman in black cradling her dead daughter in her arms sitting on the stump chair.

The cemetery will most likely never again become a resting place for new bodies due to its remote location. Many paranormal investigators have stated that Stepp Cemetery is still collecting souls from road accidents and people who pass away in the Hoosier National Forest. Visitors still report eerie feelings, strange happenings and seeing mournful spirits to this day.

2. Crown Hill Cemetery

Located in central Indiana, Crown Hill Cemetery is one of the most significant burial sites in America. It is very well maintained so it lacks that overall eerie vibe that you will find at other infamous burial grounds. That said, few sites can compare with the rich history and famous inhabitants of this graveyard.

Benjamin Harris rides again

One rather infamous soul that found his final resting place here is the 23rd president of the United States, Benjamin Harris. People have claimed they can hear voices around his grave while others claimed to have seen the spirit of the man himself.

As far as we can surmise from historical archives and popular accounts, Harris did not have any unfinished business or traumatic death before he was buried here.

Some speculate he is roaming the cemetery as he can’t find peace after his experiences in the Civil War. Others say he is simply continuing his duty to the city he loves. The nearby Camp Morton was a prison camp during the Civil War. This has led some to speculate he may be conversing with the spirits of Confederate soldiers buried here.

Famous sightings

There are two other famous stories told by locals about sightings in the cemetery after dark:

  • The weeping angel – This statue is said to weep blood over the final resting place of John and Sarah Robertson, who mourn the loss of their child who died during birth.
  • The phantom carriage – Witnesses have reported a ghostly carriage travelling through the cemetery at night.

Crown Hill is the perfect place to join tour guide trips, as this cemetery has a rich history. It is also a great place to commune with spirits using a tool like a powerful Amethyst Pendulum. Who knows, there may be far darker stories to uncover for those who are brave enough to ask.

3. Old Blackford County Jail Cemeteries

Located on the main street in Hartford City, Indiana, the Blackford County Jail has been an imposing presence. Construction on what would become the county jail started in 1877. The location of the jail also included a sheriff’s office, a court house and what was known as a “poor farm”. This is a place where people with no other means can find a home. This included homeless people as well as the mentally ill.

You can imagine the denizens that called the jailhouse or poor farm home. It’s no surprise that visitors today still feel eerie energies and hear disembodies voices, most likely from former inmates who have passed on.

While the jail building itself is a hotbed of spiritual activity, the surrounding cemeteries rarely get mentioned. There is no main street cemetery but a few miles down the road you will find Greenlawn/Willman and The Independent Order Of Oddfellows cemetery grounds. Both are grave sites with a long history of eerie sounds and malevolent energies, especially for those who have also been to the county jail building.

While Blackford County has not produced any urban legend like the hook-handed killer of Tillett cemetery, paranormal encounters here continue to grow in infamy.

The best way to pick up and record activities from the Blackford cemeteries is to use a wind-resistant microphone and a digital EVP recorder. These items are essential for any serious paranormal investigator.

4. Oak Hill Cemetery

The Oak Hill cemetery started operation in 1853. The site was set to replace the original public burial grounds located between what today is Mulberry Street and Fifth Street.  This cemetery is a massive 175-acre sprawl that contains a series of hills, manmade reflection pools, several mausoleums and other magnificent pieces of graveyard architecture.

One rather infamous soul was the first burial here, little Ellen Johnson. She passed away at just 2 years old. Many visitors have reported seeing Ellie and other spectral children near her grave site.

The cemetery records also show that a king and queen of a local Romany tribe are buried here. It also shows that Oak Hill holds the graves of more than 500 Union troops along with 24 Confederate soldiers from the Civil War era.

When investigating a cemetery of this size at night, your best bet to track spiritual activity is to use one of our recommended ghost-hunting apps. You won’t have to lug around heavy equipment while exploring this gigantic graveyard.

FAQs

What is the oldest graveyard in Indiana?

The “Greenlawn” section of the Vincennes City Cemetery dates back to the year 1788. Indiana recognises this patch of land as the oldest public cemetery in the state.

Where are the most haunted places in Indiana?

While Indiana’s graveyards are legendary in their spiritual activity, there are a few more places that have become infamous haunted public and private property. They are located in areas around Lake Michigan and the Hoosier National Forest. We suggest you join tour guide group outings to get the full historical experience.

Notable haunted places include:

  • The Culbertson Mansion
  • Indiana Central State Hospital
  • French Lick Springs Hotel
  • The Haunted Bridge of Avon
  • The Pendleton “Cry Baby” Bridge

Final Thoughts

Indiana is a hotbed of spiritual activity thanks to the long state history, its role in the Civil War and the vast expanses of mysterious and protected forests and parks. Any one of the four famous cemeteries mentioned above can claim the title of the most haunted cemetery. To best experience these sites, join tour guide trips to get the most out of your ghost hunting adventure.

For more information, you can check out this book by paranormal investigator Ashley Hood. She has compiled a list of all the haunted cemeteries in Indiana. You can also learn about many more sites that draw spiritual activity in our Haunted Places blog series.

Sources

Sam Ashford
Sam Ashford - Author

Hey, I'm Sam Ashford! I'm a ghost-hunting expert, writer and founder of SpiritShack. My mission is to help people like yourself learn about spirituality and how to hunt ghosts!