Stull Cemetery, located in the tiny village of Stull, Kansas, is widely known for urban legends claiming it contains a portal to Hell. This small graveyard, situated approximately 50 miles west of Kansas City, became a focal point for paranormal enthusiasts and thrill-seekers up until recent years, primarily due to stories of demonic activity and supernatural occurrences during the spring equinox and Halloween.
The Origins of the Stull Legend
The rise of the popularity of the cemetery’s eerie reputation began in the 1970s. In 1974, a student at the University of Kansas, Jain Penner, wrote an article for the student newspaper claiming that the site was haunted. This piece, which compared the location to Sleepy Hollow, described “diabolical, supernatural happenings” and cited student accounts of invisible forces and unexplained memory loss. However, a report from Snopes suggests that the article was printed later than intended for a Halloween edition, which may have contributed to its viral spread of folklore folklore.
Historical Context of Stull, Kansas
Founded in 1857 by Pennsylvania Dutch settlers of German ancestry, the village was originally called Deer Creek. It was later renamed after the postmaster, Sylvester Stull. The community remained small and rural throughout its history, with a population that never exceeded 50 residents. By 1912, only 31 people lived in the town, and the last school closed in 1962. This isolation contributed to the atmosphere of mystery surrounding the cemetery.
The Abandoned Stone Church and the Portal
The central figure in many of the paranormal stories is the former stone church that once stood on the hill above the cemetery. Built in 1867 as the Evangelical Emmanuel Church, the stone structure was abandoned in 1922 when the community raised $20,000 to build a new wooden-framed church across the road. Over time, the stone church became a focal point for legends, with some claiming its basement led directly to the netherworld. Other rumors suggested that rain never fell inside the church, even though it had no roof.
The stone church was demolished in 2002. According to The Lawrence Journal-World, the demolition was ordered by the property owner after a sheriff’s recommendation following a wall collapse. This removed the physical structure that had fueled many of the paranormal theories.
Paranormal Claims and Local Folklore
The graveyard is associated with several specific myths:
- The Tombstone of Oliver Bahnmaier: A story exists that stepping on the tombstone of two-year-old Oliver Bahnmaier, who died in a field fire, transports the visitor to Hell.
- The Wind and the Car: Some visitors have reported experiencing sudden, powerful winds that knocked them to the ground, and one account claims that their car had been moved to the opposite side of the highway while they were inside the cemetery.
- The Second Church: The wooden-framed church, known as Stull United Methodist Church, suffered a great deal of damage in a fire on July 25, 2022. Local news reports theorized that the fire was caused by a lightning strike.
Is Stull, Kansas Haunted?
While the rest of the world sees Stull as a “haunted” site, the local residents do not share this belief. The residents of Stull, and those whose loved ones are buried there, emphasize that the cemetery is a place of rest. They have grown frustrated with the hordes of thrill-seekers who have, in some cases, vandalized headstones and disturbed the peace of the graveyard. To combat this issues, a chain-link fence was installed and the grounds are now patrolled by security. Trespassers now face a fine of up to $1,000 or six months in jail.
Can You Visit Stull Cemetery?
Currently, the site is locked at night and strictly monitored. While it is not a “tourist attraction” in the site’s own right, the site is a private property. Due to the security measures and the security patrols, the number of visitors has decreased significantly, except during the peak paranormal tourism periods such as Halloween. The cemetery’s reputation has also influenced popular culture, serving as an inspiration for the series Supernatural, where the characters’ hometown of Lawrence, Kansas, is chosen due to its proximity to Stull.
Where is Stull, KS?
Stull is an unincorporated community in eastern Kansas, located approximately 50 miles west of Kansas City and situated between the towns of Topeka and Lawrence. Its rural nature and isolation make it easy for motorists to miss, as it is described as a “dot on the map” for the community’s inhabitants.
