Welcome To Des Moines's #1 Rated Ghost Tour

Sorrowful spirits of displaced Native tribes, ghostly miners, and spectral soldiers maintain their place in this haunted landscape, leaving behind whispers of heartache and terrifying ghost tales that you’ll uncover on your Des Moines Drop Dead Ghost Tours. 

Iowa’s Winged Nightmare

In many cities in America, every haunting history tends to come with its own mysterious creature, each one adding a dash of mystery and terror to local folklore. Venture on a Des Moines ghost tour to hear the terrifying encounter of three locals who came face-to-face with the city’s local winged beast and lived to tell the tale. 

As you admire the Hawkeye State’s charming landscape at the Counties of Iowa Mosaic, you’ll learn how a community endured five nights of terror at the hands of a strange beast with a nauseating stench. Legend has it that bullets proved useless when the town gathered to make their final stand at an abandoned coal mine where the beast sought refuge. 

Discover how this unsettling creature and its smaller, equally terrifying companion swooped back into the mine, leaving only the stench of fear behind. But what exactly is the hidden story behind this elusive entity? Was it a clever ploy to attract tourists to sleepy Van Meter, or was a genuine cryptid just waiting for the right moment to strike? Find out tonight on a thrilling Des Moines ghost tour. 

What Will I See?

Visit Des Moines’s Most Haunted Locations, Including:

• Iowa State Capitol – Get ready to uncover the chilling secrets of the Iowa State Capitol, where the ghostly whispers of a missing paperboy and other lost souls echo through the grand halls, begging for justice! Come hear how a community’s heartache sparked a groundbreaking movement for missing children’s rights in America. 

• Argonne Armory – Venture into the eerie shadows of the Argonne Armory, where ghostly soldiers and their phantom steeds still roam, reliving their wartime duties. From the clatter of invisible hooves to the chilling stare of a bloodied WWII soldier, this haunted site will leave you questioning what—or who—still lingers in the shadows of the historic district of Des Moines. 

• Wooly’s – Not every bartender at Wooly’s clocks out at the end of their shift—some just happen to be a little more ghostly. From mysteriously rearranged glasses to late-night phantom pranks, Wooly’s resident spirit loves to keep things spooky, making this iconic concert space a haven for spectral mischief and otherworldly vibes.

A Golden Dome of Secrets 

Centuries of debate, scandals, and secrets have made the historic Iowa State Capitol a shining symbol of Iowa’s political might and haunted history. But what exactly makes this golden dome a backdrop for countless stories of sorrow and mystery in Des Moines?

Join Des Moines: Drop Dead Ghost Tours tonight to uncover the haunting story behind the mysterious disappearance of a local paperboy that prompted a community-wide search and caused quite a stir among those at the helm of affairs inside the Capitol. Learn how the sudden disappearance of this innocent boy disrupted the peaceful landscape of Old Des Moines and left a trail of heartbreak and frustration that still ripples through time.

As you stroll past the grand Capitol, prepare to hear the hair-raising account of a former secretary who was nearly driven into resignation by faint cries of ghostly children in the Senate hall, perhaps waiting for someone to take up their cause. Could Johnny’s spirit still wander the halls in search of answers from the afterlife, or was it the disgruntled soul of another lost child trapped in time, calling out for help?

Marching From the Great Beyond

Originally built to serve the brave men and women of the National Guard, the old Argonne Armory had just about everything a soldier could need—ammunition, gear, and a sturdy roof to house it all. But one thing it doesn’t offer is an escape route from its ghostly inhabitants. Des Moines Drop Dead Ghost Tours digs up the secrets behind the spooky antics of the invisible animals and eerie apparitions that have made this brick fortress their permanent home. 

The gallops of ghostly horses have been reported to startle two unsuspecting guardsmen on more than one occasion. But they’re just the tip of spine-tingling mysteries you’ll discover on this hauntingly fun Des Moines ghost tour. 

Hear about the terrifying encounter of a lady whose peaceful evening stroll was rudely interrupted by a soldier from another era. Her piercing scream may have attracted the living nearby, but the chilling stare of the ghostly calvary man is etched in her memory forever. Listen out for his faint footsteps as you walk by. You never know; you may be the next person to find yourself locked in its gaze.

Why is Des Moines so Haunted?

Ghostly Giggles and Glitches

Nothing says mystery, mayhem, and ghostly mischief than a towering Victorian building with centuries of secrets, scandals, and spirits. Book a Des Moines: Drop Dead Ghost Tours tonight to unwrap the fascinating tales of Iowa’s first millionaire and the playful spirits of his children that linger just out of sight.

Walk the shadowy corners of DSM and experience the ghostly giggles and chilling whispers that have kept the official residence of the governor of Iowa shrouded in mystery and spooky lore for ages. Uncover the eerie tale of an elusive young girl whose playful antics still echo through the halls of Terrace Hill.

If you notice flickering lights or mysterious sounds as you walk by, it’s probably Little Bessie trying to play with the mansion’s old elevator buttons and make surprise appearances. What else creeps out visitors of Terrace Hill? Find out on a heart-pounding ghost tour with Des Moines: Drop Dead Ghost Tours.

Your Best Days Can Be Your Worst Nights

Back in the day, the opening of the historic Lincoln High School was a beacon of hope for West Des Moines students who had to endure the lengthy trek to East High. But for the ghosts of those who once inhabited the site where the school now stands, the institution became the perfect stomping ground for their eternal mischief. 

Des Moines Drop Dead Ghost Tours unravels the haunting tales of the souls who just can’t let go. Unveil the eerie charm of the Paint Room, where the air is thick with creativity and a hint of ghostly mischief. Prepare to hear the story of a former theater manager’s terrifying ghostly encounter and the chilling whispers of ghostly children calling out from the dark.

She may have escaped with her sanity intact, but the frightful tug on her shirt and the chase that ensued left her with a newfound respect for the unseen residents of Lincoln High. Step into the unknown tonight and see if the ghosts of this public secondary school in Des Moines are ready to play.

Des Moines’ Most Haunted Hotspots

DSM’s haunted history runs deep, and the sordid stories of those behind the shadows and secrets of its most eerie landmarks still echo in the very spots where they once lived and died. Students and staff of the historic Dowling Catholic School in West Des Moines have been spooked by the ghostly glow of a floating purple orb that drifts through its halls. The Merle Hay Mall Tower, once home to a monastery, is now said to be haunted by the ghost of a nun, still cradling a dead infant she can’t let go of. 

Over at Owens Covered Bridge, eerie footsteps of lost souls unable to cross over echo on misty nights, leaving a feeling of dread and despair among locals and visitors alike. In Des Moines Airport’s Cloud Room, the spirits of deceased flight attendants and passengers wait in limbo for flights that will never depart. Don’t miss your chance to immerse yourself in the ghostly lore of this historic city.

Book your next adventure through the Hartford of the West and experience the sinister side of Des Moines with Des Moines: Drop Dead Ghost Tours.

* This is a walking tour and we do not enter privately-owned buildings or private property *