Together with Ballet Wichita

A new haunting: Ballet Wichita brings The Spirit Bride to life

Last season, Ballet Wichita brought Dracula to the stage. This fall, they’re back with The Spirit Bride, a brand-new contemporary ballet showing October 9 and 10 at Newman University.

Inspired by the classic ghost story Giselle, the story follows a young woman betrayed by the man she loved who enters a world of restless spirits bound by unfinished love.

The production is also a collaboration with Newman University, with students working alongside Ballet Wichita to help bring the new show to life.

The Spirit Bride runs October 9 and 10 at 7 PM at Newman’s DeMattias Fine Arts Center

Spooky Szn

Back in high school, my friends and I used to love going to “Haunted” places around town and trying to spook each other.

I wish I had this list back then, but I did go to a few of these back then, including Therosa’s Bridge.

Here is our list of the truly spooky, haunted places in (or around) Wichita:

Theorosa’s Bridge

Technically this isn’t Wichita, but it’s close enough. You can find ​Theorosa’s Bridge between Sedgwick and Valley Center (109th Street and Meridian Avenue / 37.883078°, -97.373956°).

There are a few versions of the urban legend, but the core of the story revolves around baby Theorosa. In one legend, Theorosa was the daughter of 19th-century settlers and was stolen by Native Americans. You can supposedly see Theorosa’s mother wandering around the bridge looking for her daughter.

Another version says Theorosa was the mother and threw her illegitimate baby into the river, was overcome with guilt and now haunts the river looking for the baby.

Either way, her ghost roams around the bridge.

Urban legend has it that the ghost will attack you if you yell out -

"Theorosa, I have your baby" you've been warned

Travel with a Wise Guy took a visit:

and this Youtube channel covered it a few years ago:

Broadview Hotel

The ​Broadview Hotel was a primetime spot in the early 1900s for Chisholm Trail travelers.

It was built in 1922 and included a speakeasy.

The story goes that a man named Clarence was enjoying his stay when he found his wife with another man. He then shot and killed his wife. After this, he could not handle the guilt and took his own life from 8 stories up.

Old Cowtown

​Old Cowtown often has Ghost Tours and Paranormal crews come through looking for a paranormal experience like footsteps, whispers, flickering lights, and sometimes apparitions.

The legend goes that the founder of the Wichita Eagle newspaper, Marshall Murdock, had a daughter who passed from spinal meningitis.

Now the family haunts the grounds.

Orpheum Theatre

​The Orpheum has also hosted many Ghost Tours with the Wichita Paranormal Research Society.

This building is close to 100 years old (and now newly renovated). So although I haven’t heard specific stories, we’ll stick with the old = potentially haunted. The ghosts might have moved out with all the renovations though.

Do we need a Phantom of the Orpheum screenplay now? (also who remembers Phantom of the Megaplex on Disney Channel?)

Carey House Square / Eaton Hotel Ghost

​The Eaton Hotel is right on the corner of Douglas and St. Francis by Naftzger Park.

The legend has it that a woman was killed in this hotel and her killer was not brought to justice.

This woman walks the halls of the 2nd and 3rd floors and knocks things over.

Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum

This one isn’t quite as popular of a haunted spot, but this building was the main City Hall from 1892 to 1976. So old = potentially haunted. Sometimes people have heard footsteps, heard footsteps or even been “touched” by spirits. This is typically on the 2nd or 3rd floors.

Kansas Aviation Museum

The Kansas Aviation Museum has a couple of stories.

One story says an old plane is haunted by its pilot who died after a plane crash.

Others say they have seen a woman looking out the 3rd-floor north windows.

McConnell Air Force Base

I haven’t been on the base in years, but people say there are unexplained sounds and lights in empty buildings.

Some people have even reported seeing WWII aircraft landing on the runway.

Delano District

The Delano District has some of the oldest buildings in Wichita. In the 1870s – 1880’s, it served as a Cowtown and people would blow off steam coming off the Chisholm Trail.

There were gun fights and more that occurred here.

A couple of specific locations include the old Spektrum Muzik and Salon 535 @ The Perfect Touch.

You may hear ghost voices or hear the ghost of Redbeard or Rowdy Jo.

WSU Campus: Wilner Auditorium, Henrion Gymnasium and Fiske Hall

Wilner Hall – George Wilner was a professor and the head of speech and theatre programs for nearly 40 years starting in the 1920’s. Some highlights include voices, doors opening, and lights flickering.

Henrion Hall- This was the first permanent gym on the WSU campus before the Heskett was built in 1983. The legend goes that a maintenance worker was killed on the job in the 1950s and now he haunts the building late at night.

Fiske Hall – This building was a men’s dorm and was originally built in 1904. There are no specific stories, but it’s still pretty spooky with lights flickering and whatnot.

Wichita Greyhound Park & Clapp Mansion

I don’t know any stories and struggled to find some, but I was told they are haunted as well.

Shoutout to ​Visit Wichita for doing a great job finding many of these spots!

There are a few places on this list from Haunted Rooms ​as well that I didn't cover:

• Bel Aire Water Tower

• Central Plains Novelty Store

• Brooks Middle School

• Rest Haven Cemetery

• Wilbur's Grocery Store

• Robinson Middle School

You might need a sphygmomanometer after visiting these haunted places.

Guided Tours

If you want to explore some of these haunted places with a guide, here are a few tours or groups that happen periodically throughout the year:

• Paranormal Tours - Kansas Aviation Museum - Be sure to check their site. They do these a couple of times per year.

• Old Cowtown Museum - Is Cowtown haunted? Find out for yourself.

• ​Spooky Night of Treasures - Museum of World Treasures

• Orpheum Theatre Ghost Tour (I’m sure they’ll bring these back at soem point)

• Wichita Paranormal Research Society (WPRS)

• Spooky Bro 316 - Nathan might give tours if requested!

SpooSpooky dddFor the more tame crowd, here are some pumpkin patches, corn mazes, haunted houses, family-friendly fun, and more around the area.

Pumpkin Patches & Corn Mazes

• Applejack Pumpkin Patch

• Cedar Creek Farm & Pumpkin Patch

• Klausmeyer Dairy & Farms Pumpkin Patch

• Marietta Farm (no longer a stand alone, joined forces at Applejack)

• Meadowlark Farm

• Mr. Gourdman’s Pumpkin Patch (closed for renovations this year)

• P and M Pumpkin Patch

• Walters’ Pumpkin Patch

Haunted Houses

• WiWichita Island at OJ Watson Park

• 13 Sinister Souls

• Field of Screams

• The Haunt at Walters

What did we miss? Where are you visiting this fall?

What do you want to see us go deep on in a future deep dive?

Let us know!

Together with New Market Square

🎃 FREE FALL FEST AT NEWMARKET SQUARE

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 10 from 11 AM–1 PM for a FREE, family-friendly Fall Fest benefiting the Wichita Police & Fire Foundation!

There will be plenty for the whole family:

🚓 Explore emergency vehicles
🌭 FREE hot dogs grilled by the Wichita Wagonmasters
🐴 Petting zoo
🎨 Face painting
🎈 Balloon artist
✨ Temporary tattoos
🦸‍♂️ Meet Spider-Man, Elsa & Cinderella
🏃 Kids’ obstacle course
🛍️ Discounts at participating NewMarket Square retailers
📸 Fall family photo op
🍿 Popcorn station
🎃 And more fall fun!

📍 WHERE: The field across from Petco at NewMarket Square

Bring the kids, grab your friends and family, and enjoy a fun afternoon while supporting the Wichita Police & Fire Foundation.