7 Spooky and Haunted Places in Huntsville, Alabama

Not all Rocket City stories are about space — some are about spirits that refuse to leave grand old mansions and ghosts children that still play on the playground well after dark. If you’re brave enough to explore, here are the most haunted places in Huntsville, Alabama.

All Southern towns come with some ghost stories, and Huntsville is no exception. I used to hate visiting my grandmother’s rental house because it was too close to Maple Hill Cemetery, and I still get the chills when I pass by the Lowery House.

Whether you’re a ghost hunter, a history buff, or just looking for a spooky night out, these haunted spots deliver. Grab your flashlight and your courage, and resist the urge to glance over your shoulder, and let’s explore the most haunted locations in Huntsville!

Spooky Spots and Haunted Places in Huntsville

1. Historic Huntsville Depot

Huntsville’s Historic Depot was built in 1860 and is the oldest surviving train depot in Alabama. While a train depot doesn’t seem like the most likely place for ghosts, the Huntsville Depot is said to be haunted by Civil War soldiers.

In 1862, the Depot was occupied by Union forces and used as a prison for Confederate soldiers. The Depot has preserved the graffiti that soldiers left on the wall, along with their ghostly spirits.

The ghosts are mostly sighted on the second and third floors, something I tried really hard not to think about while I was doing a project here in 6th grade on the third floor.

There are also reports of the specter of a train engineer still walking the platform, making sure the tracks are clear.

2. Dead Children’s Playground

Dead Children’s Playground at Huntsville’s historic Maple Hill Cemetery is probably the city’s favorite haunted spot. High school kids love to come here and hang out, hoping to catch a ghost, and around Halloween it’s a great spot for costume pictures (as you can see in the photo above).

The playground’s official name is Maple Hill Park. But local legend says that the children who died during the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic are buried in the plots in Maple Hill Cemetery adjacent to the playground. The spirits of those children come out to play in the park, especially after dark.

Back when the playground had its old equipment, dull metal swing sets, the park was certainly more eerie. The updated playsets do make the park less creepy, but that hasn’t stop the rumors of swings moving on their own and the sound of children’s laughter when there’s no one else around.

3. Thomas Bibb’s Grave

Thomas Bibb was an important Alabama figure. A State Senator, the second Governor of Alabama, and a wealthy plantation owner, he certainly made his mark.

Bibb died in 1839 and was buried behind his beloved Belle Mina plantation in Limestone County. But not long after, his body was exhumed and moved to Maple Hill Cemetery.

Turns out, Bibb is not happy about the move. During the full moon, it is said that a carriage driven by white horses will pull up to his grave where Bibb’s ghost will be waiting. He’ll get into the spectral carriage and ride around the cemetery trying to find his way back to Belle Mina.

4. Mary Bibb’s Mausoleum

The Bibb family just cannot rest easy. The daughter-in-law of Thomas Bibb, Mary Chambers Bibb was accidentally poisoned on her wedding day — a maid accidentally gave her poison in place of the Epsom salts she used to lighten her skin before the wedding.

She died a few weeks later. Her family had this mausoleum specially made to allow her to be buried in her favorite rocking chair in her wedding dress. This was the first mausoleum in Maple Hill Cemetery.

Local legend says that if you knock on the mausoleum, you’ll hear Mary Bibb rocking in her chair as an answer.

The jokey story we were told in elementary school was that if you knock on the mausoleum door and ask Mary if anything was wrong, her response would be “nothing”. And then you do it and literally hear nothing. Ha ha. I was still terrified.

5. Weeden House

The historic Weeden House Museum and Garden was built in 1819 and was the home of painter and poet Maria Howard Weeden. With more than 200 years of history, it’s no surprise that this is one of the most haunted houses in Huntsville.

The house is sometimes referred to as the “weeping house” because there are parts of the exterior that always peel away no matter how many times it’s painted. You can see in my picture where the paint is coming off.

There are other strange happenings inside the house. Sometimes the ornate grandfather clock with no working parts will chime on its own. There’s a rocking chair that won’t stay put in an upstairs bedroom. Some people even think the spirit of Maria Howard Weeden, who died in the same room of the house in which she was born, still lingers.

6. Lowry House

Built in 1850, the historic Lowry House served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Today, the house is open for tours and serves as a backdrop for theatrical performances and other events. But there are haunted souls still roaming the property.

Anne Lowry was murdered on the front steps of the home as she waited for her husband to come home from the war. When the home was being restored in the 1990s, the construction workers witnessed a woman standing in the window of the front room. This Lady in White is believed to be Anne.

There are countless reports of strange noises throughout the house, the feeling of being followed, and even a full-bodied apparition in the kitchen that could be the ghosts of rumored bodies buried on the property in unmarked graves.

7. Salem Witch House Replica

While not haunted (that I know of), Huntsville’s Witch House is a unique spooky find. This 1995 home was built as a replica of the 17th century Witch House in Salem, Massachusetts, the home of the judge who sentenced 19 accused witches to death during the Salem Witch Trials.

The owner of Huntsville’s replica was inspired by the original home’s simplicity. Though the exterior looks just like the home in Salem, the inside is nothing like the original.

For Halloween, the owner likes to don a witches hat, grab her broom, and really lean in to the witch theme as she welcomes trick-or-treaters to her unique home.

Ghost Tours and Events in Huntsville

Ready to see a ghost? Or just want to celebrate all spooky season long? Huntsville has some great Halloween events and ghost tours that you can enjoy!

Huntsville Ghost Walk

Huntsville Ghost Walks take place on the weekends every September through Halloween. The sites on these walks have been vetted by a medium and thoroughly researched, so you know you’re getting local history and not just made up stories.

Guided tours from costumed storytellers are offered in three different historic districts: Twickenham (where you’ll see historic homes like the Weeden House), Old Town (where the Salem Witch House replica is located), and Downtown (in and around the Square).

Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll

The Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll is one of the largest living history strolls in the United States. More than 75 costumed characters bring Huntsville’s history to life in the city’s most haunted and historic cemetery each fall.

The event is free and is a great way to learn more about the spirits laid to rest in the cemetery.

Haunted Huntsville Map

Ready to explore all these haunted places in Huntsville? Use the map below to plan your ghost hunt!

I hope you enjoy exploring Huntsville’s most haunted places and learning a little about Huntsville history along the way!

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Ready to visit Huntsville, Alabama? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Huntsville to help plan your trip!
• Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Huntsville using Hotels.com.
• Get Packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.

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Cheers!

Paige

What are your favorite haunted places in Huntsville, Alabama? Let me know in the comments!