Stull Cemetery

This unassuming cemetery, nestled in the remnants of the ghost town of Stull, Kansas, dates back to the 1850s when German settlers first arrived in the area. The original name of the settlement was Deer Creek, but it was later renamed Stull after its first postmaster, Sylvester Stull. Despite its modest beginnings, this small graveyard has spawned decades of dark legends that have transformed it from a peaceful rural cemetery into what paranormal enthusiasts call one of the world’s seven gateways to Hell.

The centerpiece of Stull’s supernatural reputation was its old stone church, built in 1867. The church stood in dignified decay for decades until its mysterious demolition in 2002, when unknown parties reduced it to rubble in the dead of night. According to local folklore, the church’s basement contained a hidden staircase that led directly to the underworld. These stairs were said to be visible only on the night of the Spring Equinox and Halloween, the same nights when Satan allegedly appears to visit our realm.

One of the most persistent legends surrounding Stull Cemetery involves its connection to witchcraft. Local tales speak of an old tree within the cemetery that was once used to hang witches, and it was said that the Devil himself would use this tree as his entrance point into our world. Though the tree was removed years ago, visitors claim that no grass has ever grown in the spot where it once stood.

The cemetery’s sinister reputation gained national attention in the 1970s when students from nearby University of Kansas began spreading stories about supernatural occurrences within its gates. These accounts included reports of inexplicable temperature changes, mysterious voices, and an invisible force that prevented visitors from sticking pine needles into the ground. Some claimed that rain would refuse to fall on the cemetery, instead stopping at the property line.

Perhaps the most chilling legend associated with Stull involves the alleged burial of Satan’s own child. According to local lore, the Devil had a relationship with a local woman, resulting in a deformed child who lived only a few days before dying. The infant’s grave is said to be marked by a cluster of small headstones, and visitors report feeling an overwhelming sense of sorrow and malevolence near this area.

The cemetery’s notoriety has attracted numerous paranormal investigators and thrill-seekers over the years, leading local law enforcement to strictly enforce trespassing laws. Those who have managed to conduct legitimate investigations report extraordinary phenomena, including unexplained light anomalies, electronic equipment failures, and disturbing EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) recordings.

Adding to the cemetery’s dark mystique are reports from the 1990s when Pope John Paul II allegedly ordered his private plane to alter its flight path to avoid flying over Stull Cemetery during a trip to Colorado. While this claim has never been officially verified, it has become an integral part of the cemetery’s legendary status.

The site’s reputation has also infiltrated popular culture. Musicians have referenced Stull in their work, and numerous documentary crews have attempted to capture evidence of supernatural activity within its boundaries. Some paranormal researchers suggest that the limestone bedrock beneath the cemetery creates a natural conductor for spiritual energy, potentially explaining the high levels of reported supernatural activity.

Today, Stull Cemetery remains closely guarded, with heavy fines and potential jail time awaiting trespassers. The few remaining residents of the area maintain a protective stance over the grounds, working to preserve both the dignity of their ancestors buried there and the historical significance of the site, supernatural or otherwise.

Despite—or perhaps because of—its inaccessibility, Stull Cemetery continues to captivate the imagination of paranormal enthusiasts and researchers alike. Whether the legends are true or simply the product of decades of folklore, this small Kansas cemetery has secured its place in paranormal history as one of America’s most enigmatic and feared locations, where the boundary between our world and the supernatural is said to be frighteningly thin.