Independence is putting its best ghostly foot forward
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Enter the mansion if you dare. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
Independence is known for its historic sites and ghostly legends, and this Halloween season, Visit Independence is making it easy to make a day of them.
The big picture: Paranormal Pursuit, a self-guided virtual tour with points and prizes, launched last week with 13 locations.
- It's a compilation of some of the oldest (and most haunted) sites in the metro, including the Vaile Mansion, the 1859 Jail Museum and the Woodlawn Cemetery.
Vaile Mansion was built in 1881 by a man who made his fortune on the Santa Fe, California and Oregon trails. Tragedy struck the family, and the Vailes are said to haunt the home to this day.
- Years later, the mansion became (of course) an asylum. You can visit the room where they performed operations, and they say a patient still roams the third floor.
- Macabre tours, which this year will include the history of trick-or-treating and "souling," cost $35.
Pioneer Trails Adventures, a tour within the tour, wheels you around town in an authentic covered wagon pulled by Missouri mules while driver Ralph Goldsmith regales his passengers with tales of the city's rootin' tootin' past.
- It's a living history lesson that's told like an audiobook, and Goldsmith's gravelly voice rings out over the square like he just came off the wagon trail.
- Ghost tours are $20 and run in the evenings on Fridays and Saturdays.
Other stops, like Coffee Elsewhere, have their own paranormal stories and themed wares.
- I tried The Basilisk, a caffeine-free sweet hibiscus drink with black oat milk foam that turned everything purple when mixed.
How it works: Registering for Paranormal Pursuit is free, though prices vary at each stop.
- After signing up, participants can check in at each location and earn a point, which can be redeemed for prizes like a mug and a long-sleeved tee.
💭 Travis' thought bubble: I'm a sucker for a good story, and these stops blend fascinating local history with an otherworldly thrill.
- It's a great way to get into the spirit of Halloween for people who don't want the intensity of a scary movie or haunted house.
If you go: The tour runs through Nov. 6, so unlike most seasonal attractions, this one doesn't end on Halloween.
The bottom line: I won't say whether I believe in ghosts, but let's just say Independence can be pretty convincing.