Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Spooky stories surround Salt Lake City's best-known haunted sites
Urban Living
Posted By Babs De Lay on October 4, 2023, 4:00 AM
It's spooky-malooky season, and who doesn't love a good scare? There's plenty to be found in Utah if you look in the right places—trust me!
Five of the more notoriously haunted places in the Salt Lake City area are the Rio Grande Depot, the Capitol Theatre, the former International Dunes Hotel (which became the Shilo Inn and then the Holiday Express Inn) at 206 S. West Temple, the McCune Mansion at 200 N. Main, and the U of U Fort Douglas Military Museum.
The Rio Grande Depot has been closed since the big earthquake a few years ago but is known for sightings of the "purple lady," the apparition of a young woman dressed in a purple gown who is said to have died trying to retrieve her wedding ring on the train tracks. She's been seen in the women's bathroom. Security guards reported hearing footsteps, heavy breathing and shadowy apparitions.
The Capitol Theatre had a fire in 1949 that killed a teenage usher. Volunteers and employees have smelled smoke without evidence of fire and have watched drawers open and close, one by one. The latter mystery caused two police officers to quit working there as security guards.
Some of us remember a horrible morning in 1978 at the then-International Dunes Hotel when mother Rachel David coaxed or pushed her seven children over the hotel's 11th floor balcony. David then followed by jumping herself. During morning rush hour, bodies were falling out of the sky—it was awful for onlookers. All but one of the family died. Since that day, employees say they hear footsteps and laughter when guests are not around.
The McCune Mansion—with its grand exterior sandstone staircase—was completed in 1898 by Alfred W. McCune. Currently an events center, many folks say they've encountered two spirits in the building. The first is that of a tall man wearing a black cape who, when seen, is not scary but friendly. He likes to observe what's going on in the building. The second spirit is of a 10-year-old girl and is thought to be that of a child whose picture hangs in the mansion. Apparently, she's quite playful, loves to help decorate for the weddings there and has been caught on film many times.
Fort Douglas' famous ghost is "Clem," supposedly the spirit of a Civil War veteran who took his own life at the fort. People have seen him or heard footsteps on the stairs. He's a stocky man with dark hair and beard in a uniform. The museum hosts an event each October to honor Clem. Happy haunting!
About The Author
Babs De Lay
A full-time broker/owner of Urban Utah Homes and Estates, Babs De Lay serves on the Salt Lake City Historic Landmark Commission. A writer and golfer, you'll find them working as a staff guardian at the Temple at Burning Man each year.
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