AMERICAN HAUNTINGS GHOST HUNTS
NIGHT AT THE HORRIDGE HOUSE
AND THE VINTON TRAIN DEPOT
VINTON, IOWA
NEXT AVAILABLE DATE:
8:00 PM TO 2:00 AM | $58 PER PERSON
Looking for a place that’s not only off the beaten path but hasn’t been swamped by “ghost hunters” yet? Then you need to experience two haunted locations for the price of one in Vinton, Iowa!
The historic Horridge House was built in 1859 by Dr. Hewett B. Clingan and after living there for less than a decade, he sold the brick home to George & Elizabeth Horridge in 1869. George was a wealthy local tinsmith and community leader and in 1863, served briefly in the Union army during the Civil War. After his return from service, he married Elizabeth, the widow of his former business partner, Augustus Rock. Elizabeth was 11 years older and before his military service, George had lived with Elizabeth and Augustus at their home in Vinton. After the wedding, they moved into the Horridge House, where they lived together until Elizabeth died in 1900. Her son from her first marriage also lived at Horridge House for a time and died here from tuberculosis.
Two years after Elizabeth’s death, George married a woman who was 30 years younger than he was named Carrie Smyth. They married in Chicago and then Carrie – and her mother, who was only found years older than George – moved to Vinton to live at Horridge House. An upstairs apartment was added on for Carrie’s mother, but she was later moved to a place downstairs when she was unable to care for herself. She died in the house in 1926.
Four years later, George also died in the house.
In September 1948, Carrie broke her hip after falling down the stairs and was admitted to the hospital, where she remained until her death from inflammation of the kidneys four months later.
In 1970, the Benton County Historical Society took over operations of the building so that it could be preserved. As work was going started, staff members and volunteers noticed strange activity – moving items, lights turning on and off, doors opening and closing, and even apparitions of figures that are too hazy to be recognized. But with the number of deaths that have occurred in the house, there are several likely candidates for the resident ghosts.
Also nearby is another haunted location – the Vinton Rock Island Railroad depot. Although long abandoned by the railroads and travelers, there is still activity that occurs within its walls.
The depot opened for business in 1900 and played host to thousands of travelers over the decades. Visitors not only discover one of the best-preserved passenger stations in the Midwest, but can see an old Rock Island caboose, hobo writings in the restored motor shed – and maybe even some ghosts, too.
The depot may no longer see the bustle of passengers, the mail being picked up, or cargo being loaded and unloaded, but it has been known to offer disembodied voices, phantom footsteps, eerie figures, and more!
Don’t miss out on your chance to experience these two spooky locations and find out for yourself if they are as haunted as so many people claim!