The Allen House – Haunted Mansion in Monticello, Arkansas

The Allen House stands as one of Arkansas’s most notorious haunted locations. This elegant three-story mansion has terrified visitors and residents for over a century.

Built in the Neoclassical style, the home overlooks downtown Monticello with imposing grandeur. Its reputation stems from a tragic suicide that occurred within its walls.

The mansion now operates as a bed and breakfast for brave souls. Guests frequently report unexplained phenomena throughout their stays in the historic home.

Paranormal investigators have documented dozens of supernatural encounters at the property. The Allen House has become a destination for ghost hunters from around the world.

Historical Background

Joe Lee Allen commissioned the construction of this mansion in 1906. He was a wealthy businessman who wanted to showcase his success and prosperity.

The home features elaborate woodwork and stunning architectural details throughout its interior. Allen spared no expense when creating his family’s dream residence in Monticello.

The most significant tragedy occurred on December 25, 1948, during the Christmas holiday. Ladell Allen, Joe Lee’s daughter-in-law, took her own life in an upstairs bedroom.

Ladell was married to Allen’s son Joe Lee Allen Jr for many years. She mysteriously ended her life using a rifle on that fateful Christmas morning.

Before her death, Ladell reportedly told friends about experiencing disturbing visions and nightmares. She claimed something evil was present inside the Allen family home.

The family never spoke publicly about what drove Ladell to such desperation. Her suicide note reportedly contained cryptic messages that the family kept private.

After Ladell’s death, the Allen family continued living in the home for decades. They endured unexplained occurrences that they rarely discussed with outsiders or neighbors.

The house eventually fell into disrepair after the Allen family moved out. It sat vacant for years before being restored and converted into lodging.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors to the Allen House report a wide variety of supernatural phenomena. The most common experience involves the overwhelming sensation of being watched constantly.

Cold spots appear suddenly throughout the mansion without any logical explanation. These freezing areas often move from room to room as if following guests.

Disembodied footsteps echo through the hallways during both day and night hours. The sounds of someone walking upstairs occur even when the second floor is empty.

Guests frequently hear a woman crying or sobbing from unknown locations within the house. The mournful sounds seem to originate from multiple rooms at different times.

Doors throughout the mansion open and close by themselves without human intervention. Some guests have reported being locked inside rooms from the outside by unseen forces.

Objects move on their own or disappear only to reappear in different locations later. Personal belongings of guests are frequently rearranged while they sleep at night.

The spirit of Ladell Allen is believed to be the primary entity haunting the property. However, paranormal investigators suggest multiple spirits may reside within the mansion’s walls.

Shadow figures have been spotted moving through rooms and standing in doorways watching people. These dark apparitions often appear in peripheral vision before vanishing when directly observed.

Ghost Stories & Reports

Ladell Allen’s ghost is the most frequently encountered spirit at the mansion. Witnesses describe seeing a sad woman in 1940s-era clothing wandering the upstairs bedrooms.

She appears most often in the bedroom where she ended her life. Guests staying in that particular room report waking to find her standing beside the bed.

Ladell’s apparition is described as transparent and glowing with an ethereal light. She never speaks but radiates an overwhelming sense of sadness and despair.

Some visitors have reported seeing her reflection in mirrors throughout the house. The reflection appears even when no one is physically standing in front of the glass.

Another frequently reported phenomenon involves the phantom smell of roses filling various rooms. This floral scent appears suddenly and disappears just as quickly without any source.

Ladell was known to love roses and kept them throughout the house. Many believe this fragrance is her way of making her presence known to visitors.

The spirit of Joe Lee Allen Sr has also been reported in the mansion. Witnesses describe an older gentleman in early 1900s formal attire appearing in the study.

His apparition seems less interactive than Ladell’s ghostly presence in the home. He typically appears briefly before fading away like mist in the morning sun.

Children’s laughter and the sounds of playing have been heard on the third floor. The Allen family had children who grew up in the home during happier times.

Some guests report seeing the ghostly figure of a young boy near the staircase. He appears to be around eight years old and wears clothing from the early 1900s.

A dark, malevolent presence has been reported in the basement of the mansion. Some paranormal investigators believe this entity may have tormented Ladell before her death.

Visitors to the basement describe feeling an overwhelming sense of dread and terror. Several people have fled the lower level claiming something was chasing them up the stairs.

This negative entity reportedly pushes people, pulls their hair, and creates feelings of extreme anxiety. Some investigators believe it may not be human in origin at all.

Most Haunted Spot

The second-floor bedroom where Ladell Allen died is undeniably the most active location. Guests staying in this room experience the most intense and frequent paranormal activity.

People sleeping in Ladell’s former bedroom often wake to the sensation of someone sitting on the bed. The mattress physically depresses as if an invisible person has sat down beside them.

The temperature in this room can drop suddenly by twenty or thirty degrees. Guests have reported seeing their breath fog in the air even during warm summer months.

Electronic devices malfunction constantly within this particular bedroom at the Allen House. Cameras drain completely in minutes and phones shut off unexpectedly despite full battery charges.

The bathroom adjacent to Ladell’s bedroom is also extremely active with paranormal occurrences. The faucet turns on by itself and the door slams shut with tremendous force.

Can You Visit?

Yes, the Allen House operates as a bed and breakfast welcoming overnight guests. The property is also available for paranormal investigation tours by appointment only.

Overnight stays range from one hundred to two hundred dollars per night depending on the room. The most haunted bedroom where Ladell died commands the highest nightly rate.

Paranormal investigation tours are available on select evenings throughout the month. These guided experiences last approximately four hours and cost around seventy-five dollars per person.

Photography is permitted and actually encouraged throughout the entire property during your visit. Many guests have captured unexplained anomalies, orbs, and even full apparitions on camera.

The bed and breakfast accepts reservations year-round for overnight accommodations and investigations. Booking in advance is strongly recommended as rooms fill quickly, especially during October.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity occurs throughout the entire year at the Allen House without seasonal variation. However, the anniversary of Ladell’s death on December 25th reportedly sees heightened supernatural occurrences.

The hours between midnight and three in the morning are when most dramatic encounters occur. This timeframe is traditionally known as the witching hour among paranormal investigators worldwide.

Many guests report the most activity happens during their first night at the property. The spirits seem particularly interested in new visitors who have never experienced the house before.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A couple staying in Ladell’s bedroom in 2015 reported their covers being violently pulled off during the night. They both woke simultaneously to see a glowing female figure standing at the foot of their bed.

The wife described feeling an overwhelming sense of grief wash over her entire body. She began crying uncontrollably without understanding why she felt such intense sadness and despair.

A paranormal investigator named Mark Johnson documented EVP recordings containing a woman’s voice saying “help me.” The recording was captured in the upstairs hallway near Ladell’s former bedroom at two-thirty in the morning.

Johnson also photographed what appears to be a full-body apparition in the second-floor window. The image clearly shows a woman’s figure standing behind the curtains looking out toward the street.

In 2018, a guest named Sarah Mitchell reported being physically pushed down the basement stairs. She sustained minor injuries and was absolutely certain that hands had shoved her from behind.

Mitchell described feeling two cold hands press firmly against her back before the push. When she turned around immediately after regaining her balance, no one was there at all.

Current owner Mark Spencer has experienced countless paranormal events since purchasing the property. He reports hearing his name called by disembodied voices on an almost nightly basis.

Spencer has also witnessed doors slamming, lights turning on and off, and objects moving across rooms. He remains committed to preserving the home and sharing its haunted history with curious visitors.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Allen House has been investigated by numerous paranormal research teams over the past two decades. These professional investigators have documented compelling evidence of supernatural activity at the location.

The Arkansas Paranormal and Anomalous Studies Team conducted a multi-night investigation in 2012. They captured dozens of EVP recordings containing unexplained voices and responses to investigator questions.

During their investigation, team members photographed numerous light anomalies and unexplained mists throughout the mansion. Their equipment registered dramatic temperature fluctuations that defied natural explanation or environmental factors.

Ghost Adventures television show investigated the Allen House for an episode that aired in 2015. Host Zak Bagans and his team experienced significant paranormal activity during their overnight lockdown investigation.

During filming, crew members captured video footage of objects moving without physical contact. The team also recorded audio of what sounded like a woman sobbing in Ladell’s former bedroom.

Bagans reported feeling physically ill and emotionally disturbed while in the basement of the mansion. He described sensing an evil presence that seemed to feed on negative emotions and fear.

Multiple psychic mediums have visited the Allen House and independently confirmed the presence of Ladell’s spirit. They also detected at least three other distinct spirits residing within the property’s walls.

One medium claimed to communicate directly with Ladell’s spirit during a 2017 investigation session. According to the medium, Ladell expressed regret about her death and warned about the dark entity in the basement.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Guests should be emotionally and mentally prepared for potentially frightening experiences at the Allen House. People with serious heart conditions or anxiety disorders should carefully consider whether visiting is appropriate for their health.

The mansion is a privately owned bed and breakfast that must be respected accordingly. Trespassing outside of scheduled stays or tours is illegal and will result in prosecution under Arkansas state law.

The basement area can be particularly intense and is not recommended for everyone who visits. Anyone feeling uncomfortable or threatened should immediately leave the area and return to safer parts of the house.

Children under the age of twelve are generally discouraged from staying overnight at the property. The paranormal activity can be too intense and frightening for younger visitors to handle emotionally.