Sioux Falls State Penitentiary – Haunted Prison in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The Sioux Falls State Penitentiary stands as a chilling monument to South Dakota’s darker history. For over a century, this imposing fortress of limestone held the state’s most dangerous criminals within its walls. The suffering and death that occurred here left an indelible mark on the property. Visitors and staff alike report experiencing unexplained phenomena that defy rational explanation.

The prison’s reputation for paranormal activity has grown steadily over the decades. Former guards whisper about the things they witnessed during lonely night shifts. The building seems to hold onto the pain and desperation of those who died here. Many believe the spirits of executed prisoners still walk the cellblocks and corridors.

Paranormal investigators consider this location one of the most actively haunted sites in the Midwest. The energy within these walls is palpable and often overwhelming to sensitive individuals. Something about the concentrated human suffering has created a supernatural hotspot. This prison doesn’t just house memories of the past; it seems to trap souls themselves.

Historical Background

The Sioux Falls State Penitentiary opened its doors in 1881 to address South Dakota’s growing criminal population. Construction began in 1879 using local quarried Sioux quartzite stone that gave the building its distinctive pink hue. The prison was designed to house 150 inmates in its original configuration. By the time it closed in 2004, it had held thousands of South Dakota’s most notorious criminals.

The facility witnessed numerous executions throughout its operational years, particularly during the early 20th century. Between 1877 and 1947, twelve men met their fate at the gallows within these walls. Harold Henrickson became the last person executed here on October 23, 1947. His death by hanging marked the end of capital punishment at the facility.

Living conditions at the penitentiary were notoriously harsh, especially during the institution’s first fifty years. Prisoners endured freezing winters in poorly heated cells and sweltering summers without adequate ventilation. Tuberculosis and other diseases spread rapidly through the overcrowded cellblocks, claiming many lives. The prison cemetery on the grounds holds over 120 unmarked graves of inmates who died during incarceration.

Violent incidents occurred regularly within the prison walls throughout its 123-year operational history. Riots broke out in 1917 and again in 1935, resulting in multiple deaths. Guard Michael Rasmussen was murdered by an inmate in the north cellblock in 1912. These traumatic events seem to have left permanent psychic scars on the building itself.

The prison underwent several expansions and renovations, adding new cellblocks and facilities over the decades. The original east cellblock remained in use throughout the prison’s entire operational period. Maximum security death row was located in the basement section of this original building. This area maintains the heaviest concentration of reported paranormal activity to this day.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Shadow figures are among the most commonly reported phenomena at the former penitentiary. Visitors consistently describe seeing dark, human-shaped forms moving through the cellblocks and hallways. These shadows appear to walk with purpose, as though still following their daily routines. They vanish when directly confronted or approached by witnesses.

Disembodied voices echo through the empty corridors with disturbing frequency. People hear shouting, crying, and conversations coming from areas they know to be completely vacant. The voices often sound distressed or angry, reflecting the emotional turmoil once constant here. Recording equipment frequently captures electronic voice phenomena that wasn’t audible during the actual visit.

Physical sensations plague those who spend time in the building, particularly in the cellblock areas. Visitors report sudden temperature drops of 20 degrees or more in specific locations. Many describe feeling invisible hands grabbing their arms or shoulders. Some experience overwhelming emotions of despair and hopelessness that lift immediately upon leaving certain rooms.

Cell doors throughout the facility open and close on their own despite being secured. The metallic clanging of these heavy steel doors resonates through empty hallways at all hours. Former maintenance workers reported finding cells locked from the inside when that was physically impossible. Tools and equipment disappeared and reappeared in different locations with no logical explanation.

Phantom footsteps are heard constantly, especially on the metal stairs and catwalks of the cellblocks. The distinctive sound of boots on steel echoes through the building day and night. Guards during the prison’s final years heard footsteps above them on floors they knew were empty. These auditory manifestations seem strongest during the early morning hours between 2 and 4 AM.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The spirit of Harold Henrickson, the last man executed at the prison, reportedly haunts the gallows area. Witnesses describe seeing a tall figure in prison clothing standing near where the execution platform once stood. The apparition appears solid and realistic before fading away within seconds. People who encounter this figure report feeling overwhelming sadness and a sense of profound injustice.

Henrickson maintained his innocence until his final breath, claiming he was wrongly convicted of murder. His desperate pleas for clemency went unanswered as he dropped through the trapdoor in 1947. Many believe his spirit remains earthbound, still protesting the verdict that ended his life. Visitors to the execution area often experience difficulty breathing and pressure around their necks.

A malevolent entity known only as “The Warden” terrifies those who encounter it in the administrative wing. This apparition appears as a tall man in early 20th-century clothing with an expression of cruel authority. He has been seen in the old warden’s office and walking the corridors as if inspecting the facility. Unlike other spirits here, this presence feels threatening and actively hostile toward the living.

Several witnesses report that The Warden seems to follow people who disrespect the building or its history. One security guard quit after experiencing what he described as being “hunted” through the hallways by this entity. Objects fly off shelves and doors slam when this spirit manifests. Some paranormal researchers believe this may be the ghost of Warden Thomas Bryant, who ran the prison from 1901 to 1921.

The ghost of a young inmate named Eddie manifests in Cell 47 of the east cellblock. Eddie was only nineteen when he died of pneumonia in that cell in 1923. His spirit appears as a thin young man with dark hair who looks confused and frightened. He seems unaware that he’s dead, often asking visitors what year it is.

People who enter Cell 47 frequently report hearing soft crying and coughing sounds. The temperature in this specific cell registers consistently colder than surrounding areas. Personal items left in the cell are often moved or rearranged. A photograph taken in 2008 clearly shows a misty figure sitting on the bunk in this cell.

The basement level houses some of the prison’s most aggressive and frightening paranormal activity. Multiple spirits seem to reside in this underground section where death row and solitary confinement were located. Visitors report being touched, pushed, and scratched by unseen hands. The oppressive atmosphere in the basement causes many people to flee in panic.

One particularly active spirit in the basement is believed to be that of inmate Robert Hansen. Hansen was murdered by fellow prisoners in the shower area in 1967. His screams are reportedly heard echoing through the basement corridors on the anniversary of his death. People have photographed strange mists and orbs concentrated around the former shower facilities.

The prison infirmary on the second floor of the north wing maintains significant paranormal activity. The spirit of a prison doctor has been seen making rounds through the empty medical ward. This apparition appears so solid that security guards have approached him thinking he was an actual intruder. He carries what looks like a medical bag and seems focused on invisible patients.

Nurse Clara Hendricks worked in the prison infirmary from 1945 until her retirement in 1973. She developed a reputation for showing genuine compassion to the inmates under her care. Many believe her spirit returned to the place where she felt most purposeful. Witnesses report smelling old-fashioned perfume and antiseptic in the infirmary when no source can be found.

Most Haunted Spot

Death Row Cell Block 1 in the basement represents the epicenter of paranormal activity at the penitentiary. This underground section held condemned prisoners awaiting execution during the facility’s most violent years. The oppressive energy here overwhelms even skeptical visitors within minutes of entering. Nearly everyone who spends time in this area reports experiencing at least one unexplainable occurrence.

Cell 7 on Death Row stands out as the single most haunted location in the entire facility. Three different condemned men occupied this cell before their executions between 1920 and 1947. All three maintained their innocence to the very end of their lives. The concentrated anguish and desperation in this tiny space creates an almost physical presence.

Visitors to Cell 7 consistently report feeling hands around their throats and overwhelming panic. Some people have collapsed or experienced breathing difficulties requiring them to leave immediately. Electronic equipment malfunctions with near certainty when brought into this specific cell. The air feels thick and heavy, as if the room itself doesn’t want people inside.

Can You Visit?

The Old Penitentiary is open to the public as a museum and tourist attraction year-round. General admission costs $10 for adults and $5 for children under twelve years old. The facility operates as a self-guided museum during regular daytime hours from 10 AM to 4 PM. Extended evening hours are available during the summer months from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Special paranormal investigation tours are offered on select Friday and Saturday nights throughout the year. These guided tours run from 8 PM until midnight and cost $50 per person. Participants must be eighteen years or older and sign a liability waiver. These tours provide access to areas not open during regular museum hours, including the basement death row.

Photography and video recording are permitted and encouraged throughout the facility during all tours. The museum staff welcomes visitors sharing their paranormal evidence on social media. Professional paranormal investigation teams can arrange private overnight investigations by appointment. These private investigations accommodate groups of 6-12 people and require advance booking.

The gift shop sells EMF meters, digital recorders, and other ghost hunting equipment for visitors to use. Equipment rental is also available for those who don’t own their own investigation tools. The staff provides basic instruction on using the equipment for best results. Most visitors report capturing at least some form of evidence during their investigations.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity at the Old Penitentiary occurs year-round with consistent intensity regardless of season. However, investigators report that activity spikes dramatically during the late-night hours between midnight and 4 AM. The building feels most oppressive and active during these early morning hours. Many of the most dramatic encounters and clearest EVP recordings occur during this timeframe.

October and the weeks surrounding Halloween bring increased spiritual activity to the location. The anniversary dates of specific executions also see heightened paranormal phenomena throughout the building. Harold Henrickson’s execution date of October 23rd consistently produces intense activity near the former gallows. Visiting on historically significant dates may increase the likelihood of experiencing paranormal events.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Museum curator Sarah Jennings has worked at the Old Penitentiary since it opened to tourists in 2005. She reports experiencing unexplainable phenomena almost weekly during her time managing the facility. Her most disturbing encounter occurred in 2009 while locking up alone after hours. She heard distinct footsteps following her through the east cellblock despite being the only person in the building.

Jennings turned to confront whoever was behind her but found the corridor completely empty. The footsteps stopped the moment she turned around but resumed when she continued walking. She rushed through her closing duties and left as quickly as possible. Security cameras reviewed the next day showed no other person present but clearly captured the sound of the footsteps.

Paranormal investigator Marcus Chen conducted a three-night investigation at the penitentiary in October 2016. His team captured over forty separate EVP recordings during their stay. The most chilling recording came from Cell 7 on death row. A voice clearly states “I didn’t do it” followed by what sounds like sobbing.

Chen’s team also documented full-body apparitions using infrared cameras in the basement corridors. One video clearly shows a dark figure walking through a locked doorway. The figure appears solid on the infrared spectrum despite being invisible to the naked eye. Chen called the penitentiary “one of the most genuinely haunted locations” he’s investigated in his twenty-year career.

Former correctional officer David Martinez worked at the prison during its final five years of operation. He witnessed numerous incidents he couldn’t explain during his overnight shifts. His most memorable experience occurred in the winter of 2001 while conducting a routine bed check. He clearly saw an inmate standing in Cell 47 despite knowing that cell was empty and locked.

Martinez approached the cell to investigate and found it completely vacant when he arrived. The cell door remained locked from the outside as it should be. He checked the logbook and confirmed no prisoner had been assigned to that cell in weeks. Other guards later told him they’d seen the same young man in that cell multiple times.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures” crew filmed an episode at the Old Penitentiary in 2014. Lead investigator Zak Bagans called it “one of the most active locations” the show had ever visited. During the lockdown investigation, the team captured video of a full-bodied shadow figure in the east cellblock. Multiple team members were physically touched and pushed by unseen forces during the investigation.

The episode documented an incident where a heavy door in the basement slammed shut with tremendous force. No natural explanation could be found for the door’s movement. Bagans himself was locked inside a cell when the door closed on its own. The team also recorded numerous intelligent responses to their questions through EVP sessions.

“Paranormal Lockdown” featured the penitentiary during their 2017 season for a 72-hour investigation. Investigators Nick Groff and Katrina Weidman both experienced physical interactions with entities throughout their stay. Weidman reported being scratched on her back while in the death row section. The scratches appeared suddenly and were captured on camera as they formed.

Groff recorded what may be the clearest EVP ever captured at the location during this investigation. When he asked if anyone wanted to communicate, a voice responded “Get out” with unmistakable clarity. The team’s thermal imaging cameras detected human-shaped cold spots that moved independently throughout the building. Their investigation produced hours of documented paranormal evidence that defied conventional explanation.

The South Dakota Paranormal Research Society has conducted quarterly investigations at the penitentiary since 2006. They’ve amassed one of the largest collections of evidence from any single location in their files. Their data shows consistent patterns of activity in specific areas regardless of which team members are present. This consistency suggests genuine paranormal phenomena rather than misidentification or environmental factors.

The research society documented an interesting pattern involving electromagnetic field fluctuations in the execution area. EMF spikes occur at the same time each night the team investigates. These spikes happen at 12:47 AM, which corresponds to the time Harold Henrickson was pronounced dead. No electrical sources in the building can account for these regular electromagnetic anomalies.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Visitors must stay within designated public areas during self-guided tours and follow all posted safety guidelines. Some sections of the facility remain structurally unsound and are permanently closed to public access. Climbing on cells, railings, or equipment is strictly prohibited and may result in ejection from the property. The building contains asbestos and lead paint in some areas that are sealed off but must be avoided.

The basement level can be particularly challenging for people with claustrophobia or respiratory sensitivities. Poor ventilation in the underground sections creates dusty conditions that may trigger breathing difficulties. People with heart conditions should carefully consider whether participating in paranormal investigations is advisable. The intense experiences some people have can cause significant stress and elevated heart rates.

All visitors must sign liability waivers acknowledging the potential risks of touring the facility. The building’s age and former purpose create both physical and psychological challenges. Parents should carefully consider whether young children should visit this location. The disturbing history and active paranormal phenomena may be too intense for sensitive individuals.

Local Legends & Myths

Local legend claims that a tunnel system runs beneath the penitentiary connecting it to other downtown buildings. While the prison did have utility tunnels, stories persist about escape tunnels that were never discovered. Some people believe these tunnels are haunted by prisoners who died attempting to flee. The museum staff denies public access to any tunnel systems for safety reasons.

A persistent urban legend tells of a prisoner who cursed the entire facility before his execution. According to the story, he vowed that no one would ever find peace within these walls. Whether this curse actually occurred remains unverified by historical records. However, many people who work at or visit the location report unusual runs of bad luck.

The prison cemetery allegedly moves on its own according to some local residents who live nearby. Groundskeepers have reported finding headstones displaced overnight despite being firmly set in concrete. Some markers have been found facing different directions than they were left. Whether this represents paranormal activity or vandalism remains unclear.

Stories circulate about a hidden room somewhere in the facility where the worst torture occurred. This alleged room doesn’t appear on any official prison blueprints or records. Some paranormal investigators claim to have sensed this room’s location behind a sealed wall. The museum has no plans to investigate these claims due to structural preservation concerns.

The Old Penitentiary stands as a testament to human suffering and the justice system’s darkest chapters. Its walls absorbed over a century of pain, violence, and death that still resonates today. Whether you’re a paranormal enthusiast or history buff, this location offers a unique and unsettling experience. The spirits here seem determined to ensure their stories are never forgotten.

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