Old Ada County Courthouse – Haunted Courthouse in Boise, Idaho

The Old Ada County Courthouse stands as a testament to Boise’s rich judicial history. This imposing structure has witnessed countless trials, verdicts, and human dramas since its construction.

Visitors and employees alike report strange occurrences within its historic walls. The building’s heavy atmosphere suggests that not everyone who entered has truly left.

Located in the heart of downtown Boise, this courthouse has become legendary among paranormal enthusiasts. Its reputation for ghostly activity draws curious visitors from across the Pacific Northwest.

The solid stone exterior masks the eerie phenomena reported inside almost daily. Many believe the intense emotions of past trials have permanently stained the building’s energy.

Historical Background

The Old Ada County Courthouse was constructed in 1939 during the Great Depression era. The building replaced an earlier courthouse that had served the county since 1890.

Designed in the Classical Revival architectural style, it served as Ada County’s primary courthouse for decades. The building featured grand courtrooms, holding cells, judge’s chambers, and administrative offices throughout its four floors.

During its operational years, the courthouse processed thousands of criminal and civil cases. Many of these cases involved violent crimes, murders, and death penalty sentences that were commonplace in early Idaho.

One particularly tragic event occurred in 1957 when a defendant named Raymond Allen Snowden stood trial for murder. Snowden was convicted and later executed, but witnesses claim his presence never left the building.

The courthouse also housed temporary holding cells in its basement where accused criminals awaited trial. These cramped, dark cells saw their share of despair, suicide attempts, and violent outbursts over the years.

By 2014, the building ceased functioning as an active courthouse after seventy-five years of service. The Ada County government moved judicial operations to a modern facility, leaving the historic structure largely empty.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Unexplained footsteps echo through empty hallways, particularly on the second and third floors. Security guards working night shifts consistently report hearing these phantom sounds when no one else is present.

Cold spots appear randomly throughout the building, even during warm summer months. These temperature drops can be as severe as twenty to thirty degrees in specific locations.

Doors slam shut with tremendous force despite the absence of wind or human intervention. Multiple witnesses have watched heavy courtroom doors close on their own, sometimes locking from the inside.

Shadow figures glide along corridors and appear in peripheral vision throughout the building. These dark forms often manifest near the old holding cells and in Courtroom Number Three.

Disembodied voices whisper inaudible conversations in empty rooms during quiet hours. Some witnesses report hearing what sounds like a judge delivering a verdict when no one is there.

Electronic equipment malfunctions frequently, with cameras draining batteries and recording devices capturing unexplained static. Cell phones lose signal strength in certain areas without any logical technical explanation.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The spirit of Raymond Allen Snowden is believed to haunt the third-floor courtroom where he received his death sentence. Security personnel have reported seeing a tall man in 1950s clothing standing near the defendant’s table.

This apparition appears solid at first but fades into transparency before vanishing completely. Witnesses describe feeling overwhelming sadness and dread when encountering this particular entity.

The ghost of an unidentified woman in a blue dress frequents the second-floor administrative offices. Former county clerks and maintenance staff have spotted her rifling through filing cabinets as though searching for important documents.

When approached, she turns toward witnesses with a desperate, pleading expression on her face. No historical records definitively identify who this woman might have been in life.

Investigators theorize she could be a grieving mother who lost custody of her children. Others believe she might be someone wrongfully convicted who died before receiving justice.

The basement holding cells harbor the most aggressive paranormal energy in the entire building. Visitors report feeling pushed, grabbed, and experiencing sudden intense anger when entering these confined spaces.

One particularly disturbing cell, number seven, seems to generate the strongest negative reactions. People have fled from this location reporting invisible hands touching their faces and necks.

A janitorial worker named Marcus Webb reported a terrifying experience in 2013 while cleaning the basement. He heard a man’s voice clearly say “Get out” directly into his ear.

Webb turned to find no one behind him in the locked, empty corridor. He immediately left the building and refused to work night shifts thereafter.

Urban legends speak of a corrupt judge who accepted bribes in the 1940s and 1950s. This unnamed official allegedly haunts his former chambers, now Room 312, protecting secrets he took to his grave.

Witnesses entering Room 312 report feeling watched and judged by an unseen presence. Some experience sudden headaches and nausea that disappear immediately upon leaving the room.

Most Haunted Spot

Courtroom Number Three on the third floor generates the most consistent paranormal reports. This courtroom witnessed numerous death penalty cases and emotionally charged trials throughout its history.

The jury box in particular seems to be a focal point for supernatural activity. Former employees report seeing all twelve jury seats occupied by shadowy figures during late evening hours.

The judge’s bench also exhibits strange phenomena, with witnesses hearing a gavel strike repeatedly. These phantom sounds occur even though no gavel remains in the abandoned courtroom.

Temperature fluctuations in Courtroom Three are so extreme that ice crystals have formed on windows. This occurs even when the building’s climate control systems are functioning normally throughout other areas.

Can You Visit?

The Old Ada County Courthouse is currently closed to regular public access. The building underwent evaluation for potential historical preservation and adaptive reuse as of 2020.

Special tours are occasionally arranged through the Idaho State Historical Society during heritage events. These daytime tours focus on architectural and historical significance rather than paranormal aspects.

Photography is generally permitted during sanctioned tours with advance permission from building administrators. Flash photography is discouraged to protect historic interior finishes and woodwork.

No official paranormal investigation tours are currently available through county or city agencies. However, private paranormal research groups have obtained special access permits for overnight investigations in the past.

Entry fees for historical tours when available typically range from ten to fifteen dollars. Proceeds support ongoing preservation efforts and building maintenance.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity intensifies during late evening hours between ten PM and three AM. Security guards working these shifts report the highest frequency of unexplained phenomena.

The anniversary dates of major trials seem to trigger increased ghostly manifestations. October and November historically see spikes in reported activity, possibly connected to several autumn executions.

Full moon phases correlate with heightened supernatural occurrences according to investigation logs. Equipment malfunctions and apparition sightings double during these lunar cycles.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Security supervisor Jennifer Martinez documented her experiences in a 2015 incident report. She witnessed office chairs rolling across the second floor without any physical cause.

Martinez activated her flashlight to investigate and watched three chairs move simultaneously in different directions. She immediately radioed for backup and refused to patrol that floor alone thereafter.

Attorney Michael Branson worked late preparing a case in 2011 when he heard footsteps approaching. He called out assuming a security guard was making rounds but received no response.

The footsteps stopped directly outside his office door, followed by complete silence. When Branson opened the door thirty seconds later, the hallway was completely empty.

Maintenance technician Robert Chen reported tools disappearing and reappearing while working in the basement. He would set down a wrench only to find it missing moments later.

The same tool would materialize in a completely different room where Chen had worked hours earlier. This phenomenon occurred repeatedly over several weeks during a 2012 renovation project.

Local paranormal investigator Sarah Hutchinson led a team through the courthouse in 2016. Her group captured EVP recordings of what sounds like trial proceedings in empty Courtroom Three.

Analysis of the recordings revealed phrases like “guilty as charged” and “order in the court.” No living persons were present during the recording session according to team documentation.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Boise Paranormal Research Society conducted extensive investigations between 2014 and 2017. Their team documented over forty separate incidents of unexplained phenomena during twelve overnight sessions.

Electromagnetic field detectors registered significant spikes in the basement holding cells and Courtroom Three. These readings occurred without any identifiable electrical sources in the immediate vicinity.

Infrared cameras captured unexplained light anomalies moving through corridors at walking pace. These luminous orbs appeared intelligent, seeming to pause and change direction deliberately.

The investigation team recorded dramatic temperature variations using calibrated thermal imaging equipment. One image shows a humanoid cold spot measuring forty-five degrees while surrounding air registered seventy degrees.

Digital voice recorders picked up numerous EVP samples throughout the building. The clearest recording features a male voice saying “I didn’t do it” near holding cell seven.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Trespassing on the property is strictly prohibited and enforced by Boise Police Department. Violators face criminal charges including misdemeanor trespassing and potential fines up to one thousand dollars.

The building contains asbestos and lead paint requiring professional remediation before full public access. Unauthorized entry poses serious health risks beyond legal consequences.

Structural concerns exist in certain areas, particularly basement sections showing water damage and deterioration. Ceiling tiles and plaster could fall without warning in unmaintained spaces.

Motion-activated alarms and security cameras monitor the property around the clock. Local law enforcement responds immediately to unauthorized access attempts.

Local Legends & Myths

One persistent legend claims a secret tunnel connects the courthouse to the old Idaho State Penitentiary. This underground passage allegedly transported dangerous criminals during high-profile trials in the 1950s.

No historical evidence confirms this tunnel’s existence despite numerous searches by urban explorers. However, blocked doorways in the basement fuel ongoing speculation about hidden passages.

Another legend involves a cursed verdict that doomed anyone connected to a particular 1948 murder trial. Supposedly, the judge, lead prosecutor, and three jury members all died under mysterious circumstances within five years.

Research into court records shows these individuals did die relatively young. However, causes ranged from heart disease to automobile accidents with no definitive supernatural connection.

Some locals believe the courthouse stands on ground previously used by Native Americans for burial purposes. This theory lacks archaeological support but persists in explaining the building’s oppressive atmosphere.