Mount Moriah Cemetery – Haunted Cemetery in Deadwood, South Dakota

Perched high on a windswept hill overlooking Deadwood stands Mount Moriah Cemetery. This sprawling burial ground has watched over the notorious mining town since 1877. The cemetery holds the remains of legendary Wild West figures alongside forgotten miners and soiled doves. Visitors from around the world trek up the steep incline to pay respects to the dead. But many leave with stories of encounters that suggest not everyone rests peacefully here.

The pine-studded landscape creates an eerie atmosphere even in broad daylight. Weathered headstones lean at odd angles across the uneven terrain. Some graves date back over 140 years to Deadwood’s rowdiest days. The cemetery expanded organically as the town grew during the gold rush era. Today it encompasses roughly 3,650 graves spread across multiple sections and terraces.

Mount Moriah earned its reputation as one of America’s most haunted cemeteries through decades of reports. Groundskeepers, tourists, and paranormal investigators have all documented unexplained phenomena here. The spirits seem particularly active near certain famous graves and the older sections. Most visitors feel an unsettling presence the moment they pass through the entrance gates. Something about this place feels charged with energy from another realm.

Historical Background

Mount Moriah Cemetery opened in 1877 during the height of Deadwood’s gold rush boom. The town needed a proper burial ground as its population exploded almost overnight. Prior to Mount Moriah, residents buried their dead in smaller, less organized plots around town. The city fathers selected this prominent hilltop location for its commanding views and available space. They could not have known they were creating a future landmark of the paranormal.

The cemetery’s original purpose was straightforward enough for any frontier town. It served as the final resting place for everyone from wealthy mine owners to penniless gamblers. The dead came from all walks of life in this rough mining community. Prostitutes were buried alongside preachers in the unforgiving South Dakota soil. Class distinctions mattered less here than in the town below, though some sections were more prestigious.

Wild Bill Hickok was laid to rest here on August 3, 1876, in the original Ingleside Cemetery. His grave was later moved to Mount Moriah in 1879 when that cemetery closed. The legendary gunfighter had been shot in the back while playing poker at Nuttal & Mann’s Saloon. His murderer, Jack McCall, was hanged for the crime in Yankton, South Dakota. Wild Bill’s presence at Mount Moriah immediately made it a destination for history buffs.

Calamity Jane was buried next to Wild Bill in 1903, fulfilling her alleged dying wish. Born Martha Jane Canary, she claimed a romantic connection to Hickok throughout her life. Whether their relationship was real or imagined remains debated by historians to this day. Her funeral procession was one of the largest Deadwood had ever seen. She now rests beside the man she claimed to love for eternity.

The cemetery witnessed numerous tragic burials during Deadwood’s violent early years. Miners killed in cave-ins arrived by the dozen during particularly deadly periods. Smallpox and other diseases claimed hundreds more in devastating epidemic waves. Many graves hold multiple bodies from the same family struck down simultaneously. Children’s graves pepper the landscape as a sobering reminder of harsh frontier mortality rates. These violent and premature deaths created the perfect conditions for restless spirits.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors to Mount Moriah consistently report feeling watched throughout the cemetery grounds. The sensation is strongest near the older sections where the earliest burials occurred. Many people describe a heavy, oppressive atmosphere that seems to press down on them. This feeling intensifies as the sun begins to set over the surrounding hills. Sensitive individuals often experience sudden temperature drops in specific locations without any natural explanation.

Disembodied voices are among the most commonly reported phenomena at Mount Moriah. Witnesses hear whispered conversations in the distance but find no one there. Some describe hearing their names called out when they’re walking alone among the graves. The voices seem to come from multiple directions, creating a disorienting auditory experience. Recording equipment has captured unexplained voice phenomena that wasn’t heard during the actual visit.

Shadow figures appear regularly throughout the cemetery, particularly during twilight hours. These dark forms move between headstones with apparent purpose and intelligence. They seem to observe visitors before disappearing behind monuments or simply fading away. Some witnesses describe the shadows as having vaguely human shapes while others report more amorphous forms. The entities never approach people directly but maintain an unsettling watching presence.

Physical touches and sensations plague certain areas of the burial ground. Visitors report feeling invisible hands brushing against their arms or shoulders. Some describe the sensation of someone walking directly behind them on the narrow pathways. Cold spots materialize suddenly and follow people as they move through specific sections. Electronic equipment malfunctions frequently, with cameras and phones draining batteries in minutes. These technical failures happen most often near the graves of individuals who died violent deaths.

Apparitions of period-dressed figures manifest to stunned cemetery visitors with startling regularity. A woman in Victorian mourning clothes appears near the children’s section on foggy mornings. A man in frontier clothing has been spotted near Wild Bill’s grave countless times. These full-bodied apparitions appear solid and real before vanishing without warning. Witnesses often mistake them for historical reenactors until they disappear into thin air. Photography in these areas sometimes captures unexplained mists and light anomalies.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The ghost of Wild Bill Hickok himself allegedly walks Mount Moriah on moonless nights. Witnesses describe seeing a tall figure in frontier clothing near his prominent grave marker. The apparition wears a wide-brimmed hat and appears to be surveying the cemetery below. Some visitors report making eye contact with the entity before it fades away. Local paranormal investigators believe Hickok’s violent, unexpected death left him earthbound and restless.

Calamity Jane’s spirit reportedly appears as a translucent woman in buckskin clothing. She’s been seen sitting on the bench near her grave, gazing toward Wild Bill’s monument. Multiple tourists have photographed strange mists and light anomalies in this exact location. Some psychics claim to feel her sadness and longing even decades after her death. Her energy seems particularly strong during the summer months when tourist activity peaks.

The spirit of a young prostitute known only as “Blonde Mae” haunts the section once reserved for soiled doves. She died under mysterious circumstances in 1878 at the age of nineteen. Her ghost appears as a beautiful young woman in a faded red dress. Witnesses report she seems confused and asks visitors if they’ve seen someone named Thomas. Local legend suggests Thomas was her lover who abandoned her shortly before her death.

A malevolent presence lurks in the oldest section where the first burials took place. Visitors report feeling threatened and experiencing sudden panic attacks in this area. Some describe being pushed or having their clothing tugged by invisible hands. The entity seems particularly aggressive toward anyone showing disrespect to the graves. Paranormal researchers believe this might be a protective spirit guarding the earliest settlers.

The ghost of a Chinese laborer appears in the section where many Asian miners were buried. He wears traditional clothing from the 1880s and carries what appears to be mining equipment. The apparition seems to be searching for something among the weathered headstones. Many of these graves were neglected for decades and fell into serious disrepair. His spirit may be seeking recognition or proper honors for himself and his countrymen.

Children’s laughter echoes through the cemetery despite no living children being present. The sounds come from the section dedicated to young victims of disease and accidents. Witnesses describe hearing playful giggling and the patter of small running feet. Some have seen the ghostly forms of children in old-fashioned clothing playing among the headstones. These spirits seem happy rather than frightening, possibly recreating joyful moments from their brief lives.

A phantom funeral procession has been witnessed crossing the cemetery on foggy evenings. The procession includes a horse-drawn hearse and multiple mourners dressed in Victorian-era clothing. Witnesses hear the clip-clop of horse hooves and mournful singing or weeping. The entire scene appears translucent and glows with an otherworldly luminescence. The procession follows the old paths toward the earliest burial sections before vanishing completely.

Most Haunted Spot

The area surrounding Wild Bill Hickok’s grave marker is considered the most paranormally active location in Mount Moriah. His prominent monument attracts thousands of visitors annually who often report strange experiences. Cameras malfunction at an alarming rate within a ten-foot radius of his headstone. Visitors describe feeling sudden cold spots and the sensation of being watched intensely.

The Jewish section of the cemetery ranks as another extremely haunted location. This area features distinctive headstones with Hebrew inscriptions dating back to the 1870s and 1880s. Witnesses report seeing shadow figures moving between the graves after sunset. The sound of Hebrew prayers or chanting has been heard by multiple visitors. Many people report feeling unwelcome or experiencing anxiety until they leave this section.

The children’s burial area generates the most emotional paranormal encounters in the entire cemetery. Small headstones mark the graves of infants and young children who died during harsh frontier winters. Parents who visit often report feeling small hands touching theirs or tugging at their clothing. Some hear whispered voices asking for their mothers or crying softly. Toys and small gifts left on graves sometimes move to different positions overnight.

Can You Visit?

Mount Moriah Cemetery is open to the public year-round from dawn until dusk daily. The site welcomes visitors who wish to explore Deadwood’s history and pay respects to the deceased. A small admission fee of five dollars per adult helps maintain the historic grounds. Children under twelve can enter for free when accompanied by paying adults.

The cemetery offers self-guided tours using a detailed map available at the entrance gatehouse. Guided historical tours run daily during the summer season from May through September. These tours depart at 10 AM, 1 PM, and 4 PM from the main entrance. Special paranormal investigation tours are offered on weekend evenings during October for an additional fee. Reservations for the ghost tours must be made in advance through the cemetery office.

Photography is not only allowed but actively encouraged throughout the cemetery grounds. Many visitors capture compelling evidence of paranormal activity in their pictures. The cemetery staff requests that all photography be conducted respectfully and without disturbing grave sites. Video recording equipment is also permitted for personal use and paranormal investigation purposes. Commercial filming requires special permission and proper permits from the cemetery administration.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity at Mount Moriah intensifies during the autumn months from September through November. The veil between worlds seems thinnest as Halloween approaches each year. Investigators report their highest levels of documented phenomena during this seasonal window. The changing light and falling leaves create an atmosphere that seems to encourage spiritual manifestations.

The hours between sunset and full darkness produce the most dramatic ghostly encounters. This twilight period seems particularly active for apparitions and shadow figure sightings. Many experienced ghost hunters arrive just before the cemetery closes at dusk. They position themselves in key locations to capture the transition from day to night. The first hour after sunrise also generates significant reports of unusual activity and morning mists.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Cemetery groundskeeper Michael Peterson documented his experiences in a 2015 interview with Deadwood Magazine. He described hearing footsteps following him during early morning maintenance rounds in the oldest sections. Objects he placed in specific locations would move overnight despite the gates being locked. Peterson claimed to have seen Wild Bill’s ghost on at least three separate occasions. He eventually requested reassignment to daytime-only duties after several unsettling encounters.

Tourist Jennifer Matthews from Ohio shared her 2018 experience on multiple paranormal investigation forums. She photographed what appeared to be a translucent woman in Victorian clothing near Calamity Jane’s grave. The figure was invisible to the naked eye but clearly appeared in her digital images. Matthews reported feeling overwhelming sadness and grief while standing in that exact location. Her camera malfunctioned immediately after capturing the image and never worked properly again.

Local historian Robert Crane published accounts of his nighttime visits in his 2012 book about Deadwood hauntings. He recorded electronic voice phenomena that clearly said “Get out” near the Chinese burial section. Crane experienced sudden temperature drops of twenty degrees during multiple summer evening investigations. His audio equipment captured the sounds of pickaxes striking rock despite no mining occurring nearby. He described feeling physically pushed while standing near certain unmarked graves in the oldest area.

Paranormal investigation team Dakota Spirits documented extensive activity during their 2019 overnight investigation. Their electromagnetic field detectors registered unusual spikes near Wild Bill’s grave throughout the night. Team members reported seeing shadow figures moving between headstones in their night vision cameras. One investigator claimed to hear a woman crying near the prostitutes’ section around 2 AM. Their evidence included multiple unexplained light anomalies captured on both video and still photography.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures” crew filmed an episode at Mount Moriah in 2011. Lead investigator Zak Bagans reported experiencing physical contact from an unseen entity near Wild Bill’s grave. The team’s equipment registered significant electromagnetic field fluctuations throughout their investigation. They captured compelling audio evidence of disembodied voices responding to their questions. The episode remains one of the show’s most viewed and discussed investigations.

The Atlantic Paranormal Society visited Mount Moriah in 2013 for their show “Ghost Hunters.” Investigators Jason Hawes and Steve Gonsalves documented multiple instances of unexplained phenomena. Their thermal imaging cameras detected unusual cold spots moving independently through the cemetery. The team recorded several clear examples of electronic voice phenomena during their nighttime investigation. They concluded the location showed strong evidence of genuine paranormal activity.

Numerous independent paranormal research groups conduct investigations at Mount Moriah annually. These teams have documented thousands of hours of audio and video evidence over the years. Common findings include unexplained voices, shadow figures, and equipment malfunctions in specific locations. Many investigators report physical sensations like being touched or experiencing sudden temperature changes. The cumulative evidence suggests multiple intelligent entities remain active throughout the cemetery grounds.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The cemetery strictly prohibits visitors after the posted closing time at dusk. Trespassing charges will be filed against anyone found on the grounds after hours. The Deadwood Police Department regularly patrols the area and takes violations seriously. Fines for after-hours trespassing start at five hundred dollars plus court costs.

The terrain at Mount Moriah presents physical hazards that visitors should take seriously. Uneven ground, protruding roots, and unstable headstones create tripping hazards throughout the cemetery. The steep hillside location makes certain paths treacherous during wet or icy conditions. Visitors should wear appropriate footwear and watch their step carefully while exploring. The cemetery is not responsible for injuries resulting from falls or accidents.

Respectful behavior is mandatory and strictly enforced by cemetery staff and local authorities. Vandalism, grave desecration, or disrespectful conduct will result in immediate removal and prosecution. Standing or sitting on headstones or monuments is absolutely forbidden under all circumstances. The cemetery has installed security cameras in multiple locations to monitor for inappropriate behavior. These rules protect both the sacred nature of the grounds and the safety of visitors.

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