Creepiest Place Names In Iowa and Illinois

If you’re looking for a spooky road trip this October, you don’t have to travel far. A new list from MentalFloss shows the creepiest-named places in every state — and both Iowa and Illinois have chilling entries of their own.

Creepy Place Names In Iowa and Illinois

In Iowa, that eerie honor goes to Spirit Lake, while Bloody Gulch Road in Dixon, Illinois, takes the top spot for the Land of Lincoln. Neither is haunted — at least officially — but their names alone are enough to give travelers goosebumps.

The Story of Bloody Gulch Road

Bloody Gulch Road in Dixon, Illinois, earned its chilling name from a gruesome story dating back to 1885. According to local legend, a teenage Bible salesman named Frank Thiel was discovered in a shallow roadside grave, his throat slashed so deeply it nearly severed his head.

Where Spirit Lake Got Its Name

The city of Spirit Lake takes its name from the nearby lake to the north, which holds significance to the Dakota Sioux people. They call it Minnewaukon, meaning “lake of the spirit.”

Here Is The Full List:

• Alabama . . . Spooky Hollow Road
• Alaska . . . Deadman Lake
• Arizona . . . Skull Mesa
• Arkansas . . . Witcherville
• California . . . Styx
• Colorado . . . Cannibal Plateau
• Connecticut . . . Satan's Kingdom State Park
• Delaware . . . Slaughter Beach
• Florida . . . Coffins Patch
• Georgia . . . Slaughter Mountain
• Hawaii . . . Devastation Trail
• Idaho . . . Bone
• Illinois . . . Bloody Gulch Road
• Indiana . . . Gnaw Bone
• Iowa . . . Spirit Lake
• Kansas . . . Hell Creek
• Kentucky . . . Hell for Certain
• Louisiana . . . Transylvania
• Maine . . . Massacre Pond
• Maryland . . . Grave Run
• Massachusetts . . . Bloody Pond
• Michigan . . . Hell
• Minnesota . . . Castle Danger
• Mississippi . . . Shivers
• Missouri . . . Devils Elbow
• Montana . . . Deadman Gulch
• Nebraska . . . Blood Creek
• Nevada . . . Devils Hole
• New Hampshire . . . Bloody Point
• New Jersey . . . Ghost Lake
• New Mexico . . . Burned Death Wash
• New York . . . Execution Rocks
• North Carolina . . . Devil's Courthouse
• North Dakota . . . Knife River
• Ohio . . . Gore Orphanage Road
• Oklahoma . . . Dead Women Crossing
• Oregon . . . Murderers Creek
• Pennsylvania . . . Devil's Den
• Rhode Island . . . Smallpox Trail
• South Carolina . . . Gravedigger Road
• South Dakota . . . Punished Woman's Lake
• Tennessee . . . Skullbone
• Texas . . . Dead Man's Pass
• Utah . . . Goblin Valley State Park
• Vermont . . . Popple Dungeon Road
• Virginia . . . Bloody Run Creek
• Washington . . . Mount Terror
• West Virginia . . . Maggoty Run
• Wisconsin . . . Witches Gulch
• Wyoming . . . Death Canyon.

Midwestern Fear Factor

Closer to home, Iowans and Illinoisans don’t have to look far for their own eerie adventures. Spirit Lake, located in northwest Iowa, may sound haunted, but it’s actually known for its beauty and outdoor recreation. Meanwhile, Bloody Gulch Road near Dixon, Illinois, reportedly got its name from a grisly 1800s murder — adding an extra layer of mystery to its legend.

So whether you’re a thrill-seeker or just in the Halloween spirit, these spooky place names might inspire your next haunted road trip.

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