The Strange History Behind the Kansas Cemetery Rumored to Be a Gateway to Hell

For more than half a century, a quiet, unassuming cemetery in the tiny Kansas community of Stull has been the subject of persistent urban legends, fueled by claims that the site serves as a physical gateway to the underworld. Despite the enduring popularity of these supernatural tales, no evidence has ever emerged to suggest that the burial ground is anything other than a final resting place for local families.

The myth—which posits that the devil makes annual appearances at the site—has had a profound and negative impact on the town. Over the decades, thrill-seekers and curiosity-seekers have left a trail of destruction in their wake, forcing local authorities to implement strict security measures to protect the integrity of the property.

The Origins of a Persistent Myth

Stull, originally established in 1857 as the settlement of Deer Creek, was a sparsely populated farming community that remained largely obscure for most of its history. Its transformation into a site of alleged occult significance traces back to November 5, 1974, when a student journalist at the University of Kansas published an article in The University Daily Kansan titled “Legend of Devil Haunts Tiny Town.”

According to Snopes, the report was originally intended as a piece of Halloween-themed creative writing. However, a paper shortage delayed its publication until early November. Because it was no longer tied to the Halloween season, readers interpreted the piece as a factual account of paranormal activity, effectively launching a local legend that has persisted for decades.

As the story grew in the popular imagination, the cemetery became the alleged site of one of seven gateways to hell. Elaborate rumors suggested that a secret staircase leading to the underworld could be accessed on Halloween or the spring equinox. The narrative became so pervasive that it even drew in international figures; one widely circulated but entirely unfounded claim suggested that Pope John Paul II diverted his flight path specifically to avoid flying over the “unholy” ground of Stull during a 1993 visit to Colorado.

Real-World Consequences of Folklore

While the stories provided fodder for ghost hunters and television writers—most notably inspiring plot points in the hit series Supernatural—the reality for residents of Stull has been characterized by vandalism and trespassing. At the height of the interest in the late 1980s, hundreds of people would descend upon the cemetery, leading to damaged gravestones and broken property.

The focal point of many of these legends was an abandoned limestone church built in 1867. Abandoned in 1922 when the congregation moved to a newer facility, the decaying structure became a magnet for rumors, with claims that the building was impervious to rain or served as a direct portal to hell. The building was demolished on March 29, 2002. According to the Lawrence Journal-World, the demolition occurred shortly after a windstorm collapsed one of the walls, and the specific authorization for the site’s clearing remained a matter of confusion among property owners.

Today, the cemetery remains a restricted site protected by chain-link fencing and persistent law enforcement monitoring. Unauthorized visitors face significant legal penalties, including potential jail time and substantial fines, as officials continue to discourage the “ghost tourism” that has plagued the small community for over 50 years.