This is the hauntings list for Champaign County. Remember that some of the places listed are merely legend or hearsay, but many are genuine and documented haunts. If you know of any more hauntings or legends for this county, please submit them to our Hauntings Submission Page.
Cable
Crybaby Bridge - It is said that a young woman threw her baby off the bridge and then jumped to her own death as a train was on the tracks below sometime in November. Now if you go across the bridge at midnight, your car will stall and you can hear a train whistle blow, a baby cry, and a woman scream. After you hear this, your car will start back up and you can go on your way.
St. Paris
Evergreen Cemetery - The tombstone of the McMorran family is said to glow at night. Nearly one thousand people gathered at the cemetery one night to look for the glowing stone. No one has been able to debunk the glowing stone, but theories range from reflected light from town to a glow-in-the-dark fungus.
Lonesome Road - This road was once a trail that went through a farm where the man who owned the land hung himself. When the government took control of the area, they made the trail a road. The man never liked people on his property, and it is now said that he haunts the road. His ghostly figure has been known to hit the hood of your car or be standing in the middle of the road. His eyes appear to glow red at night, but look completely black during the day.
Trestle Bridge - The ghost of a lady who was killed after she was hit by a train haunts the trestle she died on. If one goes to the bridge day or night, they can hear footsteps coming from the top of the bridge, and can even hear her scream. Cold spots and a strange mist have been reported on the bridge, but when you get off the bridge, the coldness and mist disappear.
Thackery
Hill Cemetery - This small cemetery is located just north of Thackery on Creek Road. In the 1970s, a young girl was brutally raped and murdered in the back, right side of the cemetery. Her apparition has been seen there by several witnesses.
Urbana
Abraham Lincoln's Funeral Train - After Lincoln's assassination, his body traveled through Ohio on it's way back to Illinois for burial. The train stopped in Urbana for fifteen minutes as crowds gathered round to catch a view of it. Then the train went on it's way. Every April, Lincoln's funeral train can be seen passing through Urbana on the tracks, all draped in black. Skeletons appear as the crew and Lincoln's coffin is surrounded by skeletons in blue coats. As it silently passes, clocks in the area stop until it has went by.
Cedar Bog - The road to Cedar Bog is surrounded by very tall chain-link fence on each side of the road. Some say that the fence was installed there to protect visitors from a big-foot type of creature that killed a few people years ago. Others say it is to prevent deer from entering the road. Either way, uneasy/eerie feelings of being watched and hearing screams are often reported.
Hell House - While a man was building a house for his family, his wife and children died after being hit by a train. Even though he was grief stricken, he finished building the house. Later he was so distraught over what had happened, he set fire to the house and hung himself from a large oak in front of the house. At times, the noose can still be seen hanging from the tree. Although the entire house was ablaze, only the back portion was completely burnt and the rest of the house was left intact. Many strange occurrences are said to take place there, including screams and cries. The old tree can be seen just off Clark Road and his silhouette is sometimes seen hanging from the tree and the house on fire. When you look again, everything will return to normal.
King's Creek - The creek was named after a Shawnee general who was known as "His Royal Highness" to Logan's men. Everyone assumed he was a king because he dressed nicer than everyone else. The general ambushed Logan's men, but misfired his gun, and was killed by one of the men. It is said that to this day the "king's" ghost sits high in the branches of a honey-locust tree on the bank of the creek. He will yell at you if you pass too closely on certain nights.
Stoney Creek Road - There are reports of two ghosts who like to fly towards motorists driving on the road and then disappearing. Screams and talking can also be heard at times.
Urbana University - Site of multiple hauntings; see below.
Urbana University
Brown Hall - The upper floors of Brown Hall are said to be haunted by a woman. There have been reports of strange lights, unexplainable noises, and objects being moved. There is said to be footprints and pieces of tombstones left on the stairs that everyone is afraid to move.
North Hall - North Hall is said to be haunted by a woman nicknamed Rose for the smell that accompanies her.
