DAY 1: HISTORIC HOMES
2 DAYS
I ND EPEND EN CE
PARANORMAL PATH
ITI NE R AR I E S
4 Vaile Mansion
3 Vivilore
5 3 Trails Brewing
DAY 1
Historic Homes
Independence, Missouri, is in the heart of our nation’s history. Its remarkable past has led to legendary ghost stories that haunt the hallowed halls of a few local landmarks. Before your trip, contact Visit Independence to schedule investigations of the sites along our award-winning Paranormal Path. During your tours with Apex Paranormal, keep your senses sharp to determine for yourself if these spots are haunted or simply historic. 1) Check into a charming hotel in Independence, MO. Silver Heart Inn & Cottages—an elegant and historic bed & breakfast with four guest rooms and two private, on-site cottages—offers the perfect complement to your weekend. Just off the Historic Independence Square, this quaint B&B is a comfortable (and ghost-free!) place to rest after a day of paranormal tours.
2) Tap into your artistic side in the Englewood Station Arts District. The boutiques and galleries in this quaint neighborhood display an impressive selection of art. Peruse the locally owned shops to purchase unique gifts and home decor. 3) Stroll over to Vivilore, an upscale American restaurant that doubles as a boutique, for an intimate dinner. Grab a table in the lush courtyard if the weather permits, or settle into a comfortable spot inside surrounded by a curated collection of art. 4) Brave a night tour of the Vaile Mansion, a 31-room Victorian built in 1881. The fascinating stories that torment this extravagant home stem from a suspected suicide and lobotomies gone wrong. Harvey and Sophia Vaile lived in their Gothic-inspired residence until her death from an accidental morphine
overdose in 1883. Converted into a sanatorium in 1911, it housed narcotics addicts and mentally ill patients—at least three of whom tragically died during lobotomies. Experience the mansion with Apex Paranormal to get an up-close look at its unique details, including elaborate ceiling artwork, nine marble fireplaces, and period furnishings. See if you can feel the spirit of Sophia in her bedroom where she passed away. Then, keep an eye out for full-body apparitions in the basement, where shackles once held severely ill patients. 5) If your investigation wraps up early enough, end the evening with a pint of the aptly named Vaile Ale—with pineapple, orange, and mango notes—at 3 Trails Brewing on the Square. This local brewery crafts all the usual favorites, from IPAs and stouts to lagers and wheats. Don’t miss their rotating hard seltzers, ciders, and sour beers for an unexpected nightcap. I NDEP ENDEN C E I T I NER A R I E S | PA R A N O R MA L PATH
DAY 2: PRISONERS & PIONEERS
IN D EP E N D E N CE I T INE R AR IE S | PAR AN ORMAL PATH
To book a paranormal investigation at one of the historic sites along the Paranormal Path, contact Visit Independence.
VISIT INDEPENDENCE
210 W. Truman Rd. Independence, MO 64050 (816) 325-6279, (800) 748-7323 VisitIndependence.com
DAY 2
Prisoners & Pioneers Continue your investigations along the Paranormal Path with another nighttime tour. Build up to the evening’s event with an enlightening covered wagon tour and a tasty meal on the Square.
1) Enjoy a relaxing breakfast at your B&B, and then start your day exploring the shops, restaurants, and entertainment on the Square. Dive deeper into this area’s rich history aboard a fun, educational mule-drawn wagon tour with Pioneer Trails Adventures. Your guide will take you past significant sites on the Square and beyond while explaining how they shaped Independence into the place it is today. 2) Another location along the Paranormal Path, the 1859 Jail, Marshal’s Home & Museum gives visitors the opportunity to walk through the cellblock that housed infamous criminals such
as Confederate leader William Clark Quantrill and outlaw Frank James, older brother of Jesse James. Located on the Square, the jail is concealed behind the residence where the jailer and their family once lived. As you tour the brick home and limestone jail cells, keep your eyes and ears open—some visitors have reported feeling chills and nausea, while others have heard male voices and growls. You may even witness the ghost of jailer Henry Bugler, whom armed men shot and killed in the doorway while attempting to break out prisoners.
3) After some spooky sightseeing, grab a bite to eat at Courthouse Exchange, a staple on the Square since 1899. Savor a comforting meal in the underground dining room, or get cozy on the breezy patio during the warmer months.
4) End your ghostly getaway with another investigation with Apex Paranormal at the Bingham-Waggoner Estate, built in 1852. This elegant home is located on the Santa Fe Trail, and wagon swales remain on the grounds of the estate. Prior to the City of Independence converting the 19.5-acre estate into a museum and park in 1979, notable residents included Civil War artist and local politician George Caleb Bingham and later the Waggoner family, owners of a neighboring flour mill. Original furnishings and reproductions of Bingham’s artwork decorate the home, which also features impressive 19th-century architecture and design. As you explore the estate, keep an eye on the staircase for a woman in white—legend has it a bride fell down the steps to her death on her wedding day.
2 1859 Jail, Marshal’s Home & Museum
1 Pioneer Trails Adventures
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“I was tired of an outlaw's life. I have been hunted for twenty-one years. I have literally lived in the saddle. I have never known a day of perfect peace.” – FR ANK JAMES
4 Bingham-Waggoner Estate