Central Oregon, known for its breathtaking landscapes, outdoor adventures, puffy sweaters and overpriced beer, hides a different kind of allure beneath its serene exterior.No region is safe from its fair share of ghost stories, it’s impossible to avoid. Here are just seven of the most notorious hauntings in Central Oregon.

1. The Tower Theatre Ghosts

In case you didn’t know, theatrical tradition mandates that a ‘ghost light’ be on at all times that has illuminated the stage since it was built in 1940 and again restored in 2001. But this theater gives a new meaning to the term.

Performers have reported being watched by two figures in the dark and otherwise empty seats during rehearsals. Primo seats in the balcony of course for the male and female specters reported to have appeared there.

The historic Tower Theatre is rumored to be haunted by the spirits of actors who once graced its stage. Some claim to hear disembodied voices and footsteps, and incomplete apparitions have been spotted backstage.

2. The Haunting of Pilot Butte

Our sense of place is powerful and pervades even the spiritual realm, damning some to roam listlessly in the same place forever. Ghosts don’t necessarily need a house to haunt – energy is faithful to place. Imagine walking round and round the same trail and never being able to leave.

Pilot Butte, an iconic volcanic cone, is said to be haunted by the ghost of a Native American woman who wanders the trails. Hikers have reported hearing mournful cries and witnessing strange lights on the butte. 

Violent deaths, as is likely the case for this woman who died on the butte, are often precursors to even more activity. Unexplained orbs have also been reported at the adjacent Pilot Butte Cemetery. 

3. The Phantom of Camp Polk Meadow 

   Sisters’ Camp Polk Meadow Preserve has its own ghost story. Visitors have reported hearing the faint sounds of a piano playing in the meadow at night despite the impossibility of a piano to be there. 

The spirits here can be reached and even touched from time to time, courtesy of the Deschutes Land Trust annual Spirits of Camp Polk walk. 

It’s sprawling and protected 151 acres is dedicated to the preservation of the flora and fauna in the area, inadvertently protecting what spirits reside within. The ghosts will be able to haunt the land for years to come.

4. The Ghosts of Shaniko

Skeletal remains and all, the ghost town of Shaniko in Wasco County is notorious for its foreboding atmosphere. Withered wood and the shell of the bustling little mining town it once was are all that remain. Visitors have claimed to see ghostly figures walking the abandoned streets and heard disembodied whispers.

Reports of paranormal sightings abound and the most activity appears to be in the hotel. Many of its residents who checked in never left and can still be heard today. 

Do you have what it takes to last a night in Shaniko? 

5. The Haunted Hotel in Mitchell

Hot take, but Mitchell is in an awkward period between being a dwindling modern town to a pseudo-ghost town. 

The Oregon Hotel in Mitchell has a long history of paranormal activity. Guests have encountered flickering lights, mysterious footsteps, and the apparition of a lady in a Victorian-era dress.

$90 will afford a room with a private bath to get nice and acquainted with the variable residents. 

Built in the 1800s, it served as the premier inn until it burnt down and was rebuilt in October of 1904 by one J.W. Carrol. 

6. The Restless Spirits of Fort Rock

Fort Rock, an ancient volcanic tuff ring, is said to be haunted by Native American spirits. Some have reported hearing drums and chants echoing at night.

The old homestead turned ghost town has been preserved into a museum in order to preserve the folkways of early Oregonian settlers. After its establishment in 1908, the desert temperatures proved too much by 1988, forcing them to abandon the land.

Echoing the fate of the east coast settlers of before, the Roanoke colony were also forced to abandon their settlement due to the climate. Many have speculated that they were picked off or taken in by the Native Americans that precede them.

7. The Phantom Hitchhiker of Highway 97

A hitchhiker is doomed  without his greatest asset, lest he have his hatchet. 

It’s no secret that hundreds of lives have been taken along the ever-expanding Highway 97. Whether its high speed collisions, deathly rolls or some other road-related tragedy, they unfortunately happen every day. One would think that there would be more ghosts walking along the road, but evidently they have better places to be.

Travelers along Highway 97 have shared chilling tales of picking up a hitchhiker near Chemult, only for the mysterious passenger to vanish from the car. Many believe it’s the spirit of a young woman who died in a car accident along the same stretch of road. 

These haunting tales are a reminder that Central Oregon’s beauty is not without its mysteries. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, these stories add an extra layer of intrigue to the region’s rich history and landscapes. It also gives these puffy coats and gentrified streets of Bend some edge.

And of course, these are only the recorded hauntings—there could be an apparition just around the next dusty corner. The next time you visit or even pass by one of these places on a road trip, keep a close eye out, you might be surprised at what you see. 

Go and see for yourself.

Let us know about any other haunted places we have yet to list. We might even be compelled to send someone out there. To do so, go ahead and email info@desertcurrent.com.