A common characteristic is the presence of unexplained sounds. For example, in the stories about haunted buildings, you often hear footsteps, doors creaking, or voices when no one is around. It gives an eerie feeling as if there are unseen presences. Also, the apparitions described are usually related to people who had a connection to the place in the past, like former owners or performers.
The Homestake Opera House in Lead, South Dakota also has its share of spooky tales. There are rumors of a ghostly actress who still roams the stage. People say they've heard strange noises during the night, like the sound of footsteps and faint singing, as if the actress is still rehearsing her lines and performing long after her death. It's a place that gives many a sense of unease when they visit after dark.
There's no scientific evidence to prove that the University of South Dakota ghost stories are real. They are probably the result of overactive imaginations, old buildings with creaky floors and strange noises that can be easily misinterpreted as something supernatural, and the allure of having a spooky story to tell around campus.
The ghost of Calamity Jane is a famous one. She was a well - known figure in South Dakota's history. Some claim to have seen her ghost in Deadwood. It's said she still wanders the streets she once walked during her lifetime.
One of the well - known University of South Dakota ghost stories is about the spirit in Old Main. Students have reported strange noises and cold spots in the hallways, as if someone from the past is still lingering there.
A really frightening South Jersey ghost story is about a cursed well. Supposedly, anyone who gets too close to it at night feels a cold chill and hears a whispering voice. Some believe that if you look into the well, you'll see a face staring back at you. It's said to be the spirit of a girl who was drowned there long ago.
One well - known South Dakota ghost story is about the Deadwood Stagecoach. Legend has it that on certain moonlit nights, people can hear the creaking of the old stagecoach wheels and the shouts of the driver along the old routes in the Black Hills. It's said to be the ghostly remnants of the many dangerous trips made long ago.
The sense of the unknown is really scary. In South Texas ghost stories, like the La Llorona one, you don't know when or where she might appear. It could be as you're walking near a riverbank, and suddenly you hear her cries. You can't predict it, and that's terrifying.
The story of the ghost ship off the South African coast is quite terrifying. Sailors have reported seeing a ship that looks like it's from a bygone era, with no living crew on board. It just appears and disappears mysteriously. It gives the feeling of being in a horror movie on the open sea.
There's a story of an old tavern. The owner was murdered in a brutal way. Since then, guests staying in the rooms above the tavern where the murder took place often report feeling a heavy presence. They might wake up in the middle of the night to see a figure standing at the foot of their bed, and it gives them the chills.
The idea of being in a familiar place but having it turn spooky is also quite terrifying. Take the haunted mine. Miners were used to working there every day, it was a normal workplace, but then suddenly it became haunted with strange noises and apparitions. It's the transformation of a familiar and supposedly safe place into a place full of fear.