Fort Stevens
The expansive grounds of this historic fort may still be haunted by a World War II soldier
Paranormal Claims at
Fort Stevens
- A soldier’s apparition has been spotted patrolling the grounds
- Unexplained light orbs have been seen around the park’s woods
- Phantom footsteps have been heard around people’s campgrounds at night
- A figure carrying a flashlight has been spotted on the trails at night
- Cold spots have been reported around an old fort battery
An Unlikely Battlefield:
History of Fort Stevens
The woodsy shores of Oregon might not be what you think of when you think, ‘World War II battlefield.’ But this little patch of land has seen its share of action.
Fort Stevens, first built as a Civil War defensive position, protected the shores of Oregon for generations before closing.
Though its time as a war battery is long behind it, visitors can still find many relics and signs of Fort Stevens’ long military history.
Aside from old buildings and preserved gun placements, some say spirits of soldiers and military officers still linger through the land, which has now been transformed into a state park.
Timeline of Fort Stevens's History
Swipe or use timeline points to see Fort Stevens through the years
1865
In the midst of the American Civil War in the 1860s, neither side was sure who to trust. Along with being at war with itself, the nation was on edge with all of its allies, uncertain if foreign powers would support the Confederacy instead. To prepare for a possible British alliance with the Confederacy, the Union began building up northern defenses on the far north coasts.
In Oregon, this meant the creation of an earthwork fort on the Columbia River in 1865. First named Fort Adams, the outpost was soon renamed for slain general Isaac Stevens.
1897
Luckily, Fort Stevens never saw action in the Civil War. And for decades after the war’s end, Fort Stevens remained as a simple, dirt-built battery protecting the Oregon shores from possible invasion or attack. But, in 1897, the military gave the fort a major refit. The earthen mound fortress ended up fully replaced by large concrete batteries and improved gun positions.
Soon, Fort Stevens became one of three powerful posts protecting the Columbia River from potential invaders.
1942
For 45 years, Fort Stevens protected the Pacific shores without incident. But that all changed in 1942. Pearl Harbor thrust the US into World War II and turned the Pacific into a possible warpath against the Japanese fleet. The fort greeted 2500 soldiers and built new gun batteries, and not a moment too soon. On June 21 of that year, artillery shells rained down on Fort Stevens from a Japanese sub.
No major damage occurred, but the attack made Fort Stevens the first US installation to be attacked by foreign forces since the War of 1812.
1975
After the 1942 attack, Fort Stevens never saw action again. Improved navy patrols made onshore forts obsolete after World War II. As such, Fort Stevens was decommissioned in 1947. The Army Corps of Engineers used the fort for various purposes until 1975, when it was transferred to the state for conversion into a state park. The grounds remain a state park today, in a state of slow preservation.
But some ghosts of military history purportedly don’t want to leave Fort Stevens behind, instead choosing to man their posts from beyond the grave.
Is Fort Stevens Haunted?
Ghost stories have become common at Fort Stevens since the grounds were converted into a state park and opened to the public. From hikers to sightseers and even campers, plenty of visitors to Fort Stevens have left the park with a chilling paranormal experience.
Interestingly, all the ghost stories swirling around the old fort seem to stem from the World War II era. Perhaps that Japanese attack left a lasting mark, even with no casualties?
The Spirit of a Soldier
One of the most common claims around Fort Stevens is the sudden appearance of a young man’s apparition.
He’s been spotted at different times in different areas of the park, but he’s always wearing the same thing: his green US Army uniform.
This mysterious, spectral soldier has been seen patrolling pathways, lingering near Battery Russell, and even taking strolls down the nearby shoreline.
Some people have even reported walking right by this World War II soldier, exchanging nods and smiles with him before watching him disappear into thin air.
Wraiths of Battery Russell
Though this young soldier’s figure is known to appear throughout Fort Stevens, the remains of Battery Russell are said to be some of his famous stomping grounds. The concrete foundation of the large battery remains mostly intact and is an accessible part of the park grounds.
While the bare concrete pathways and corridors of the empty structure make for an eerie atmosphere, the ghostly soldier doesn’t seem to mind. His figure is frequently spotted around the old battery, sometimes toting a long knife along with him. Interestedly, despite being exposed to the elements, cold spots have also become a regular report around Battery Russell. Could these be cold breezes from the surrounding park, or is this the phantom soldier making himself known in a new way?
Phantom Lights from the Forest
Strange lights are another oft-noted paranormal report at Fort Stevens. Mostly seen at dusk or around evening, plenty of hikers have reported seeing strange lights from the woods that seem to track or search for something. Some people who see these mysterious lights suggest they are spiritual orbs, bright manifestations of the souls of former soldiers.
Many have only seen these odd lights from afar, but a select few have spotted what could well be the source of these ghostly beams. On some nights, the apparition of the young World War II soldier can be spotted traversing the park’s trails with a flashlight, shining it into the woods in search of something…or someone. Could all these unknown lights around Fort Stevens be the work of this one lingering soldier and his trusty flashlight?
The Fort’s Creepy Campgrounds
Those who stay the night at Fort Stevens’ campground sometimes claim to have even closer encounters with the phantom soldier.
While his figure itself can be elusive around the campgrounds, his footsteps supposedly identify him in the area.
A common report is that campers at the park are stirred awake in the middle of the night by the sound of heavy footsteps in the gravel around their camp.
But, whenever anyone steps out to look for the person invading their camp, they find themselves alone in the night. That is, except for visible footprints left over in the loose gravel.
Take a Haunted Hike at Fort Stevens
Whether you’re exploring the remains of the fortress itself, taking a hike down one of the many trails, or spending the night at the Fort Stevens campground, you might find yourself rubbing shoulders with spirits.
In a park that spans over 4,000 acres, one might think a single soldier’s specter might be hard to find. Yet countless visitors to Fort Stevens have told stories of encounters with the same patrolling phantom. Fort Stevens itself doesn’t often promote its haunted claims, though it doesn’t seem like they have much need to.
As numerous paranormal reports come out about the park, encounters with the ghostly soldier have slowly become just another part of the Fort Stevens experience.
So, if you’re searching for something spooky on Oregon’s northern coast, take a hike through Fort Stevens State Park. You might just walk right past a ghost as you traverse the trails or take in the shoreline. And if you see a ghostly light through the woods on your journey, maybe the best thing to do is just keep soldiering on.
