Pythian Castle
Specters of a secret society share this Missouri castle with phantom POWs from World War II
Paranormal Claims at
Pythian Castle
- The apparition of a lady in white is seen
- Battery drains on paranormal equipment are noted
- Disembodied voices are frequently heard
- People report being touched by unseen entities
- Strange smells of cigarette smoke are reported
- A child-sized apparition is often spotted around the castle basement
- Cold spots are encountered throughout the castle
- Lights turn on and off by themselves
- Photographic anomalies are said to be quite common in the basement
- Shadow figures are often seen
A Castle & Care Home:
History of Pythian Castle
Fraternal organizations and societies once played major roles in the American social order. Many of the organizations remembered today, like the Free Masons, were the most secretive and mysterious among them.
Some fraternal organizations operated in the shadows. But others made themselves resources to their communities. One such organization was the Knights of Pythias.
The Knights of Pythias were far from a secret society, going so far as to build a grand castle in the middle of Springfield, Missouri. Though it looks like a manor fit for a king, the Knights used it as an orphanage and care home for their infirm and elderly members.
Today, the Knights of Pythias no longer operate as a fraternal organization. But, their old care home lives on as a cornerstone of Springfield culture. And legend has it that a few ghostly Knights may still be residing in their historic castle.
Timeline of Pythian Castle's History
Swipe or use timeline points to see Pythian Castle through the years
1864
The Knights of Pythias first came to life in 1864, the brainchild of Justus Rathbone, a Union Army worker. Rathbone figured a nation broken by war would benefit from a society like his. Rathbone’s organization quickly took off in post-war America. It included elements of community and social support, as well as military-style dress. By the late 1800s, the Knights of Pythias was one of the nation’s largest fraternal organizations. And by the early 1900s, the Knights’ leadership looked for ways to better support its members.
1913
In the early 1900s, the organization had a large number of aging Knights, as well as orphaned children of former Knights. The Pythians took to designing a home for these members in the early 1910s. The society built the home on a large plot in Springfield, Missouri, a central location for a nationwide organization. Opened in 1913, Pythian Castle was true to its name, built of heavy stone and featuring many classic castle accents. Officially dedicated the following year, Pythian Castle went right to work as a refuge for widows, orphans, and Pythian elders.
1942
As the 1900s went on, Pythian membership dwindled. Additionally, the advent of Social Security occurred in the 1930s. This helped many elderly Pythians and widows sustain themselves without the need of a large group home. So, in 1942, the US Army purchased Pythian Castle. In the heat of World War II, the army moved fast, refitting the castle into a new wing of a nearby army hospital. The castle would serve as an entertainment club for patients and staff. As the war went on, the basement also operated as a POW prison, holding German and Italian soldiers.
1993
After World War II, the US Army owned Pythian Castle until auctioning it as surplus in 1993. The building went through a few private owners before coming under its current ownership. The present owners opened the castle’s doors to the public for the first time in 2010. Tours were an instant hit, and Pythian Castle has been a tourist attraction ever since. But though the days of Pythians and POWs are gone, specters from those eras may forever haunt the Missouri castle.
Is Pythian Castle Haunted?
Numerous ghost stories float through the air of Pythian Castle today. And stories say one ghost appears so vividly, you can see them from outside. A “lady in white” purportedly haunts the castle.
Her misty white form frequently appears in the halls. But, she is also known for appearing in the windows, visible to passersby outside. And she is far from the only ghostly form you might see at Pythian Castle.
The building is also known for a child-sized shadow figure who frequently explores the corridors.
Most often, this child’s ghost can be seen in the basement areas of the castle. Aside from Pythian’s spiritual child and white lady, numerous other shadow figures are reported within. These unknown figures can purportedly be seen just about anywhere in the castle.
Things Go Bump in the Night
Pythian Castle’s phantoms are also known for being quite talkative. Many visitors report hearing disembodied voices in the halls and rooms.
Other strange noises, like knocks and bangs, are also said to be very common unexplained happenings. These noises most often occur during the nighttime hours at Pythian Castle.
And if the voices and sounds happen to scare ghost hunters enough to turn the lights on, the Pythian phantoms may just flip them right off again.
Light switches around the castle are claimed to be infamous for being flipped on and off by the building’s unseen entities.
Pythian’s Grabby Ghosts
As the ghosts of Pythian Castle drift back and forth through the building causing mischief, they may bump into visitors. Many people who tour through the building report feeling people nudge or brush by them as they stand in empty, quiet hallways.
Other people report more purposeful, direct contact with the Pythian spirits. These witnesses say ghosts in the castle will reach out and grab them at sudden, unexpected times.
Chilly Corridors & Smokey Spaces
It’s quite undeniable, there’s something strange in the air at Pythian Castle. And sometimes, when ghostly voices or transparent forms aren’t carrying through it, the air itself gets a little spooky.
Sudden chills are known to hit people as they tour through the rooms, and then disappear just as fast. In other spaces of the castle, odd odors of cigarette smoke are reported, even though the building has been smoke free for years.
Ghost Hunters’ Galore
Ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts have been attracted to Pythian Castle in recent years.
Countless ghost hunting groups have come and gone from the building. They’ve offered even more reports of unexplained events inside. Ghost hunters frequently report mysterious battery drains in all areas of the castle.
Additionally, photographers on ghost hunts report strange anomalies in their photos.
Most commonly, they’ll capture these anomalies around the basement POW cells. And as more ghost hunters continue to spend their nights investigating Pythian Castle, more reports are sure to come out.
Pythian Castle’s Paranormal Intrigue
Hauntings at Pythian Castle are a central part of their offerings today. Ghost tours are among the most popular tour programs of the castle. Scheduled, private ghost hunts are often booked well in advance.
And along with all the ghostly goodness, Pythian Castle also remains well connected to its history, regularly offering historical tours and programs.
Though the Knights of Pythias are in the past now, they have left one unforgettable piece of themselves behind. Pythian Castle was never designed to be a space for public exploration. But its large size, imposing design, and the web of ghostly lore within has made it one of the most popular haunted hotspots in Missouri.
Are you ready to spend a night hunting for the Knights?
