The most mystifying ghost story in Illinois comes out of a remote area near an abandoned town. While many will claim these reports are untrue, there are more than a few people who have witnessed the strange occurrences at this hill-top cemetery.

Ghost hunters will go wild for this paranormal hot spot. Read on to uncover a mystery that Illinoisans simply can’t put to rest.

Between the towns of Shelbyville and Tower Hill in Central Illinois, there is an ancient village called Williamsburg that existed in the 1800s. Nearby, just off County Road 1100E, sits Ridge Cemetery where locals once buried their dead.
Google Maps
Though it was a successful little town, its residents began to move away in 1880 when the Beardstown, Shawneetown and Southeastern Railroad was built nearby. By the 1960s, it was a ghost town. Most structures are no longer standing, having been removed due to rot.
Wikimedia Commons/Toby Alter
All that is left now are gravel pits, and of course the cemetery on the hill.
Ridge Cemetery is easily found at the top of Williamsburg Hill, which, at 810 feet, is the highest point in this region of the state. Ghost hunters will find it a quarter mile past a microwave tower, through a tunnel of trees to a well-maintained clearing.
Wikimedia Commons/2015JCLB
Over the years, the graveyard has fallen to vandalism and potential occult activity. As it is off the beaten path, secluded from sight of any towns or houses, any sort of activities could have taken place here. Locals have reported strange lights and dark apparitions in and around the area. This may be due to some forgotten graves that have been overgrown and become part of the woods.

Related Stories

This Illinois House Is Among The Most Haunted Places In The Nation

This Illinois House Is Among The Most Haunted Places In The Nation

 This Haunted Hayride In Illinois Takes You Through A Frightening Forest

This Haunted Hayride In Illinois Takes You Through A Frightening Forest

 This Haunted Holiday House In Illinois Will Give You A Creepy Christmas

This Haunted Holiday House In Illinois Will Give You A Creepy Christmas
Our main Williamsburg Hill ghost story concerns a young girl who went missing. She was found walking down the road towards the cemetery, though she had never been there before. She later told her mom that the people who lived there wanted her to come stay with them.
Pixabay/Free-Photos
Another notable case no one can figure out that concerns this cemetery involves the carcass of a mutilated cow. It was found on the grounds of the cemetery but there was no blood and all the reproductive organs were taken. To this day, no one has been able to explain what happened.
Pixabay/shaymen99
Some other creepy reports include phantom funerals, sobs and other sounds, and the feeling like someone is watching or does not want you there.
No one knows exactly what haunts this place, if anything. Is it ghosts or human activity causing these frightening reports? Perhaps it's all in everyone's head. To be fair, this ancient land has been housing the dead for centuries, so it's bound to have held on to a few spirits.
Pixabay/ju-dit

For more haunted tales, check out 13 more spine-tingling stories said to be true in Illinois.

Have you ever heard this ghost story or visited this cemetery? Share your version of what happened with us!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Illinois