Hunt For Wayward Spirits At Indiana's Spooky Bridgewater Cemetery
By Tori Jane|Published June 30, 2021
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
You know, as Hoosiers, we’re pretty tough. We can handle the spiciest food in the Midwest, we can hike the longest trails, and we can come face-to-face with some of the creepiest things in the known universe. Indiana has its fair share of creepy, allegedly haunted places, and more than a handful of them are cemeteries. Enter the old Bridgewater Cemetery, in Scottsburg. Would you dare explore one of the creepiest places in Indiana? We think you should…at your own risk.
Editor’s Note: Please remember to be mindful when visiting any Indiana cemetery. These are places that hold history for many families and should be respected at all times.
The Bridgewater Cemetery, also known to many as Owens Cemetery, has a long, dark history that precedes (and really kind of explains) its currently super-haunted status.
However, they were murdered here - countless people of color were hanged outside the cemetery on what was called "the death tree," which still stands outside the front gates. The tree is said to be the source of much eerieness, as orbs and strange sounds nearby it are very common.
Brave explorers often report bizarre growling sounds, like that of a dog, toward the back of the grounds, despite there being no dogs or coyotes present. Reports of an enormous, beautiful white horse chasing curious people out of the cemetery is also fairly common.
Perhaps the most infamous ghost story of Bridgewater is that of the glowing grave.
You read that correctly - one grave, in particular, stands out as especially eerie. It's said to literally glow after midnight, and the man buried there is said to be the guardian of the grounds, often terrifying and chasing people who enter with the intent to violate the tombs and graves away.
Like most hallowed grounds, the cemetery is beautiful and quite photogenic - for those who dare enter, anyway.
Other commonly reported bizarre events include creepy occurrences like glowing balls of light and a phenomenon known to locals as "Red Eyes," which is as uncomfortably scary as it sounds. There have been numerous reports of small, glowing red eyes in the brush toward the back of the grounds. Electronics seem to fail around the area, and sometimes, cars don't start when the visitor decides to take their leave.
It's also quite notable that the temperature inside the cemetery grounds is noticeably cooler than the temperatures outside the gates.
However, it's not known why, exactly, cold spots and areas are very commonly reported phenomena at Bridgewater Cemetery. Without a doubt, this is one of the creepiest places in Indiana. We'd be lying if we said we didn't totally love it, though.
Due to recent vandalism and other bad actors, the address of the cemetery is not publicly available. However, if you ever find yourself in Scott County, you might be able to learn where it is from locals who are eager to help newcomers get spooked.
What do you think? Do you believe in the ghostly legends of Bridgewater Cemetery? Have you ever experienced anything strange? Tell us your spookiest stories in the comments!
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