Many people who have visited Hummel Park in Omaha disagree on the specifics of the park's history. But one thing that most visitors can agree on is that there is a decidedly creepy vibe there. From unexplained noises to orbs in photographs to animal sacrifices, some very scary things happen in this park.
The park's entrance sign itself looks a bit like a gravestone. It sets the stage for what you'll find inside.
One of Hummel Park's many legends regards the trees that curve inward, toward the road.
It has been said that in the early 1900s, a large number of black Omahans were lynched from these trees. The trees are thought to retain the memory of these gruesome murders and still bow under the weight of the victims' souls.
Though the hanging story is unproven, there have been several verifiable deaths associated with the park.
In 1983, Laura LaPointe was robbed and beaten to death by two other women in Hummel Park. In 2006, the body of 12-year-old Amber Harris, who had been missing since the previous winter, was discovered in a shallow grave in the park. The memorial above was erected in 2008 for David Murillo, a young man who died in the park in a car accident. There are many other tales - some true, some just legends - about deaths that have taken place here.
The park is a huge 200 acres, and different myths surround each section.
A place called Devils Den is where some people have come to perform satanic rituals and animal sacrifices. Although the tales of the park being built on a Native American burial ground and infested with evil spirits have yet to be proven, the altars with satanic scrawlings are very real and can be seen by visitors.
Devils Den is also home to the infamous morphing stairs.
Legend has it that if you count the steps going up and coming down, the numbers will never match up. There will always be more stairs going up than coming down (or vice versa, depending on who you ask). It's said that if you ever do arrive at the same number, your death is imminent. One legend even says that if you count the steps while descending and happen to count the correct number, the devil will appear to grant you anything you ask for...as long as you're willing to give your soul in exchange.
On a particularly beautiful overlook sit these twin altars at the end of a stone path.
It's difficult to say what the structures were originally meant for. It's hard to believe there would have been fire pits here in the forested area, but today they are used for burning objects...and possibly for darker activities as well. Here - as in other areas of the park - visitors have reported hearing screams, but upon investigation have been unable to find their source.
The Lodge is an interesting feature of the park.
Meant to be a gathering space for families, the building has also attracted some less wholesome visitors. The large stone fireplace has been closed off and vandals have left spray paint tags all over the building.
Inside, orbs sometimes appear in photos and people report feeling a mysterious dark presence.
There are many, many other legends associated with Hummel Park. Some have been disproven by looking back through city records, but steadfast believers say that historic records can't always be trusted.
One of the most enduring is the tale of the albino colony in the woods which has been there since at least the 1950s. Although there are no records of such a place existing or pictures to prove the reported sightings, people swear to this day that there is a group of secretive albinos holed up on park grounds.
This crumbling bridge is a perfect example of how this once-beautiful park now seems creepy and decrepit.
in the daylight it doesn't seem so bad. Families picnic here, children play on swings, and day camps run educational programs in the summer. However, we wouldn't recommend hanging around after the sun goes down. Whether human or supernatural, the goings-on here at night are something that most people want to stay far, far away from.
Hummel Park's history is long and often dark, but many people still use this space daily. You may not be a believer in the ghostly activities here, but it definitely does emanate creepiness...a feeling that isn't helped by knowing that death and sadness are a verifiable part of the park's history.
If you dare step foot into Hummel Park, you can find it at 11808 John J Pershing Dr, Omaha, NE 68112
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