Some of our favorite natural places bring us joy, laughter, and smiles. But sometimes they hold a dark secret we aren’t aware of. A secret buried in the soil, whispering in the trees, and occupying inanimate objects without our knowledge – until they make themselves known. Such is the case with this well-loved 1.77-acre city park and play area in La Grande, Oregon.

Beware, this story may give you chills, and keep you up at night. We’ll try to be gentle, but it’s up to you if you want to continue.

Candy Cane Park in La Grande, Oregon seems like any old happy place for children and families to gather on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
City of La Grande
The park is a popular place for picnics, grilling, and playing sports in the grassy fields, but many say it’s haunted by a woman who was the victim of a terrifying crime.
City of La Grande
A local barmaid was walking home down an eery dark road after her long shift at work. She was tired and longed to lay her aching back onto her cozy warm bed - she never made it.
Carodean Road Designs/Flickr
A drunk man at the bar had been kicked out after threatening to ‘cut off a woman’s head’. Did he follow this woman in particular, or did she happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? We may never know.

Either way, he attempted to follow through with his threats. The woman was found hours later - still breathing. She didn’t make it through another day.

Related Stories

The Oldest Hotel In Oregon Is Also One Of The Most Haunted Places You’ll Ever Sleep

The Oldest Hotel In Oregon Is Also One Of The Most Haunted Places You’ll Ever Sleep

 The Creepy Small Town In Oregon With Insane Paranormal Activity

The Creepy Small Town In Oregon With Insane Paranormal Activity

 The Creepiest Hike In Oregon Takes You Through The Ruins Of An Abandoned Bunker And Ghost Ship

The Creepiest Hike In Oregon Takes You Through The Ruins Of An Abandoned Bunker And Ghost Ship
Over the years there have been hundreds of sightings of a ghostly woman violently spinning the merry-go-round, and even throwing people from the ride. So many that the city removed it in 2003.
Abbie Dold/Flickr
Sometimes a seemingly family-friendly park has secrets we’d rather not know.
Darren Jaggi/Google Local
To this day the haunted violent past of Candy Cane Park remains. If you listen on a quiet night when the wind is calm, and the fall leaves hold their rustle tight, you might hear the tormented wail of the woman as she relives her fright.
gwen/Flickr

Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever experienced the supernatural? Share a story or two with us in the comments.

For more haunted places in Oregon you really must visit, pull up a cozy blanket, a flashlight, and maybe even a baseball bat just in case then keep reading – if you dare.

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

Related Articles

Explore Oregon

Featured Addresses
Candy Cane Park, 901 12th St, La Grande, OR 97850, USA