9 Historic, Underrated, And Creepy Cemeteries In Oregon To Explore This Fall
By Sarah McCosham|Updated on October 06, 2023(Originally published December 13, 2022)
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
If you didn’t know by now, Oregon is one wild place. We welcome the weird here in the Beaver State and are always up for some Oregon ghost-hunting (or even ghost-camping) adventures. If you need further proof of Oregon’s undeniable creepy factor, here are nine historic, underrated, and altogether creepy cemeteries in OR you’ll want to add to your bucket list… that is if you’re brave enough. How many of these haunted cemeteries in Oregon have you been to? Let us know.
1. Lone Fir Cemetery - Portland
Lone Fir Cemetery, 649 SE 26th Ave, Portland, OR 97214, USA
Lone Fir Cemetery has been around since the earliest days of Portland, and ghost stories abound about this historic burial ground. The 30-acre Lone Fir Cemetery was known as *the* place for Portland's elite to be buried; however, if the rumors are true, these spirits aren't all resting in peace. Today, Lone Fir Cemetery is a place where the air feels thick with the tension of unsettled spirits, and there have been many reports of all sorts of strange and eerie goings-on - too many to ignore. What's happening here? Come out and see.
In Baker City, the Chinese Cemetery is one of just a handful of interpretive sites commemorating the Chinese history and heritage in Oregon. Approximately 46 people were originally buried in the cemetery; today, just a single marked grave remains. This is a wholly unsettling place that will give you chills as it's one of the creepiest abandoned cemeteries in Oregon. It's both a window into the past and a sad reminder of how far we've come as a society since the old times.
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3. Beth Israel Cemetery - Portland
Beth Israel Cemetery, 426 SW Taylors Ferry Rd, Portland, OR 97219, USA
The country's oldest continuously operating Jewish cemetery, Beth Israel is flush with beautiful marble monuments and is historically significant, too - Torah scrolls that survived the Nazi occupation in Simferopol are buried underneath one of the cemetery's markers. But as is the case with so many cemeteries, the serenity of Beth Israel Cemetery turns to an eerie quiet come dusk, its massive monoliths morphing into something wholly sinister in the moonlit shadows. Was that a shadow you saw quickly flitting between the headstones? Can you really know for sure?
The beauty of this Portland cemetery is unrivaled, as are its views. At River View Cemetery, you’ll be absolutely awestruck by the massive monuments that stand guard above the souls buried beneath the earth. However, if you want to enjoy this scenery, we recommend doing so during the day, as the massive statues and totems dotting the grounds are downright sinister come nightfall. Plus, nobody wants to end up having a ghost follow them around, and if that's going to happen anywhere it's going to happen here.
This beautiful Portland cemetery is a wonderful place to take in the fall foliage, as its paths and trails wind through some seriously stunning scenery. However, as darkness descends on Rose City Cemetery, the crunch of dead leaves and unsettling silence will undoubtedly cause your mind to wander to dark places. Places darker than this cemetery at night. Eep.
6. Mountain View Cemetery - Oregon City
Mountain View Cemetery, 500 Hilda St, Oregon City, OR 97045, USA
This Oregon City cemetery is the final resting place of many of the state's earliest pioneers and settlers. With such a heavy history, it's no wonder many claim to hear whispers and feel eerie breezes while wandering through Mountain View Cemetery. The old bones buried below here have tales to tell, and some of them sure seem to enjoy telling any of the living who will listen.
One of the most notoriously haunted cemeteries in Oregon, the Lafayette Pioneer Cemetery is a favorite among ghost hunters. Visitors to this cemetery report all kinds of strange occurrences, but the most common stories are centered around two women from the area: Anna Marple and Lena Elsie Imus. Their stories are disturbing, with (among other things) rumors swirling about murder, witchcraft, and larceny. It's no wonder many feel the presence of these troubled women here.
8. Jacksonville Cemetery- Jacksonville
Cemetery Road, Cemetery Rd, Jacksonville, OR 97530, USA
The final resting place for many of the Beaver State's early miners, Jacksonville Cemetery is a hauntingly beautiful place to visit. Here you'll feel the weight of history; merchants, gold miners, farmers, judges, and doctors are just some of the souls laid to rest at Jacksonville Cemetery. This period in Oregon's history is often romanticized; however, it was a brutal and difficult life for these brave trailblazers. Grave markers reflect the great distances they traveled in search of a better life but many believe these pioneers aren't all slumbering peacefully beneath the earth...some are still walking it. While it's not the oldest cemetery in Oregon, it is among the oldest.
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9. Eugene Masonic Cemetery - Eugene
Eugene Masonic Cemetery, University St & E 25th Ave, Eugene, OR 97405, USA
The oldest cemetery in Eugene is also (naturally) one of the most haunted places in the state. The cemetery shares a birthday with Oregon (1859!), and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's also on many an Oregon ghost hunter's bucket list, as locals visiting Eugene Masonic Cemetery have reported strange apparitions that quickly appear and disappear.
Did you know about all of these creepy cemeteries in Oregon? Have you heard any of these ghost stories before? If you have other haunted locales you’d like to see featured, nominate them and tell us why!
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More to Explore
Cemeteries In Oregon
Tori Jane|December 18, 2022
How many old cemeteries in OR are there?
There are plenty - quite literally hundreds - of old cemeteries in OR to explore. There are more than 1,500 pioneer cemeteries in Oregon alone, and this doesn't even include the modern, still-operating ones! Some of the best old cemeteries in OR include:
