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Haunting

Stull Cemetery - Gateway to Hell

Legend says the Devil himself visits this Kansas cemetery twice a year. The Pope allegedly ordered his plane to detour around Stull. A ruined church was once a portal to Hell. What truth lies beneath the legend?

1850s - Present
Stull, Kansas, USA
1000+ witnesses

Stull Cemetery in rural Kansas has been called one of the seven gateways to Hell. Legends claim the Devil visits twice a year, that a church contained a stairway to the underworld, and that even the Pope feared the location.

The Legends

According to local folklore:

Stull Cemetery is believed to be:

  • One of seven gateways to Hell on Earth
  • A place the Devil visits on Halloween and the Spring Equinox
  • Home to a portal inside the ruined church
  • So evil that rain will not fall inside the church walls
  • A location the Pope ordered his plane to avoid

The Claims

The legends state:

  • The Devil appears at midnight twice a year
  • He visits to visit the grave of his child (a witch’s baby)
  • A hanging tree on the property was used for witch executions
  • The church was built by occultists
  • The original name was “Skull”

The Reality

Historical research reveals:

  • The town was named after its first postmaster, Sylvester Stull
  • No “Skull” name existed
  • The church (Emmanuel Hill Church) was a Methodist church
  • It collapsed due to poor maintenance, not dark forces
  • No witch trials occurred here

The Ruins

The church that inspired the legends:

  • Was built in the 1860s
  • Fell into disrepair after the congregation moved
  • Became associated with legends in the 1970s
  • Was demolished in 2002 to stop trespassers
  • Only the cemetery remains

The Legend’s Origin

The legends apparently began:

  • In 1974, with a University of Kansas newspaper article
  • The article compiled folklore and exaggerated claims
  • The story spread through college students
  • Each retelling added more sensational details
  • The Pope rumor is completely fabricated

Real Problems

The legends caused real issues:

  • Vandalism to graves
  • Trespassing on private property
  • The church was demolished to stop visitors
  • Police patrol heavily on Halloween
  • The community is frustrated by the attention

The Experience Today

Visitors report:

  • Some paranormal experiences
  • Mostly a quiet, small cemetery
  • Heavy police presence
  • Arrests for trespassing
  • The church is gone

Cultural Impact

Stull Cemetery demonstrates:

  • How urban legends grow
  • How media creates reality
  • The power of the “gateway to Hell” concept
  • How communities struggle with dark tourism

Sources

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