Haunted Fort Smith & Van Buren

A paranormal investigator shares some of the haunted history of these two neighboring Arkansas cities.

Outlaws, lawmen, soldiers and those on the Trail of Tears all passed through the Fort Smith and Van Buren area. Some of those restless spirits remain. Past residents of the “Hell on the Border” jail, which now serves as the visitor’s center, make life interesting for employees. At the Clayton House, a ghostly man in a black suit attends weddings uninvited. Residents near the Fort Smith National Cemetery report eerie blue lights hovering over grave markers. A pipe smoker is seen walking the grounds at the Drennen-Scott House. A small girl in Victorian dress is often seen playing among the tombstones at Fairview Cemetery. Author Bud Steed delves into the spectral history of the Arkansas-Oklahoma border.