Spooky ghost stories and myths looming in Green Country

TULSA - As Halloween quickly approaches, we thought it would be fun to do some investigating of paranormal activities in Tulsa.

Hundreds of ghosts, goblins and witches will roam the streets and “trick-or-treat” at the end of the month, but what about REAL ghosts?

The Sooner state is no stranger to famous ghost stories and myths.

Surely you have heard a few frightening stories and Green Country urban legends, everything from the haunted train tracks to the phantom hitchhiker on Highway 20.

One historic building that has had its fair share of paranormal investigations, rumors of creepy sounds and strange occurrences is Cain's Ballroom.

Known to many as “The Home of Bob Wills,” Cain's Ballroom is full of history and timeless memories that span over the the dance hall's 86 years in business, making it a likely dwelling place for patrons of the “ghostly” persuasion.

People have speculated and discussed their opinions of the so called "haunted" ballroom.

The PITT's (Paranormal Investigation Team of Tulsa) website lists Cain's Ballroom as one of Tulsa's possible haunts.

The website says the following: "The mysterious Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa has created a miracle and some are convinced it is the ghost of Bob Wills who made it happen....It is believed the ghost of Bob Wills continues to haunt the place. There is also a mysterious "Lady in Red" that has been seen, heard and felt many times by employees and patrons alike." 

The S.P.O.O.K, or the Sooner Paranormal of Oklahoma, website contains a detailed account of a paranormal investigation the organization conducted at the ballroom in November 2008.

Investigators reported seeing full-bodied apparitions, hearing disembodied voices and feeling like they were being "watched."

On the blog site "Haunted Oklahoma: Urban Legends of the Sooner State", the author gives his account of rumors of paranormal activity at Cain's:

"A janitor at Cain's once reported seeing an apparition of a cowboy. On February 28, 2003 psychic consultants Eric Beese and Jonathan Jett claimed to have encountered a woman named Joan from the 50s, with a drinking problem and also sensed a male energy walking back and forth across the stage. Cold spots and orbs have also been reported during a paranormal investigation."

According to management, shortly after Cain's re-opened in 2003, a construction worker was in the upstairs mezzanine working on a bathroom. The man said he turned around and there was a a cowboy sitting in a bar stool about 5 to 10 feet from him. Unfortunately, the worker didn’t speak very good English at the time so he had difficulty explaining what he saw, but he was unaware and had no prior knowledge of any myths or legends about the ballroom.

Whether these friendly apparitions are fact or fiction, one thing that holds true is the significance Cain's Ballroom still has in Tulsa today. This venue brings together young and old for fun and entertainment and boasts some of the top-billed acts of both past and present.

The legacy of this ballroom continues to live on... ghosts and all.

For more on the Halloween season, go to our Halloween Headquarters.