Stull Cemetery: The Devil’s Gate

In the rolling farmland of Douglas County, Kansas, sits a small, unassuming cemetery beside the ruins of an old stone church. Stull Cemetery serves a community of fewer than twenty people, yet it has gained worldwide notoriety as one of the supposed seven gateways to Hell. The legends claim that the Devil himself visits Stull twice a year and that the laws of nature are suspended within its boundaries.

The Town of Stull

Stull was founded in 1857 as Deer Creek Community. The town was renamed in 1899 for the first postmaster, Sylvester Stull. At its peak, the community was home to several hundred people, with the typical institutions of a small farming town—a church, a school, and a general store.

The Evangelical Emmanuel Church, built in 1867, served the community’s spiritual needs. The stone building stood until the early 2000s, when its roof collapsed. The ruins, along with the adjacent cemetery, became the focus of the legends that would make Stull infamous.

Origins of the Legend

The exact origins of Stull’s sinister reputation are difficult to trace. The modern legends appear to have emerged in the 1970s. A November 1974 article in the University of Kansas student newspaper described Stull as a place where strange things happened and suggested supernatural connections.

The article claimed that the Devil appeared in Stull Cemetery twice a year—at midnight on the spring equinox and Halloween. It suggested that the church ruins contained a hidden staircase leading to Hell and that the spirits of the dead walked freely among the tombstones.

Following the publication, students began visiting the cemetery, especially around Halloween. Word spread, and the legend grew with each retelling.

The Legend’s Claims

According to the accumulated lore, Stull Cemetery has several supernatural characteristics. Rain allegedly cannot fall within the cemetery’s boundaries, even when storms drench the surrounding area. The ruins of the church were said to be similarly protected, with rain and snow unable to enter despite the collapsed roof.

The Devil is said to visit Stull twice yearly to visit the grave of a child—variously described as his own offspring, a witch’s child, or a baby born deformed and killed by terrified villagers. On these nights, the hidden staircase opens, allowing passage between realms.

Some versions claim that a massive tree in the cemetery was used for hangings, including the execution of witches during the town’s early years. Others tell of a man who practiced black magic and whose spirit remains bound to the location.

Pope John Paul II Detour

One of the most frequently cited elements of Stull’s legend involves Pope John Paul II. The story claims that in 1993 or 1995, when the Pope flew over Kansas on his way to or from Denver, he ordered his pilot to detour around Stull because he refused to fly over “unholy ground.”

There is no documentation supporting this claim. Flight records do not show any unusual diversions. The Vatican has never commented on the story. Yet it has become one of the most repeated elements of the Stull legend, cited as evidence that even the Catholic Church recognizes the site’s evil nature.

Actual Events

Real events at Stull, while less dramatic than the legends, have contributed to the cemetery’s dark atmosphere. Several graves date to the 1800s, and some tombstones have been vandalized or toppled over the years. The remote location and abandoned church created a genuinely eerie setting.

The influx of legend-seekers caused significant problems for the actual residents of Stull. Vandalism increased. Trespassers damaged property and disturbed graves. Local law enforcement began patrolling heavily around Halloween, arresting those who entered the private cemetery without permission.

In 2002, the remnants of the church were demolished, reportedly to discourage trespassing. The move was controversial, with some believing it eliminated evidence of paranormal activity while others saw it as a necessary step to end the circus atmosphere.

Investigation and Skepticism

Various paranormal investigators have visited Stull over the years. Some report unusual electromagnetic readings, feelings of unease, or equipment malfunctions. Others find nothing out of the ordinary.

Skeptical analysis suggests the legend is a modern urban myth that grew from a student newspaper article through repeated retellings. The specific claims—rain that cannot fall, papal detours, hidden staircases—are either unverifiable or demonstrably false.

Local historians note that no historical records support claims of witch trials, hangings, or other dramatic events in Stull’s past. The community was a typical small farming town, its history unremarkable until the legends began.

The Cemetery Today

Stull Cemetery remains private property, closed to the public without permission. Douglas County sheriffs continue to patrol the area heavily around Halloween, turning away the curious and arresting trespassers.

The residents of Stull generally view the legends with frustration. They have seen their community transformed into a destination for thrill-seekers and vandals. The actual history of their town has been overshadowed by fabricated tales of satanic activity.

Cultural Impact

Despite the skepticism of historians and the frustration of locals, Stull Cemetery has secured its place in American paranormal mythology. It appears regularly on lists of haunted locations and supposed gateways to Hell. It has been featured in documentaries, television shows, and books about America’s most evil places.

The Stull legend demonstrates how modern folklore develops. A single newspaper article, published in a student paper, sparked stories that grew and mutated with each retelling. Invented details became accepted facts. The legend achieved a life of its own, independent of any underlying reality.

Whether Stull Cemetery is truly a gateway to Hell, a genuinely haunted location, or simply a small-town cemetery transformed by urban legend, it continues to attract interest. The legend persists, and every Halloween, people still make their way to Douglas County, Kansas, hoping to encounter something supernatural among the old gravestones.