In the heart of Kansas, between Topeka and Lawrence, lies a small, unassuming town called Stull. Blink and you might miss it entirely. At first glance, there’s not much to see: the old Stull cemetery, a weathered church ruin, and the rural roads typical of the Midwest. But for decades, Stull has been home to one of the strangest and most notorious urban legends in the United States—the so-called “Gateway to Hell.”

It all began in the 1970s, when a student from the University of Kansas penned an article in the school newspaper, The University Daily Kansan, that would change Stull’s reputation forever. The article claimed that the Devil himself appeared twice a year in the Stull Cemetery: once on Halloween and again on the spring equinox. Locals began to whisper that the cemetery was one of the seven gates to Hell, and the nearby Evangelical Emmanuel Church ruins were said to be “possessed” by dark forces. Suddenly, Stull had become the stuff of nightmares.

But the truth? It’s far removed from the tall tales that have surrounded this small Kansas town. The myth of Stull’s mayor being murdered by the Devil? Well, Stull never even had a mayor. And the legend about Pope John Paul II redirecting his flight to avoid flying over this unholy ground? That one’s pure fiction too—though it certainly makes for a good story.

Yet despite the lack of evidence, the legend of Stull took on a life of its own. Year after year, thrill-seekers, ghost hunters, and daredevil teens from nearby towns like Lawrence and Topeka flocked to the cemetery, hoping to catch a glimpse of the supernatural. Stories spread of strange noises, memory lapses, and eerie figures seen wandering the grounds. Some even claimed to have seen the Devil himself.

By the 1990s, the influx of visitors had taken a toll on the cemetery. What began as an innocent fascination turned into vandalism, with gravestones toppled and property damaged. The eerie, crumbling remains of the old church became a target for trespassers, and the legend continued to grow. But the more the cemetery deteriorated, the more it seemed to confirm the town’s haunted reputation.

Over the years, local authorities have cracked down on thrill-seekers. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office now regularly patrols the area, especially around Halloween, issuing hefty fines and jail time for anyone caught trespassing. For the locals, the legend is more of a nuisance than anything. Most historians and residents agree that the myths surrounding Stull have no basis in reality—they’re the product of overactive imaginations, fueled by college pranks and ghost stories gone wild.

Still, there’s something undeniably eerie about Stull. Maybe it’s the quiet that lingers over the abandoned church, or the wind rustling through the weathered gravestones. Maybe it’s the power of suggestion—the stories that cling to the town like a fog. Whether or not you believe the legends, there’s something strange about Stull, Kansas.

But here’s the thing about strange places: they don’t have to live up to the legends to be interesting. Sometimes it’s the journey—exploring these tucked-away spots, hunting for clues, letting your imagination run wild—that makes the experience worthwhile. Stull may not be a literal gateway to Hell, but for those brave enough to visit, it offers a glimpse into the bizarre and a chance to step into the unknown.

Read more about the Stull Cemetery in our Landmark page.