Bentonsport After Dark: The Ghost Crawl

Bentonsport may be quiet by day… but after dark, the stories come alive.

Join us for a guided paranormal crawl through one of Iowa’s most h

istoric river towns. During this investigation experience, participants will explore several haunted locations throughout Bentonsport before ending the night inside the legendary Mason House Inn.

This event combines history, exploration, and paranormal investigation across an entire historic village.

Investigation Locations

• Rose Garden Mill Ruins – The Rose Garden area was once the site of a large flour mill that stood along the Des Moines River. In 1905, the mill was destroyed in a devastating explosion that killed several workers and shook the entire village. The blast leveled much of the structure, leaving only stone foundations and ruins behind. Today the site is quiet, but many believe the tragedy left lingering energy tied to the location.
• Odd Fellows Hall – The Odd Fellows Building in Bentonsport dates back to the mid-1800s and served as a meeting hall for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization known for its rituals, symbolism, and secretive meetings. The building also housed businesses on the lower level while the lodge met upstairs. Like many lodge halls of the era, it played a major role in the social life of the town during Bentonsport’s riverboat and trade years.
• Bentonsport Cemetery – The Bentonsport Cemetery sits on a hill overlooking the village and contains the graves of many of the town’s earliest settlers and families. Many of those buried there lived during the peak years of Bentonsport’s river trade in the mid-1800s. The cemetery is a quiet reminder of the town’s early history and the people who helped build the community along the Des Moines River.
• Mason House Inn – Built in 1846, the Mason House Inn originally served as a hotel for travelers arriving by steamboat along the Des Moines River. Over nearly two centuries, the building has witnessed countless stories, from riverboat commerce to changing generations of visitors. Today it remains one of the oldest standing buildings in Bentonsport and continues to welcome guests much as it did during the town’s earliest days.

Each location before the inn will be investigated for approximately one hour before the evening concludes at the Mason House Inn around 2:00 AM.

Optional Add-Ons

Event Details

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Time: 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM
• Location: Bentonsport, Iowa
• Ages: 18+ only
• Tickets: Sold per person