Skip to Main Content

Stull, Kansas: Gates of Hell

An otherwise innocuous cemetery that, according to urban legend, is the site of one of seven U.S. portals to the netherworld.

Visitor Tips and News About Gates of Hell

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Gates of Hell

This is a newspaper article in the Lawrence(Kansas) Journal World with a recent picture of the remains of the church that is said to be one of the gates of hell. I have to say that I went by this place 4 or 5 times a week from 1951 to 1970 and never saw anything suspicious.

[Steve Elmore, 06/07/2009]
Stull Cemetery - Gates of Hell

There are 2 cemeteries in Stull: one large newer cemetery off of the main road through Stull, and one off the the gravel road just west of the white steeple church on the main road. The large fenced-in one is reported as being put in place to keep people away from the real cemetery.

If you go down the little gravel road maybe a mile or two (I don't have a very good sense of distance) there will be another little gravel road on your right side that goes up and slightly to the right. Up here is where you can find the other cemetery. It's very small with very old graves. There is the reported hanging tree, or at least the stump of it since it was cut down.

I honestly think that the reason there is controversy over Stull is the fact that the residents claim it is all false. This is small town America; they don't want attention. They don't want rowdy teenagers looking for a scare and causing trouble in their town. They are trying to protect and hide their secrets.

I've been to the old cemetery, though. I don't believe in most stories, but I definitely believe in Stull. Not that much happened, but in a completely clear part of the sky we started hearing growling noises like it was coming out of the air once it started getting dark.

[Tessa, 05/11/2009]
Gates of Hell - Explained

I have to enlighten you all on the "GATES OF HELL AT STULL" As all reports state, nothing was known till around 1966 when it became known to all and now has spread around the world. Tales of the Pope flying around Kansas, a witch, and a werewolf son sired by the Devil, and countless more stories.

The original story was: the town was cursed until all have died off that kill the people of Skull just south of Stull (now under water of Lake Clinton). They were an evil group of devil worshipping perverts. But they tried to kill the Sheriff's son, who was only trying to get some romance from a girl from Skull. The town of Stull rose up and wiped them out and burned the town. One last woman who was said to have escaped for a while, was hung by the Church in the Stull cemetery, cursed them all until their blood lines were forever gone.

Sounds great, doesn't it? Well the truth is, I made the whole thing up with some friends in high school in 65'. It was the best ploy to get a girl scared and out in the country looking for ghost and things to scare you. We still laugh at the whole thing. .

[T. Zefer, 09/20/2006]
Gates of Hell

I went to Stull today and the church. The Gates of Hell are no longer standing. It is nothing but a pile of stone and some beer bottles. There are no glass windows left, no walls, no holes or anything. From my observations there is nothing paranormal about the site.

[marcie, 07/18/2006]
Gates of Hell

While the (old) church itself, atop the hill, seems to have been torn down, there is some mystery as to why. Most would say because the town was tired of vandals, trespassing, Halloween mischief, etc. But some sources say that the actual owner of the building itself, had not given ANYONE permission to raize the building. Also, just becuase the building itself is no longer there, that does not say that a Gateway to Hell does not STILL reside there. Who knows?

[Chad, 05/31/2005]

Gates of Hell

Address:
Stull Rd, Stull, KS
Directions:
I-70 exit 197. South on Hwy 10 for 1.5 miles, then west onto US Hwy 40 for two miles, then left (actually straight) on N. 1600 Rd for 4.5 miles. The Cemetery is on the north side of N. 1600 Rd, just east of E. 250 Rd, across from the United Methodist Church.
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Secret Skeleton in a CasketSecret Skeleton in a Casket, Lecompton, KS - 6 mi.
The Fathers of BasketballThe Fathers of Basketball, Lawrence, KS - 11 mi.
Nightly Indoor Mermaid and Snowstorm at a BarNightly Indoor Mermaid and Snowstorm at a Bar, Lawrence, KS - 12 mi.
In the region:
National Poultry Museum, Bonner Springs, KS - 33 mi.

Latest Tips Across Roadside America

Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.

Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!

Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Map and Plan Your Own Roadside Adventure ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Kansas Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

Easter Island Moai in America (Mar 25-31, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings

Favorite Quirky City Sights