Ghosts of Grand Forks: Local Legends That Keep Things Spooky-Cool

Grand Forks is known for hockey, good eats, and a thriving arts scene—but did you know our city also comes with a side of ghost stories? With spooky season upon us, I decided to write about some of the most famous local stories after doing some research.

Here are a few of our favorite paranormal stories—whether you believe them or not is up to you!

The Empire Arts Center (where the show never ends) has been part of downtown Grand Forks since 1919, and while it’s most famous for live entertainment such as concerts, comedy, and theatre productions, some people say the historical landmark has a few extra cast members hanging around.

One story involves William G. Leonard, who tragically died in a fire on the property, long before the building became the arts hub we know today. Staff and visitors have reported flickering lights, sudden presences, or even seeing shadowy figures move through the auditorium.

Matthew Ternus, who had worked at the Empire, recalls his very first weekend on the job:

While sitting alone at the ticket counter, he saw the figure of a man walk past, even though the doorbell that signals someone entering never rang. Later, during a 2023 paranormal investigation, he witnessed unexplained camera footage of a cloudy shape moving in the tunnels, and even a device capturing what looked like a figure waving on stage. Other odd moments followed, from strange noises to the use of a “talk box” that eerily called someone in the group by name.

Though no one can say for sure if these encounters are William Leonard or perhaps other spirits said to linger, most reports at the Empire are described as curious but peaceful.

Sourced From: Grand Forks Herald 

The University of North Dakota has been trading paranormal stories for years.

Sure, flickering lights in old residence halls can usually be chalked up to electrical quirks. But one reported story is a little harder to explain.

One story centers on the newly renovated John C. West Hall, which is said to be haunted by the ghost of a girl who roams the underground tunnels connecting it to other buildings. Students have reported strange happenings in the dorms, from unexplained glowing messages on walls to the unsettling sense that someone—or something—is there when the room is empty.

Whether it’s campus lore, leftover glow paint, or something more mysterious, West Hall has earned a reputation as one of UND’s most haunted spots. Now newly renovated, the ghosts may still linger. I haven’t personally experienced a ghost sighting while I was a student at UND, but I do remember feeling unsettled whenever I had to walk the tunnels at night.

Sourced From: Grand Forks Herald

Before it became Columbia Hall, the building once housed the UND Med School, and originally, St. Michael’s Hospital, built in 1952. With such a layered history, it’s no surprise stories of spirits linger there too.

Becca Cruger recalls a paranormal investigation about ten years ago, when a North Dakota team identified the fourth floor, once the newborn ward, as a hotspot for unusual activity. They described the presence of a single female ghost who paced the hallway endlessly. She wasn’t threatening, but the investigators were convinced that space was unmistakably “her domain.”

Want to bring these stories to life? The Ghostly Downtown Walking Tour is your ticket. Led by the Downtown Development Association, this guided stroll takes you through historic downtown Grand Forks, starting (often) at the Empire Arts Center and weaving past all the eerie, mysterious spots that make our city haunted. Don’t worry though – it’s more fun and lighthearted than scary! This year’s tour dates will be announced soon… so keep those lanterns and calendars ready