Confederate Cemetery (near Joe Pool Lake)
Grand Prairie, Texas
Today, there is a no-trespassing sign here, and the site is privately owned, but it is still said that this cemetery is home to a spirit that refuses to give up. The landowner in this area lives quite far from the road, but it is always wise to be respectful when considering entering someone else's property. The cemetery is said to have served as a burial ground for fallen Civil War soldiers, and according to reports, if you come here anytime between midnight and about 4:00 a.m., you will see a red light down the road in the darkness. However, as you approach, the light seems to disappear, and when (and if) you enter the cemetery itself, you will feel cold spots, hear voices, and perhaps even the sounds of gunfire and men screaming. Another eerie story tells of several people who locked their car doors at the cemetery, only to find the car unlocked when they returned. Even more frightening was the discovery of a child's handprint inside the vehicle. As you leave the cemetery, if you dare to look back, you may see flashing lights resembling gunfire—perhaps a battle still being fought many years later.
Ripley's Believe It or Not Palace of Wax
601 East Palace Parkway
Grand Prairie, Texas
Rumors persist that it is haunted. It burned down and was rebuilt, but the stories remain the same. It is said to be haunted by the victims of the fire, but over the years there has been more than one fire, as well as several murders connected to people who worked here. Interestingly, several people involved in the fire and an apparent break-in at this location were killed over the years, so the place definitely gives off a strange energy, accompanied by unexplained electrical malfunctions and sounds such as ringing and even random screams.
Even more tellingly, the motion detectors go off for no reason when no one is in the building. The site resembles a sultan's palace along Interstate 30, and the Palace of Wax and Ripley's Believe It or Not is a 41,000-square-foot building that opened its doors in 1963. Inside, you can see a mummy's coffin, shrunken heads, and a mirror maze. Whether you believe the stories or simply want to enjoy the attractions, the Palace of Wax and Ripley's Believe It or Not is still great fun. Who knows, perhaps you will discover something that explains all the legends that have persisted about this place for so many years.
