Haunted Oklahoma: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Sooner State

Stackpole Haunted Series

by Jeff Provine

Oklahoma’s ghostly legends are as varied as its history and culture. The state boasts hauntings by ancient Native Americans, Spanish miners, soldiers, outlaws, ranchers, performers, students, repairmen, and many more. Oklahoma’s stately mansions, theaters, and old hotels still have previous residents dwelling in a spectral form. One parallel that may be surprising is Oklahoma’s uncanny number of headless ghosts. Haunted Oklahoma explores King Tut’s Tomb on the Arkansas, Mr. Apple’s Mausoleum and the Spooksville Triangle to name just a few. Eerie occurrences, spooky events, unsolved mysteries, and terrifying specters make for a scary journey through Oklahoma’s haunted past.

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2021

Reviews

[Kevin]

“A lot of people like to say they aren’t scared of those things. But they never went inside that hotel.” ~Bobby Claborn, Apache Oklahoma

To say I’m generally a skeptic of all things “supernatural” is probably a gross understatement. I’ve never encountered any phenomenon that could not be explained, simply and rationally, with a bit of scientific reasoning. ‘Inexplicable’ just isn’t a part of my normal, everyday vocabulary. With that in mind, it is fair to say that I approached Jeff Provine’s Haunted Oklahoma with more than a little dubious prudence.

Color me pleasantly surprised.

This isn’t your run-of-the-mill collection of campfire ghost stories. Provine’s intertwining of genuine historical references and eyewitness testimonials gives each accounting an educational provenance that makes for fascinating reading, even for an incredulous rationalist like me.

[Kim Savage]

I don’t necessarily believe in ghosts. 👻 I do, however, believe in history and trivia. This book is an excellent read, full of all kinds of factual information from all over the state. The ‘ghosts and strange phenomena’ are fun to read about, too. Provine isn’t trying to make anyone believe in anything supernatural. He is just repeating the stories. He will also include a more scientific explanation if he has one, giving the reader an opportunity to choose for themselves what they want to believe. 🤔
I still have to mark it down to at least a 4.5 due to so many typos. I don’t think it’s the author that is at fault for that. But there are so many throughout this book I found myself proofreading and marking mistakes with a pencil. ✏️ (I guess that’s just the teacher in me. 🤷🏼‍♀️)
All in all…I definitely recommend reading it, especially if you are into Oklahoma and all it’s interesting and fun facts.

[Elford Alley]

I picked this book up to learn more about the state’s ghost stories and legends. It did not disappoint. A fantastic read, the author gathers strange takes from across the state, many of which were new to me.

[Elizabeth G]

Strange Phenomena of the Sooner State by Jeff Provine is a fascinating little gem for ghost lovers and Oklahoma history buffs alike. I had no idea Oklahoma had so many headless ghosts. That alone hooked me. The book covers everything from ancient Native American hauntings to Spanish miners to old theater specters. King Tut's Tomb on the Arkansas? Mr. Apple's Mausoleum? The Spooksville Triangle? Each entry is brief but packed with eerie detail. It reads like a campfire conversation with a very knowledgeable local guide. Perfect for road trip listening or bedtime shivers. A fun, quick, genuinely spooky read.

[Kat Jensen]

I really enjoyed this book. Great mix of ghost stories and real history. Really only 4 stars because he could use a better editor.

[Ebby]

Fun, I want to go on haunted road trips now