Entry No. 36 — the Wichita file — filed under: haunted
Kansas Aviation Museum — Public Paranormal Investigations
The Kansas Aviation Museum lives inside Wichita's original 1935 art deco airport terminal — a stunning building that most locals have filed under "oh yeah, that place" and never actually entered after dark. Four or five times a year, the Wichita Paranormal Research Society (investigating since 2007) unlocks the parts of the building not open during regular hours and runs a 4.5-hour public investigation: slamming doors, disembodied 1940s music and public-address announcements, a recurring apparition in a period hat, and the centerpiece — a haunted bright yellow crop duster whose pilot died in a crash and apparently never left. You bring your own gear, borrow theirs, or just hang back and watch the EMF readers freak out; tickets run $40 a person (museum members save five bucks), and next dates are posted on the museum's events page as they open.
The story
Before McConnell Air Force Base swallowed the surrounding prairie and Spirit AeroSystems took over the southern perimeter, Wichita’s 1935 art deco municipal terminal was the crown jewel of Midwest air travel. Every major aviator of the golden era passed through its brass doors. Today, most locals treat the grand stone building on South George Washington Boulevard as part of the background scenery—a place you drive past on the way to the base and assume is locked up cold after dusk.
That changes four or five times a year when the Wichita Paranormal Research Society—a crew that’s been investigating regional hauntings since 2007—gets the keys after hours. They shut down the lights, unlock off-limits baggage corridors, upper tower rooms, and dark offices, and turn a 4.5-hour public hunt loose in the shadows. The activity reported here isn't vague ambient creaking; it's startlingly specific: disembodied 1940s big-band tunes wafting out of dead speakers, crackling PA announcements from non-existent broadcasts, doors slamming shut in unventilated hallways, and a recurring man wearing a period hat stepping out from behind display cases.
The centerpiece of the night sits in the display floor: a bright yellow crop duster with a grim history. Its pilot perished in a fatal crash, and according to long-time investigators, his presence never quite vacated the controls. When night hunters sweep the floor with meters, that yellow airframe consistently triggers the sharpest spikes in the building.
What it's like
You’ll pull into the east visitor lot right along the fence line of McConnell Air Force Base, step through the heavy art deco doors, and join a small group gathered in near-total dark. The investigation runs about four and a half hours, so wear rubber-soled shoes—hard leather heels will echo like gunfire off the terrazzo floors—and layer up against the cold drafts inherent to a massive 1930s hangar. WPRS supplies basic detection gear like EMF meters and digital recorders, but serious regulars bring their own audio rigs. Expect long, silent stretches sitting in pitch-black rooms waiting for a needle to jump, punctuated by the surreal rumble of military jets idling outside.
The move: Book two tickets the moment a date drops on the museum's events page, show up at 7:30 PM with snacks for the long haul, and dare each other to stand alone next to the yellow crop duster while the rest of the group is two hangars away.
📍 Before you go You'll find the museum in the old art deco terminal at George Washington Blvd and 31st Street South, on the west edge of McConnell Air Force Base, just north of Spirit AeroSystems — head south to the gate and use the visitor lot on the east side; parking is free. These public investigations happen only a handful of times a year and start in the evening, so grab tickets the moment a date posts and plan for a roughly four-and-a-half-hour night on your feet — dress warm, bring snacks, and wear quiet shoes. It's a reserved, ticketed event, not a walk-in. By day the building is a worthwhile aviation museum if you want to scout it first, and Old Town's bars are a fitting after-midnight nightcap.
- 📍 Southeast Wichita
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 3350 South George Washington Blvd, Wichita, KS 67210
Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Candlelight Concerts at the Kansas Aviation Museum — See the exact same 1935 art deco terminal transformed under hundreds of glowing candles for a live string quartet before returning late at night for the ghost hunt.
- Starlite Drive-In — Keep the retro mid-century night going just a few minutes south with a classic double feature at Wichita's surviving 1953 twin-screen drive-in.
- La Vie Bohème Apothecary & Curiosity Shoppe — Stop by this tiny Douglas Design District shop earlier in the day to pick up protective herbs, crystals, or curiosity items before putting your EMF reader to work.
- TankHouse Community — Decompress your sensory overload the morning after in a silent sensory-deprivation float pod loaded with 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt.
Good to know
How do I get tickets for a public paranormal investigation?
Dates are posted four to five times a year on the Kansas Aviation Museum's online events page. Tickets cost $40 per person ($35 for museum members) and must be booked in advance online, as capacity is strictly capped.
Who leads the investigation and what equipment is used?
The event is run by the Wichita Paranormal Research Society (WPRS). They provide equipment such as EMF readers and audio recorders to borrow, though attendees are welcome to bring their own gear.
What should I bring and wear?
Wear quiet, comfortable shoes and warm layers, as the historic building gets chilly at night. Bring your own water, snacks for the long shift, and a small flashlight or personal detection equipment if you have it.
Where is the museum located and is parking free?
The museum is located at 3350 South George Washington Blvd, just north of Spirit AeroSystems on the edge of McConnell AFB. Free visitor parking is available in the lot on the east side of the terminal.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · wichitabyeb.com · Roadside America · Only In Your State · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-09