Self-Guided Visit
Daytime Cemetery Visit
A daytime walk through a large historic Putnam County cemetery that anchors several well-known central-Indiana legends.
- Duration:
- 45 min
Aerial survey · USDA NAIP · public domain Cemetery / Burial Ground
Cloverdale Cemetery
A large early-1800s cemetery in Putnam County known across Indiana for the 'seven witch sisters' legend, reports of following orbs, and a cloaked lantern-bearing figure seen tending the graves at night.
Cloverdale Cemetery, Cloverdale, IN 46120
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 3 sources
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
No admission. Active municipal cemetery; visit during daylight and respect posted hours.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Maintained cemetery grounds with paved drives and grass sections.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1830 · Large early-nineteenth-century Putnam County cemetery with several thousand interments · One of the most cited haunted cemeteries in central Indiana · Documented in genealogy and Indiana tourism resources
Cloverdale Cemetery serves the town of Cloverdale in Putnam County, in west-central Indiana. The cemetery dates to the early nineteenth century and holds several thousand interments, and it is documented in Find a Grave and other genealogy resources as an active municipal cemetery.
Beyond its ordinary role, Cloverdale Cemetery has become a fixture of central-Indiana ghostlore. Indiana tourism and folklore writing list it among the state's notable haunted cemeteries, with its reputation built primarily on a long-circulating legend about seven sisters said to have been witches. Other accounts describe orbs and a figure seen among the stones at night.
As with most such sites, the paranormal claims are folklore rather than documented events; some paranormal investigators have themselves cast doubt on parts of the legend. What is verifiable is the cemetery itself — a real, well-maintained, historically significant burying ground — and the genuine, widely recorded tradition of ghost stories attached to it.
Visitors should treat Cloverdale Cemetery as the active cemetery it is: visit during daylight, stay on the drives and paths, and respect the graves and any posted hours, as nighttime entry is prohibited.
Sources
- https://visitindiana.in.gov/blog/post/haunted-cemetery-in-indiana/
- https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery-browse/USA/Indiana/Putnam-County/Cloverdale?id=city_45148
- https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/cloverdale-cemetery/
Seven witch sisters said to wake under a full moonOrbs that follow visitorsCloaked figure with a lantern over a grave (local account)
Cloverdale Cemetery's most famous legend is that of the seven witch sisters. As the story goes, seven sisters — all said to have been strikingly beautiful and reputed to be witches — are buried here, and anyone who circles the cemetery grounds seven times under a full moon will rouse them, whereupon the sisters drive the intruder away (https://visitindiana.in.gov/blog/post/haunted-cemetery-in-indiana/).
Layered onto that central tradition are reports of orbs that seem to follow visitors through the cemetery, and a separately reported account of a cloaked, lantern-bearing figure seen standing over a grave at night who is gone when witnesses circle back. The latter account matches the older roadside-encounter style of local storytelling that has long surrounded the site (https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/cloverdale-cemetery/).
These stories are folklore, not documented events, and some investigators have openly questioned them. HauntBound presents them as the recognized ghost tradition of a real, historically important cemetery rather than as verified paranormal fact.
Notable Entities
The seven witch sistersThe lantern-bearing figure
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cloverdale Cemetery family-friendly?
A large, maintained cemetery suitable for daytime family visits. The witch-sisters legend is mild folklore. Keep visits to daylight hours, as nighttime access is prohibited. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit Cloverdale Cemetery?
No admission. Active municipal cemetery; visit during daylight and respect posted hours. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Cloverdale Cemetery wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Cloverdale Cemetery is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Maintained cemetery grounds with paved drives and grass sections..