Outdoor Exploration
Frontier Park & Big Creek Walk
Explore the historic park along Big Creek where the famed swinging bridge once stood and where local ghost lore centers on a teenage girl's spirit.
- Duration:
- 1 hr
Photo coming soon
Outdoor / Natural Site
Frontier Historical Park (Old Swinging Bridge)
Public park along Big Creek in Hays, Kansas, on the former Fort Hays reservation, once home to a famous swinging footbridge; the grounds and closed bike trail are tied to a local legend of a teenage girl's ghost.
Old Highway 40 (Frontier Park, along Big Creek), Hays, KS 67601
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 3sources
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Public city park; free to visit.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Maintained park grounds with paved areas; some trails near Big Creek are uneven and one historic bike trail is closed.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1936 · New Deal-era CCC veterans' park on the former Fort Hays reservation · site of the historic Big Creek swinging footbridge (dismantled 1976) · documented Living New Deal and Kansas Tourism site
Frontier Historical Park in Hays, Kansas, lies along Big Creek on land that was once part of the Fort Hays Military Reservation in Ellis County. During the New Deal era, Civilian Conservation Corps Veteran's Camp 1778, composed of World War I veterans, developed the site into a state park, building roads, limestone picnic shelters, fire pits, a small dam, and a recreation area for fishing and boating.
Among the camp's most beloved features was a swinging footbridge spanning Big Creek, which became a local landmark known simply as 'the swinging bridge,' giving the park its informal name 'Swinging Bridge Park.' In 1976, the Kansas State Historical Society began dismantling the original bridge after engineers determined it was beyond salvage; it has since been replaced by a solid-frame bridge.
Today the park is maintained by the City of Hays and is listed by Kansas Tourism (travelKS) and the Living New Deal project as a historic recreation site. An older bike trail at the park has been closed.
Sources
- https://livingnewdeal.org/sites/frontier-historical-park-hays-ks-3/
- https://www.travelks.com/listing/frontier-park/6217/
- https://www.haysusa.com/557/Frontier-Park
apparition of a teenage girlfigure that vanishes leaving no footprintssightings along the closed bike trail
According to GhostQuest, regional haunted-Kansas travel writeups, and other accounts, Frontier Park (Swinging Bridge Park) is said to be haunted by the ghost of a teenage girl. As the story goes, she attended a party at the park, became intoxicated, and declined a ride home, choosing to walk; while crossing a nearby highway she was struck by a car and killed.
Her pale spirit is reportedly seen in the park and along the old, now-closed bike trail. In the most circulated version, two boys biking the trail glimpsed a pale girl walking in the tall grass and swerved to avoid her, only to look back and find no one and no footprints or disturbed grass where she had been.
These accounts are anecdotal folklore and are not independently verified. The verifiable anchor is the real, documented public park and its history; the ghost story is presented here as a local legend attached to that landmark and is not sensationalized.
Notable Entities
the ghost said to be a teenage girl killed in a traffic accident
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 Frontier Historical Park (Old Swinging Bridge) family-friendly?
A maintained public park suitable for families by day; the haunting is a mild teen-ghost legend tied to a fatal traffic accident. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Frontier Historical Park (Old Swinging Bridge)?
Public city park; free to visit. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Frontier Historical Park (Old Swinging Bridge) wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Frontier Historical Park (Old Swinging Bridge) is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Maintained park grounds with paved areas; some trails near Big Creek are uneven and one historic bike trail is closed..