Salina's 1927 Masonic hall, built after a catastrophic 1921 structural collapse and a 1922 gas-explosion fire destroyed the previous one — now an event venue where investigators report a 'Top Hat Man' in the balcony and a child entity called Zachary.
336 S Santa Fe Ave, Salina, KS 67401
Research updated June 2026
Age
18+
Cost
$$
Paranormal investigation events are ticketed through Eventbrite; check for current listings.
Access
Limited Access
Multi-story 1920s commercial building with theatre balcony; stair access required for upper floors and balcony.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1927 · Built in 1927 after a 1921 structural collapse and a 1922 gas-explosion fire destroyed the previous Masonic hall · Served as Salina's Masonic lodge through the mid-20th century · Now an event and coworking venue with documented paranormal investigation history
Salina's Masonic fraternal community began the construction of a new temple in the early 1920s, but the project was interrupted by two successive disasters documented in the building's Wikipedia article. In July 1921, a partial structural collapse occurred during the construction phase, causing significant damage and likely casualties. Then, in January 1922, a gas explosion ignited a fire that destroyed what remained of the earlier Masonic hall on or near the site.
Construction of a replacement building proceeded, and the current structure at 336 S Santa Fe Ave was completed in 1927. The 1920s Masonic Temple that resulted is a substantial commercial-civic building in the downtown Salina corridor, with a full theatre and balcony — a common feature of Masonic halls of that era, which often doubled as community performance venues.
KSAL, Salina's local radio news outlet, reported on the building's paranormal reputation in an article documenting the Central Kansas Paranormal Society's investigations there, establishing an independent local-news record of both the building's haunted reputation and the investigator activities. The building has since transitioned to mixed commercial use as an event and coworking space known as The Temple.
Sources
The paranormal reputation of The Temple was formally documented in a KSAL news article covering the Central Kansas Paranormal Society's investigations of the building. Two named entities appear consistently across accounts: a male apparition in period dress — referred to as the 'Top Hat Man' — reported in the upper theatre balcony; and a child entity called 'Zachary,' described as playful or mischievous and associated with movement and sound events in other areas of the building.
No historical record identifying a death in the building during the 1921 collapse or 1922 fire was found in the consulted sources that could serve as a historical anchor for either entity. The Top Hat Man figure is common enough in paranormal reporting as a generic archetype that it should not be treated as independently verified without additional primary-source documentation.
A YouTube video documents a TV-style paranormal investigation episode conducted at the Masonic Temple in Salina, corroborating that the venue has received formal investigation attention beyond local groups. Public investigation events have been listed through Eventbrite as recently as June 2025.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
Ticketed paranormal investigation evenings at the former Salina Masonic Temple, organized by local paranormal groups. Investigators have access to the theatre, balcony, and associated spaces where named entities have been reported.
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