A 1926 Art Deco movie palace on Broadway, restored in 1999, where staff describe two children near the lobby and projectionists report knocking and phantom footsteps after hours.
314 Broadway North, Fargo, ND 58102
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
$
Movie and event admission varies; see the box office. The Art Deco interior is best experienced during a screening or show.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Restored historic theater on a downtown sidewalk; main auditorium and lobby are accessible.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1926 · Opened 1926 as an Art Deco movie palace · National Register of Historic Places (1982) · Restored and reopened (1999) · Operated by the nonprofit Fargo Theatre Management Corporation · Retains its original marquee and Wurlitzer organ
The Fargo Theatre opened on March 15, 1926, at 314 Broadway in downtown Fargo. Built as a movie palace for the era of silent film and live vaudeville, it featured an Art Deco interior, a full stage, and a Wurlitzer pipe organ. The vertical 'FARGO' marquee on its facade became one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 21, 1982. By the late twentieth century the theater needed extensive work, and a restoration returned the interior to its 1920s appearance. The restored Fargo Theatre reopened on March 20, 1999.
The theater is operated by the nonprofit Fargo Theatre Management Corporation. It runs current and classic films, a centennial and classic film series, and live performances, with live-event booking handled by an outside promoter. The Wurlitzer organ is still played before selected screenings.
The Fargo Theatre is also a stop on the 'Forgotten Frost & Forbidden Footsteps of Fargo' walking tour operated by US Ghost Adventures, which uses the building's age and backstage lore as part of its downtown route. The theater itself continues to operate primarily as a cinema and performance hall rather than a paranormal attraction.
Sources
The Fargo Theatre's haunt reputation centers on quiet, recurring reports rather than dramatic events. Accounts collected by Paranormal Traveler describe two children seen near the lobby and running in the aisles, sometimes connected by staff to the old popcorn machine, and noticed most often during late screenings.
The projection booth has its own lore. Projectionists have reported knocking and footsteps near closing time, and one long-time employee described hearing what sounded like film reels spinning when none were running. A former projectionist is sometimes named in local accounts as the source of activity near the mezzanine and booth.
Visiting ghost-hunting groups have been allowed to investigate under controlled conditions, using EMF meters, audio recorders, and thermal cameras. Teams report cold spots, unexplained audio, and the occasional anomaly on video. One frequently repeated claim is an electronic-voice-phenomenon recording, attributed to a 2017 session, in which a faint female voice is said to say 'Encore.' None of these reports is independently verified, and the theater presents them as part of its building lore rather than as documented fact.
Notable Entities
Media Appearances
See a movie or live show inside the restored 1926 Art Deco auditorium, which keeps its original marquee, vaudeville stage, and a working Wurlitzer organ. The interior is the main draw for visitors interested in the building's history. Tickets are sold through the theater's box office and website.
View the landmark vertical 'FARGO' marquee and Art Deco facade on Broadway. The theater is a featured stop on the US Ghost Adventures downtown Fargo ghost tour, which stays entirely outdoors.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
Redlands, CA
The Redlands Fox Theatre was built in 1927 and opened December 28, 1928, as a 1,505-seat Mission Revival picture house designed by Lewis A. Smith for the West Coast Theatres chain. After West Coast merged with Fox Theatres in 1929 it became the Fox West Coast Redlands. The building reopened in 2009 as the Fox Event Center.
Detroit, MI
The Majestic Theatre opened on April 1, 1915, designed by architect C. Howard Crane, and originally seated 1,651 people as what was billed the world's largest movie theater. The Art Deco facade was added in 1934 when Woodward Avenue was widened and the original Italian-style front was demolished. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
Binghamton, NY
The Broome County Forum Theatre opened in 1919 as the Binghamton Theatre, a vaudeville and movie palace designed by architect Herbert Brewster. After years as the Capri Theatre, it was restored as Binghamton's main performing-arts venue and now seats roughly 1,500. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.