Haunted Boot Hill Cemetery

The first cemetery for Hays City in 1867 was located on a hill just north of the town about half a mile. Because many of the first people who came to Hays City were either railroad workers or other rough citizens, some of the first burials at the cemetery were rather notorious characters. Horse thieves and other outlaws were buried at this first cemetery which was so named because many of the inhabitants “died with their boots on”. “The Homesteader”, a statue by local artist Pete Felten, commemorates the location of the cemetery – which is no longer in use today.

This special program sponsored by the Ellis County Historical Society allows you to visit the location of the first Hays City graveyard on Halloween night to learn about the violence and misfortune that claimed its inhabitants. Actors portray those who were buried at Boot Hill and tell the story of their lives and how they died.

The program begins at dusk and is free.