If you're planning a visit to Villisca, there are a few things you need to know.  First and foremost - please understand that this house was once a home and the spirits (namely Sarah) expect you to respect that fact.

It is extremely important that you bring positive energy into the house.  As a matter of fact, Sarah's message to all visitors is that "negativity begets negativity."  Villisca is a place that can and will help you move forward in your life and will definetely give you a totally new perspective on life after death.  Visitors, however, also need to realize that there are spirits that sometimes inhabit the house that are not so nice.  I would strongly suggest that you avoid taunting the spirits.  I've personally witnessed situations in which visitors to the house decide to "call out" or threaten the "murderer" and in all honestly it doesn't usually end well.

I'd also suggest that you pay close attention to your "gut". In other words, if you have a feeling that you should leave the house, I'd suggest you do so.  The barn makes an excellent retreat and if the energy in the house seems to turn negative, you might want to take a break until it shifts.

The Villisca Axe Murder House is not a hotel.  There are no amenities.  If you're planning on getting any sleep, I'd suggest a sleeping bag and a pillow.  Although there are beds in the house, I have yet to hear from anyone who's ever spent the night in one.  As a matter of fact, a friend of mine and I settled into the bed in Josiah and Sarah's room one night hoping to witness the residual that occurs there and after about 15 minutes, the bed slats slammed to the floor and the mattress went with them.  It took us about 2 seconds to get downstairs and back to the barn!

There is no electricity in the house.  Although Darwin supplies extension cords that will reach into the house, plan on bringing extra batteries for flashlights, cameras and anything else that requires it.  The house drains your batteries very quickly.  In the past, the house was lit with antique kerosene lamps.  After the fire last fall, however, Darwin removed the lamps and replaced them with lanterns.  When it gets dark outside, it gets very dark inside the house.

There is a modern bathroom in the barn with a toilet and sink but other than that there is no running water.  There is no refrigerator so bring a cooler. There is no stove - so don't plan on cooking yourself breakfast.  There is an excellent restaurant on the town square for dinner and breakfast and Casey's is open until 11 pm and has great pizza!

The Villisca house does not sit in the middle of nowhere.  As a matter of fact, the old Peckham house is right next door.  Please be respectful of the neighbors and when you're outside the house in the middle of the night, keep the noise down.  We don't want to give the residents of Villisca any reason to attempt to stop the overnights in this unbelievable place.

Due to the fact that the house in not actually inhabitated, rodents can be a problem if food is constantly available to them.  Please do not take food or beverages into the house - the barn provides an excellent place to take a break and have a snack.  Many visitors also leave gifts for the children, however, we'd appreciate it if candy or other edible items were not included.  Martha cleans the house regularly but if candy is left lying around for more than a few hours - it's definetely an attraction to mice and bugs.

We strongly suggest that visitor's do not bring any type of alcoholic beverages onto the property.  Trust me - you will want to be of a clear head to truly experience the house and what it has to offer.

Given the fact that most visitors to the house are extremely responsible, overnight stays remain unchaperoned.  After your initial introduction to the house, Darwin will hand over the keys and leave you to yourselves for the night.  We would hate to have to change this so please take your responsibility seriously and take care to return the house in the condition it was when you arrived.

If you'd like any additional information or have any questions about your visit or the house itself, you can contact me via email .

If you're planning a visit and looking for great prices on ghost hunting equipement, check out the Villisca Online Store .