University Avenue is a major east-west arterial that runs through the northern side of Des Moines, passing residential neighborhoods, commercial strips, and areas near Drake University. No single documented disaster or mass-casualty event is uniquely associated with the full length of the avenue in local historical records. Its modest place in regional folklore is limited to one long-circulating local story rather than a continuous haunted-road reputation.
Reported Hauntings and Folklore
According to crowdsourced haunted-place listings, a stretch of University Avenue is said to be the site of a residual presence commonly called the “Smelly Ghost.” Witnesses describe a cloud-like or misty form that carries a strong odor of kerosene. Within the cloud some observers have reported seeing the outline of a man or several small flickering lights. The story is linked to an 1881 incident in which a man nearby died after his kerosene-soaked clothing caught fire. The accounts remain anecdotal and do not identify a specific named individual or exact address. The legend appears on HauntedPlaces.org and similar Iowa directories but is not corroborated by contemporary newspaper reports or official death records tied directly to the roadway itself.