The Pythian Castle

SUBMITTED BY AMANNDA G. MAPHIES

The Pythian Castle has intrigued Springfield residents for decades. This historic relic has been home to hundreds of residents over the years. Some, while no longer living, continue to share a piece of the past with a present audience.

The Pythian welcomes guests year-round for history and haunted ghost tours, weddings, receptions, proms, reunions, retirement parties, murder mystery dinner theaters and most recently, two separate escape rooms. The hosts at Pythian, both living and…. not, welcome you to join them.

Cindy Shipley was my tour guide on October 24, 2025. Shipley has been working at the castle for nearly 11 years. She was introduced to the Pythian by catering for a wedding in 2015. Shipley felt an affinity for the castle. While she enjoyed serving spirits, it was the otherworldly spirits that provided more intrigue.

Shipley’s sensitive nature, coupled with her Native American heritage, has invited paranormal experiences throughout her life. On Halloween 2014, Shipley woke with the desire to engage in something slightly spooky. Perusing the internet, she stumbled upon the Pythian Castle and saw there were a few vacant spots for the 10 p.m. tour.

Shipley invited her brother and a few cousins to join the late-night tour. As she stood in what used to be a boy’s dormitory, she took a picture of an empty corner. In that moment, she heard a child’s voice zealously say: ‘HI!’ She learned that a child’s ghost, known as ‘Little Petey’, was known to inhabit this particular space. Shipley demanded a job application after the tour. The rest, as she says, is history.

I have had my own experience with Little Petey. Rather, a second-hand experience, through my youngest son, Waylan. We took Waylan on a ghost tour for his sixth birthday. Being a ‘Halloween baby,’ Waylan was no stranger to dress-up parties, spooky adventures, ghost tours, haunted hayrides and the like. The tour guides were family-friendly, withholding the truly spooky tales for adult-only audiences. As we stood in what used to be the boy’s dormitory, I noticed my son, with a huge grin upon his face. It was not until after the tour that my son shared his fascinating tale.

‘Mom, the ghost of Little Petey sang Happy Birthday in my ear.’ I was shocked to hear my son’s admittance and laughingly chalked it up to a child’s active imagination, in the midst of ghost stories told in a spooky old castle. Only, this story has not deviated in the seven years since that fateful night. Waylan, a very mature young man, has never wavered in the fact that Little Petey spoke to him.

How can we begin to understand the deep layers of the present without first delving into the past? Shipley was pleased to share the history of The Pythian, stating: “It was an honor for Missouri to be selected for a Pythian home.”

The Knights of Pythias broke ground in 1911, finishing the undertaking in December 1913. The opening ceremony took place in June 1914. There is typically a history or ghost tour each year in accordance with the annual celebration. The members of the tour hold large numbers, representing the birth year, the most recent being 111, and take group photos on the large front porch.

In the early days of the castle, if a Knight of Pythias died, leaving a wife and children, the family of the deceased was invited to live in the castle. It also served as a care facility for the elderly. With the introduction of social security in 1935, the Pythian was no longer needed as a care facility. The military saw the Pythian as a prime location, inciting an order of immediate possession. The military provided money to the Pythians, who bought a smaller building for the remaining tenants on what is now South Campbell. The second floor housed military offices as well as a meeting room for the Red Cross.

While the Pythian plays on the spooky basement for ghost tours, it was once a welcome site for entertainment. The basement housed a bowling alley, ping-pong and pool tables. The ballroom was the site of USO Friday night dances. Deejayed by such greats as Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey, among others, those fancy swing parties were famous for revving up the wartime crowd.

The military opened a movie theater and hosted vaudeville acts. Bob Hope, Groucho Marx and Charlie Chaplin were invited to perform. During the Pythian years, the theater held weekly church services and funerals. The castle housed one of the oldest theaters in Springfield, where black and white movies and silent films were open to the public for a nickel per ticket.  

After World War II, the military leased the building to OACAC, who operated it for 13 years. The military then auctioned and sold the property to a private party, who sold it after a handful of years. The current owners, residents of California, interested in historic preservation, felt drawn after seeing the castle online. After traveling to Missouri, they purchased The Pythian around the turn of the century. The team has worked diligently to update the castle, while staying true to its historic design.

Shipley’s greatest joy is sharing the rich history of The Pythian Castle with the public. “The Pythians’ motto was friendship, benevolence and charity.” “The intent was to offer assistance and put good into the world. The elderly had a comfortable place to live out their remaining years. The Pythian saw many funerals and burials.”  “The paranormal is very real. There are things in this world we don’t understand. If one has never experienced anything paranormal, that doesn’t mean it does not exist. It’s not about concocting outlandish tales, but having respect for people, both living and no longer with us. Respect is a big part of this business.” shared Shipley.

Whether a believer or skeptic, most agree the Pythian’s rich history is worthy of exploring. To learn more about this historic gem located in the heart of Springfield, visit: https://pythiancastle.com/.