Pioneers Rest Cemetery

Pioneers Rest Cemetery, also known as Bandli Graveyard, is one of Rice Lake’s most notorious haunted locations, surrounded by bizarre stories of murder, restless spirits, Satanic rituals, and unexplained encounters. According to local legend, Mr. Bandli murdered his wife and four children before hanging himself in a barn beside the cemetery. Stories claim that the barn later became a site for Satanic rituals. Another disturbing legend tells of two boys playing tag among the graves when a hand supposedly reached out of the ground and grabbed one boy by the ankle. The boy allegedly died instantly from fright, while the other boy’s body was later found outside the cemetery.

Visitors have also reported seeing the ghost of a young girl sitting in a tree and watching them, as well as dark shadows following people around the cemetery during daylight. Another local legend claims that driving 25 mph over the bridge near the cemetery causes vehicle brakes to fail. The site has also been the scene of a documented disturbing incident: the remains of an infant who died in 1925 were exhumed and stolen in 2008. Pioneers Rest Cemetery is frequently vandalized, particularly around Halloween, so visitors should respect the graves and property.

Reported Paranormal Activity

• Mr. Bandli murdering his wife and four children
• Mr. Bandli hanging himself in the nearby barn
• Alleged Satanic rituals in the barn
• A hand reaching from a grave
• A boy allegedly dying of fright
• A second boy found outside the cemetery
• Ghostly girl sitting in a tree
• Shadow figures following visitors
• Vehicle brakes allegedly failing at 25 mph
• 1925 infant remains stolen in 2008