Creepiest Route 66 Legend is Lantern Light in a Missouri Cemetery

Hard to believe that Route 66 is approaching its 100th anniversary of being built. As you might imagine, there are many legends that surround that road over the nearly century of its existence, but none creepier than a lantern light in a Missouri cemetery that is associated with a real life killer.

It wasn't that long ago when Ranker ranked (because that's what they do) the creepiest stories and legends of Route 66. Near the top of the list is this innocent-looking cemetery in Joplin, Missouri.

Legend says that a boy from Joplin named Billy Cook, Jr. in the 1950's became a serial killer and took 7 lives in Oklahoma. He was eventually executed. His body was allegedly returned to Joplin for burial, but the caretakers of Peace Cemetery agreed to bury him only in an unmarked grave.

Many in the Joplin, Missouri area tell stories of strange lantern lights that can be seen in the cemetery at night. There are even tales of a shadowed figure being spotted in the tree line of the cemetery with claims it's Billy Cook's angry spirit looking over his unmarked grave. That is why there are numerous ghost hunts on YouTube of investigators venturing into Peace Cemetery in Joplin to try and capture proof of the lantern lights and the angry spirit responsible for them.