October 2026 • Nebraskaland 51
Little Kid Laughing
M A H O N E Y S T A T E P A R K - P E T E R K I E W I T L O D G E
I worked the overnight shift at the lodge for a few years, and I have
seen several ghosts, but the one that really chills me appeared one
night during the Christmas season when the lodge was all decorated
with garlands and Christmas trees. That night near 3 a.m., after I had
gotten all my night work done, I was sitting on the couch and heard
a crash — followed by laughing coming from the gift shop area.
I went to where I heard the crash and found the garland that was
around the window pulled down and a couple of Galileo thermometers
knocked over. I heard the laughing again and felt a breeze blow by me
but never saw anything. The entire lodge, save for me, was empty.
Most everyone who works at Mahoney knows that there are parts
of the park where spirits and ghosts hang around. I had heard children
playing before and have seen both Confederate soldiers and an Native
American chief standing at the top of the stairs. We guess the chief
was from the Otoe tribe, but no one knows which one. As far as
the soldiers and children, no one knows who they are either.
~ Julianna Leighton, Administrative Specialist
ILLUSTRATIONS BY RYAN HOLT
