The Story of the Epperson House

Written By KCYesterday

The Epperson House, located at 5200 Cherry Street in Kansas City, Missouri, was commissioned by Uriah Spray Epperson and his wife Mary Elizabeth Weaver Epperson. Uriah Epperson, born in 1861 in Indianapolis, moved to Kansas City at age six and became a prominent businessman, starting in the meat-packing industry before establishing the U.S. Epperson Underwriting Company and Epperson Land Investment Company.

The Eppersons hired French architect Horace LaPierre to design their mansion. According to local legend, LaPierre showed the couple plans for 1,500 different houses before they settled on the final Tudor-Gothic design. Construction began in 1919 and was completed in 1923 at a cost of $500,000 (equivalent to approximately $13 million in contemporary value).

Original Features & Paranormal Activity

Interior view, courtesy UMKC.

The four-story mansion, encompassing approximately 24,000 square feet, contained 54 rooms and numerous notable features:

  • A grand hall with a performance stage

  • A custom-built organ loft

  • A Grecian-tiled swimming pool

  • A billiards room

  • Six bathrooms

  • Elevators

  • A barbershop

  • A tunnel connecting the east and west wings

  • The "Elephant Room" for Mrs. Epperson's collection

  • Ornate interior features including hand-carved walnut and oak paneling, decorative ceilings, and leaded glass windows

Custom organ loft. Courtesy UMKC.

The mansion's reputation for paranormal activity began during World War II when Navy cadets reported seeing a woman in a white gown walking the hallways. The most frequently reported phenomena include:

  • The sound of organ music emanating from the basement

  • Footsteps in empty rooms and hallways

  • Unexplained lights in the tower, despite it being sealed off for decades

  • Strange encounters reported by campus security guards

A notable incident occurred in May 1979 when a patrol officer reported that his parked vehicle was struck by an invisible force, leaving skid marks indicating the car had moved eight inches. In 1978, campus police officers documented seeing an arm in a blue suit materialize and turn off a light during a routine patrol at 2 a.m.

Transition to University Ownership

Uriah Epperson died in 1927, just four years after the house's completion. His wife Mary continued living in the home until her death in 1939, with over 600 people attending her funeral held in the house. In 1942, Lynn donated the house to what would become the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Under university ownership, the Epperson House served multiple purposes: World War II housing for Navy air cadets, men's dormitory, classroom space, office space, and practice space for the UMKC Conservatory in the 1970s.

Preservation Challenges & Future Plans

The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 posed significant challenges for the building's continued use due to its multiple staircases and recessed floors. Additional issues included:

  • A minor fire that activated sprinklers, damaging plasterwork

  • Deteriorating stained-glass windows

  • General wear and tear from institutional use

  • Weather-related damage

  • Break-ins during vacancy

The building has been vacant since 2010, with renovation costs estimated between $12-15 million. The university spends approximately $60,000 annually on basic maintenance. The Historic Kansas City Foundation included the property on its Most Endangered List due to its state of disrepair.

As of January 2025, UMKC has secured an agreement with Sunflower Development Group and hospitality veteran Jen Gulvik to convert the historic mansion into a 14-room boutique hotel. The planned development includes a café, restaurant, library bar, event space, and a hydrothermal spa. The developers intend to pursue state and federal historic tax credits to help finance the restoration project.

KCYesterday
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