I grew up in Evansville. In my teenage years in the 80s, there were rumors of Klan activity down by the river. Some friends and I (I was in high school) went near there with binoculars, telescopes, etc. We did see about 15-20 men conducting some sort of ceremony near a fire, but no hoods, etc. It was weird and rather ominous, since we were afraid of being detected. Our curiosity satisfied, we never checked it out further.
There are several fraternities that have initiation rites that involve bonfires and torches.
One even burns a cross, but for a COMPLETELY different reason than the KKK.