10 Haunted Places to Visit in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is known for its picturesque landscapes and friendly communities, but there is a dark side beneath its charming exterior. The state is home to a number of haunted places that are sure to send a chill down the spine of even the bravest of souls. From haunted hotels and cemeteries to abandoned asylums and theaters, Wisconsin has a rich history of ghostly sightings and paranormal activity.
In this list, we explore the top 10 most haunted places to visit in Wisconsin. Whether you’re a seasoned ghost hunter or just looking for a good scare, these locations are sure to provide a hair-raising experience on your next travel adventure.
Related: 10 gruesome ghost towns around the world
10 Chance Restaurant
Chances, a restaurant on Main Street in the village of Rochester, is a unique dining experience. Rather than being known for its delicious food, this eatery is remembered for the ghostly encounters that take place within its walls. The building that houses Chances is old, dating back to 1843, and is said to be haunted by ghosts from the past. While the restaurant opened in the 1980s, the building has a history that precedes it. A visit to Chances is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience, not only for the food but also for the ghostly encounters that can happen during your visit.
Once known as The Union House, Chances occupies an important place in Rochester’s history. It is the first brick building to be built in the village and has a rich and intriguing past. One aspect of its history is that it served as a stop on the Underground Railroad and aided the escape of enslaved people to freedom. Many people believe that the building is haunted by the ghosts of the past, and its role in the Underground Railroad is believed to be the reason for its ghostly residents.
The management of restaurant Chances is aware of the ghostly activity that takes place in the building. They even included it in the menu by mentioning the presence of a ghostly lady in a green ballgown who is said to be waiting for her soldier to return from the Civil War.[1]
9 Nelsen’s room
Located on Wisconsin’s Washington Island, Nelsen’s Hall has a rich history dating back to the Prohibition era, making it the oldest legally operating tavern in the state. Over the years, the establishment has served multiple purposes, such as a movie theater, dental office, ice cream parlor and pharmacy. The owner of the tavern, Tom Nelsen, was known to drink half a liter of bitters daily and lived to be 90 years old.
Some say Nelsen’s ghost still lingers in the hall, with doors closing by themselves and footsteps heard on the stairs. Visitors to the tavern can try a shot of bitters to join the “Bitter’s Club” and even receive a certificate as an official “Islander”. Some believe that taking enough bitters can even lead to an encounter with Nelsen’s ghost.[2]
8 Hotel Pfister
There are a number of stories of professional baseball players staying at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin experiencing strange and paranormal occurrences. Some players have reported strange noises, doors opening and closing by themselves, and the feeling of being watched. Some players even claimed to have seen ghostly figures in their rooms. The Milwaukee Brewers, who play at Miller Park, are known to stay at the Pfister Hotel during home games. Many of the players have reported strange and inexplicable experiences while staying at the hotel.
One remarkable experience was reported by pitcher Kyle Lohse, who said he saw a ghostly figure in his room while staying at the Pfister. Another player, Ryan Braun, also reported strange happenings in his room and refused to stay at the hotel again.
In addition, former Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell said he had a strange experience while staying at the hotel. He claimed he woke up in the middle of the night to find his room’s curtains open, though he was sure he had closed them before going to bed.[3]
7 High Cliff State Park
Located in the quaint town of Sherwood, Wisconsin, High Cliff State Park is a treasure trove of natural beauty, history, and a touch of the supernatural. Nestled amid lush greenery and natural rock formations, the park offers visitors a chance to reconnect with nature through its picturesque hiking trails and a well-maintained campground. But what sets this park apart are the ancient effigy mounds, which are not only an important archaeological site, but are also known for their connection to paranormal activity.
Many visitors to High Cliff State Park have reported eerie happenings around the old effigy mounds in the park. They talked about strange noises and an overwhelming sense of being watched. The park’s lime kilns, which have a rich history, are also known for strange supernatural occurrences. Visitors have reported sightings of ghosts and hearing mysterious noises coming from the ovens, especially at night. Some even claim to have felt a sudden drop in temperature, as if they were being observed.
High Cliff State Park is not just any park; it is a place where visitors can immerse themselves in nature and possibly come into contact with the paranormal.[4]
6 The Brumder House
A historic building built in 1910, the Brumder Mansion has a long and storied history. Over the years, many people have lived in the mansion, and many of them have reported strange and unexplained occurrences. Some have had vivid, strange dreams and reported feeling the presence of invisible entities. The most disturbing incident was when blood was found in a bathtub, even though no one had used it. The origin of the blood remains a mystery and the incident has become legendary.
After the Brumder family sold the property, the mansion was owned by a mobster named Sam Pick, who was affiliated with notorious crime lord Al Capone. It’s impossible to know what kind of illegal activities, or maybe even more sinister things, went on within the walls of the mansion during that time. The mansion is said to be home to several different ghosts, including an elderly woman, a male ghost, and a playful ghost. The mansion is a mysterious and intriguing place that leaves many questions unanswered.[5]
5 La Cross
A river town of the past, La Crosse has a plethora of secrets and a shadowy past. In 1932, a cemetery warden made a gruesome discovery of Perry Brinstad’s empty grave and a burlap sack of body parts. The city’s history also includes a story of a murderer who was punished by being thrown into a deep pit with sharp rocks as a means of execution, as there was no prison at that time.
These true stories, discovered by the library’s director and archivists, now form the basis of ‘Dark La Crosse’ tours and radio podcasts, which are popular with visitors. Despite the investigations, the mystery of the bag of body parts remains unsolved, and ghost hunters visiting the cemetery years later reported hearing someone say through their surveillance equipment, “They cut me up.[6]
4 The Sheboygan Asylum
The Sheboygan Asylum, also known as the Sheboygan County Insane Asylum, was a mental health facility that operated from 1888 to 1979. During its operation, the asylum was known for its inhumane treatment of patients, and there have been many reports of abuse and neglect emerged. the years.
It was closed and abandoned for 20 years before reopening for ghost tours.
Today, the site is said to be haunted by the ghosts of former patients who were mistreated and neglected during their lifetime. Visitors to the site have reported strange noises, ghostly figures and an eerie feeling of being watched. Some have even claimed to have seen ghostly apparitions of patients wandering the grounds, still trapped in the confines of the asylum.
Given the history of the Sheboygan Asylum, it is not surprising that it is considered one of the most haunted places in the state of Wisconsin.[7]
3 Glenbeulah School
Glenbeulah School was founded in 1849 as a primary school for younger and older children.
However, by the early 1900s, many Wisconsin rural schools were undergoing a transformation from one-room schoolhouses to large educational institutions for a variety of ages and classes. Glenbeulah was one of these schools and merged with another school into a new building. The old school was closed and abandoned in 1995 and remained that way for 27 years.
Ultimately, Melissa Clevenger and Craig Nehring purchased the property, intending to turn it into an event space. However, they soon realized that they were not alone in the building. Visitors to the site also reported experiencing strange occurrences such as slamming doors, unexplained footsteps and shadowy figures. Motion detectors often pick up movement and people who are not physically present. The most common reports were voices, including laughter, screaming, and full conversations in rooms that turned out to be empty. On one occasion, Melissa and Craig even got a response when they yelled “hello” into an empty stairway.[8]
2 Andersen Library at the University of Whitewater
According to local legend, the Andersen Library on the University of Whitewater campus is haunted by an evil book that has caused four people to commit suicide and driven countless others mad. This ominous book is believed to be related to the Witches of Whitewater and is so dangerous that the library had to lock it in the basement.
The book, a large antique hymnal written in Latin, was donated to the library after a local church closed. It is available for viewing, but only on request and with extreme caution.[9]
1 The Union Hotel
The Union Hotel in DePere, Wisconsin is said to be haunted by the ghost of a former employee named Hannah. According to local legend, Hannah was a young woman who worked at the hotel in the late 19th century and was tragically killed in a fire that broke out in the kitchen.
Guests at the Union Hotel have reported strange happenings, such as the feeling of being watched and unexplained noises coming from the kitchen. Some even claim to have seen Hannah’s ghostly figure wandering through the hotel.
One of the most chilling stories about the Union Hotel is that of a guest who stayed in a room on the top floor. They reported waking up in the middle of the night to find Hannah standing at the foot of their bed, staring at them with a sad expression on her face.[10]