Wisconsin is known for its scenic landscapes and cordial communities, but beneath its charming facade lies a darker side. This state is home to many haunted places that are sure to give chills to even the bravest of souls. From haunted hotels and cemeteries to abandoned asylums and theaters, Wisconsin has a affluent history of ghost and paranormal sightings.
For this list, we will examine the 10 most haunted places to visit in Wisconsin. Whether you’re an experienced ghost hunter or just looking for a good scare, these locations are sure to give you a spine-tingling experience on your next travel adventure.
Related: 10 scary haunted villages around the world
10 Chances Restaurant
Chances, a restaurant located on Main Street in the Village of Rochester, is a unique dining experience. This eatery is not known for its delicious food, but it is remembered for the ghost encounters that take place within its walls. The building where Chances is located is aged, dating back to 1843, and is said to be haunted by ghosts of the past. Although the restaurant opened in the 1980s, the building has a history that predates it. A visit to Chances is sure to be an unforgettable experience, not only because of the food, but also because of the ghost encounters that may occur during your visit.
Once known as the Union House, Chances holds a significant place in Rochester’s history. As the first brick structure to be built in the village, it has a affluent and intriguing past. One aspect of its history is that it served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved people escape to freedom. Many people believe that the building is haunted by ghosts of the past, and its role in the Underground Railroad is believed to be the reason for its ghostly inhabitants.
The management of the Chances restaurant is aware of the presence of ghosts in the building. They even included it on the menu, mentioning the presence of a ghostly woman in a green ball gown who is said to be waiting for a Civil War soldier to return.[1]
9 Nelsen Hall
Nelsen’s Hall, located on Washington Island, Wisconsin, has a affluent history dating back to Prohibition, making it the oldest legally operating tavern in the state. Over the years, the facility has served many purposes, including a cinema, a dentist’s office, an ice cream shop and a pharmacy. The tavern owner, Tom Nelsen, drank half a liter of bitter every day and lived to the age of 90.
Some say that Nelsen’s ghost still lingers in the hall, the doors close on their own and footsteps can be heard on the stairs. Visitors to the tavern can try a glass of Bitters to become a member of the “Bitters Club” and even receive an official “Islander” certificate. Some people believe that drinking enough shots of Bitters can even lead to an encounter with Nelsen’s ghost.[2]
8 Hotel Pfister
There are many stories of professional baseball players staying at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, experiencing strange and paranormal phenomena. Some players have reported strange noises, doors opening and closing on their own, and feeling like they are being watched. Some players even claimed to see ghostly figures in their rooms. The Milwaukee Brewers, who play at Miller Park, stay at the Pfister Hotel during home games. Many players have reported strange and unexplained experiences while staying at the hotel.
One notable experience was described by pitcher Kyle Lohse, who said he saw a ghostly figure in his room while staying at the Pfister Hotel. Another player, Ryan Braun, also reported strange occurrences in his room and refused to stay at the hotel again.
Additionally, former Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell said he had a strange experience while staying at the hotel. He claimed that he woke up in the middle of the night and found the curtains in his room open, although he was sure he had closed them before going to sleep.[3]
7 High Cliff State Park
High Cliff State Park, located in the quaint town of Sherwood, Wisconsin, is a treasure trove of natural beauty, history, and a touch of the supernatural. Set among lush greenery and natural rock formations, the park offers visitors the chance to reconnect with nature with scenic hiking trails and a well-maintained campsite. But what sets this park apart are its antique effigy mounds, which are not only a significant archaeological site but have also been linked to paranormal activity.
Many visitors to High Cliff State Park have reported eerie happenings around the antique effigy mounds in the park. They reported strange noises and an overwhelming feeling that they were being watched. The park’s lime kilns, which have a affluent history, are also known for strange supernatural phenomena. Visitors report ghost sightings and hearing mysterious noises coming from the furnaces, especially at night. Some even claim to have felt a sudden drop in temperature, as if they were being watched.
High Cliff State Park is no ordinary park; is a place where visitors can immerse themselves in nature and potentially encounter paranormal phenomena.[4]
6 Brumder Manor
The Brumder residence is a historic building built in 1910 and has a long and affluent history. The property has been home to many people over the years, and many of them have reported strange and unexplained occurrences. Some have had lively, strange dreams and reported feeling the presence of unseen entities. The most disturbing incident occurred when blood was found in the bathtub even though no one was using it. The origin of the blood remains a mystery and the incident has become a legend.
After the Brumder family sold the property, the mansion became the property of a gangster named Sam Pick, who was associated with notorious criminal Al Capone. It is impossible to determine what kind of illegal activity, or perhaps even darker things, may have been taking place within the walls of the mansion during this time. The mansion is said to be home to several different spirits, including an elderly woman, a male ghost, and a mischievous ghost. The manor is a mysterious and intriguing place that leaves many questions unanswered.[5]
5 LaCrosse
La Crosse, a river town of yesteryear, is full of secrets and a obscure past. In 1932, a cemetery worker made the gruesome discovery of Perry Brinstad’s empty grave and a burlap bag containing body parts. The city’s history also includes the story of a murderer who was punished by being thrown into a deep pit lined with piercing rocks for execution, as there was no prison at that time.
These original stories, uncovered by the library director and archivists, now form the basis of “Dark La Crosse” tours and radio podcasts that are popular with visitors. Despite the investigation, the mystery of the bag of body parts remains unsolved, and ghost hunters who visited the cemetery years later testified that they heard someone say through surveillance equipment: “They cut me up.”[6]
4 Sheboygan Asylum
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 many reports of abuse and neglect came to lithe. years.
It was closed and abandoned for 20 years before reopening for ghost tours.
It is said that today this place is haunted by the ghosts of former patients who experienced violence and neglect in their lifetime. Visitors to the site have reported strange noises, ghostly figures and an eerie feeling of being watched. Some even claimed to have seen ghostly apparitions of patients wandering the grounds, still trapped within the confines of the hospital.
Given the history of the Sheboygan Asylum, it’s not surprising that it is considered one of the most haunted places in Wisconsin.[7]
3 Glenbeulah School
Glenbeulah School was founded in 1849 as a primary school for junior and senior children.
However, in the early 20th century, many rural schools in Wisconsin underwent a transformation from one-room schools to vast educational institutions serving a variety of age groups and grades. Glenbeulah was one of these schools and merged with another school in the modern building. The aged school was closed and abandoned in 1995 and remained that way for 27 years.
Eventually, Melissa Clevenger and Craig Nehring purchased the property with the intention of turning it into an event space. However, they quickly realized that they were not alone in the building. Visitors to the site have also reported strange occurrences such as slamming doors, unexplained footsteps, and shadowy figures. Motion detectors often detected movement and people who were not physically present. The most common reports involved voices, including laughter, shouting and full conversations in rooms that turned out to be empty. One time, Melissa and Craig even got an answer when they called out “hello” on an empty stairwell.[8]
2 Andersen Library at Whitewater University
According to local legend, the Andersen Library on the campus of Whitewater University is haunted by a sinister book that caused four people to take their own lives and drove countless others to madness. This ominous book is believed to be linked to the Whitewater Witches and is so unsafe that the library had to lock it in the basement.
This book, a vast classic hymnal written in Latin, was donated to the library after the local church closed. It can be viewed, but only upon request and with extreme caution.[9]
1 Hotel Unia
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 adolescent woman who worked in a hotel in the behind schedule 19th century and tragically died in a fire that broke out in the kitchen.
Guests at the Union Hotel have reported strange occurrences, such as feeling like they are being watched and unexplained sounds coming from the kitchen. Some even claimed to have seen Hannah’s ghostly figure walking through the hotel.
One of the most chilling stories related to the Union Hotel is the story of a guest staying 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, looking at them with a sorrowful expression on her face.[10]
