Buzz
While Wisconsin is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and warm, welcoming communities, it also hides a shadowy and mysterious side. The state is filled with numerous haunted sites that promise to send shivers down the spine of even the most courageous visitors. From eerie hotels and graveyards to forsaken asylums and theaters, Wisconsin boasts a fascinating history of ghostly encounters and supernatural phenomena.
This curated list delves into the top 10 most haunted destinations in Wisconsin. Whether you're an experienced paranormal investigator or simply seeking a thrilling adventure, these spots are guaranteed to deliver a hair-raising experience on your next trip.
10. Chances Restaurant
Chances, a restaurant situated on Main Street in Rochester, offers more than just a meal—it’s a hotspot for paranormal activity. Known less for its cuisine and more for its ghostly residents, this establishment is housed in a historic building dating back to 1843. Though the restaurant opened in the 1980s, the structure carries a long and haunted history. Dining at Chances is an experience you won’t soon forget, not just for the food but for the potential spectral encounters that might occur during your visit.
Originally named The Union House, Chances occupies a pivotal role in Rochester's history. As the village's first brick building, it boasts a storied and fascinating background. Notably, it served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, helping enslaved individuals find their way to freedom. Many believe the building is haunted by spirits tied to its past, with its involvement in the Underground Railroad often cited as the source of its paranormal activity.
The team at Chances restaurant is well aware of the supernatural occurrences within the building. They’ve even embraced it by featuring a mention in their menu of a spectral woman in a green ball gown, said to be waiting for her Civil War soldier to come home.
9. Nelsen’s Hall
Nelsen’s Hall, situated on Washington Island in Wisconsin, has a deep-rooted history tracing back to the Prohibition era, earning it the title of the state’s oldest continuously operating tavern. Over the years, it has functioned as a movie theater, dentist office, ice cream parlor, and pharmacy. The tavern’s founder, Tom Nelsen, famously drank a pint of bitters daily and lived to the remarkable age of 90.
Legend has it that Nelsen’s spirit still roams the hall, with unexplained door closings and footsteps echoing on the stairs. Guests can join the “Bitter’s Club” by sampling a shot of bitters and even receive a certificate as an honorary “Islander.” Some claim that consuming enough bitters might just lead to a ghostly encounter with Nelsen himself.
8. Pfister Hotel
Numerous tales surround professional baseball players who have stayed at Milwaukee’s Pfister Hotel in Wisconsin, recounting eerie and supernatural encounters. Players have described hearing unexplained noises, witnessing doors mysteriously open and close, and sensing an unseen presence. Some have even claimed to spot ghostly apparitions in their rooms. The Milwaukee Brewers, who play at Miller Park, often stay at the Pfister during home games, with many players sharing stories of bizarre and unexplainable events during their visits.
One particularly chilling account comes from pitcher Kyle Lohse, who reported seeing a spectral figure in his room while staying at the Pfister. Similarly, Ryan Braun experienced unsettling phenomena in his room and vowed never to stay at the hotel again.
Former Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell also shared a strange encounter during his stay. He recounted waking up in the middle of the night to find his room’s curtains wide open, despite being certain he had closed them before sleeping.
7. High Cliff State Park
High Cliff State Park, situated in the charming town of Sherwood, Wisconsin, is a haven of natural splendor, historical significance, and a touch of the otherworldly. Surrounded by verdant landscapes and striking rock formations, the park invites visitors to explore its scenic hiking paths and well-kept campgrounds. What truly distinguishes this park, however, are its ancient effigy mounds—an important archaeological site rumored to be linked with ghostly phenomena.
Numerous visitors to High Cliff State Park have recounted unsettling experiences near the ancient effigy mounds. They’ve described hearing odd sounds and sensing an intense feeling of being watched. The park’s historic lime kilns are also hotspots for supernatural activity, with reports of ghostly apparitions and unexplained noises, especially after dark. Some have even claimed to experience sudden chills, as if an unseen presence was nearby.
High Cliff State Park is far from ordinary—it’s a destination where nature lovers can enjoy the outdoors while possibly encountering something beyond the natural world.
6. The Brumder Mansion
Built in 1910, the Brumder Mansion boasts a rich and intriguing history. Over the years, its residents have reported a variety of bizarre and inexplicable events. Some have experienced vivid, unsettling dreams and sensed the presence of invisible beings. The most alarming incident involved the discovery of blood in a bathtub, despite no one having used it. The source of the blood remains unknown, and the event has since become a legendary tale.
Following the Brumder family’s sale of the property, the mansion came under the ownership of Sam Pick, a mobster linked to the infamous crime lord Al Capone. The exact nature of the illicit activities—or perhaps even more sinister events—that occurred within the mansion’s walls during this period remains a mystery. The property is rumored to be inhabited by several distinct spirits, including an elderly woman, a male entity, and a mischievous presence. The mansion remains an enigmatic and fascinating location, leaving many unanswered questions in its wake.
5. La Crosse
La Crosse, a historic river town, harbors a wealth of secrets and a dark, unsettling past. In 1932, a cemetery attendant stumbled upon a horrifying scene: Perry Brinstad’s empty grave and a burlap sack filled with human remains. The town’s history also includes tales of a murderer who met his end by being cast into a deep pit lined with jagged rocks, a makeshift execution method used in the absence of a proper jail.
These chilling real-life accounts, unearthed by the library’s director and archivists, now serve as the foundation for the popular “Dark La Crosse” tours and radio podcasts. Despite extensive investigations, the mystery of the dismembered body parts remains unsolved. Years later, ghost hunters visiting the cemetery reported capturing a voice on their equipment saying, “They cut me up.”
4. The Sheboygan Asylum
The Sheboygan Asylum, also referred to as the Sheboygan County Insane Asylum, functioned as a mental health institution from 1888 to 1979. Throughout its operation, the facility gained notoriety for its cruel and neglectful treatment of patients, with numerous accounts of abuse emerging over the decades.
After its closure, the asylum remained locked and abandoned for two decades before being repurposed for ghost tours.
Today, the site is believed to be haunted by the restless spirits of former patients who endured suffering and mistreatment during their lives. Visitors have reported hearing unexplained noises, spotting shadowy figures, and feeling an unsettling sense of being observed. Some even claim to have witnessed spectral apparitions of patients roaming the grounds, seemingly still bound to the asylum’s tragic past.
Considering the dark history of the Sheboygan Asylum, it’s no wonder that it ranks among the most haunted locations in Wisconsin.
3. The Union Hotel
The Union Hotel in DePere, Wisconsin, is rumored to be haunted by the spirit of a former employee named Hannah. Local lore tells of Hannah, a young woman who worked at the hotel in the late 19th century and met a tragic end in a kitchen fire.
Visitors to the Union Hotel have recounted eerie experiences, such as sensing an unseen presence and hearing unexplained sounds emanating from the kitchen. Some have even reported sightings of Hannah’s ghostly figure roaming the halls of the hotel.
One particularly spine-tingling tale involves a guest staying in a top-floor room. They awoke in the dead of night to find Hannah standing at the foot of their bed, gazing at them with a sorrowful expression.
2. Andersen Library at the University of Whitewater
Legend has it that the Andersen Library on the University of Whitewater campus is cursed by a malevolent book linked to the Witches of Whitewater. This sinister tome is said to have driven four individuals to suicide and caused many others to lose their sanity. Due to its dangerous nature, the library has sealed the book away in its basement.
The book, an antique hymnal written in Latin, was donated to the library following the closure of a local church. While it can be viewed, access is strictly controlled and requires a formal request, with visitors urged to exercise caution.
1. Glenbeulah School
Founded in 1849, the Glenbeulah School initially served as a primary schoolhouse for children of varying ages.
In the early 20th century, many rural Wisconsin schools transitioned from single-room structures to larger facilities accommodating multiple grades. Glenbeulah followed this trend, merging with another school into a new building. The original school was shut down in 1995 and left abandoned for 27 years.
Melissa Clevenger and Craig Nehring later acquired the property with plans to convert it into an event venue. However, they soon discovered that the building was not empty. Visitors have reported eerie phenomena, such as doors slamming, unexplained footsteps, and shadowy apparitions. Motion sensors frequently detected movement in unoccupied areas. The most frequent reports include hearing voices—laughter, screams, and even conversations—in rooms that were visibly empty. On one occasion, Melissa and Craig received a direct response when they called out “hello” in a deserted stairwell.
