The 7 Most Haunted Places In Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a vibrant and unique state, known for a lot more than just its scenic parks and delicious cheese. Did you know that Wisconsin is filled with some of the most haunted places in the country? Some of these strange ghost stories may even turn skeptics into believers. Well, prepare your ghost-hunting equipment and follow along to discover the 7 most haunted places in Wisconsin.

1. Summerwind Mansion

Starting our list is the Summerwind Mansion, or what remains of this location. Originally, the building was called Lamont Mansion. The ruins of this mansion are on the shores of West Bay Lake in Vilas County. The rumors of strange incidences and ghostly hauntings have fascinated Americans for over a century. Since the beginning of the mansion’s history, owners, employees, and visitors have claimed to see ghostly orbs and hear strange sounds. Allegedly, Robert Patterson Lamont, a previous owner of the mansion, was deathly afraid of the place. In the middle of the night, he shot at a figure, only for the bullet to go right through the apparition. According to stories, he and his family abandoned the house that night.

As scary as this sounds, it’s probably not true. Actually, most Summerwind Mansion residents never encountered anything paranormal or supernatural. Instead, the home rose in popularity as a haunted house with the publication of the book, The Carver Effect: A Paranormal Experience, written by a neighbor who never spent a night in the house. In the book, he discusses how the home was intense and that the rooms would frequently change shape.

The truth of all this is, we’ll never know if the mansion was haunted. It burned down on June 19, 1988, after lightning struck the home.

2. Brumder Mansion

Continuing our list of the most haunted places in Wisconsin is the Brumder Mansion in Milwaukee. George Brumder built this large gothic and Victorian-style mansion in 1910 for his eldest son. Sadly though, he passed away in May of 1910, unable to see the completion of the nearly 8,000 square foot mansion. This gorgeous home has three stories and a ballroom with a separate entrance on the basement floor. The inside of the home is both elegant and cozy. It’s hard to keep your eyes away from the unique architectural styles.

Unlike the first mansion on our list, the Brumder Mansion is open and running as a bed and breakfast, and theater. The owners of this gorgeous mansion, invite paranormal investigators and even report strange findings and sightings of their own. The mansion wasn’t the cleanest of places. Allegedly, the home was used by the mafia and was home to gambling and prostitution during the 1920s and 1930s. This, however, was never proven.

Multiple spirits remain in the mansion. Past and current guests often report seeing a female entity in the Gold Suite. She is beautiful, quiet, and disappears quickly. One person also reported seeing dropping blood in the bathroom, although when another person came to inspect it, there was nothing. Another common ghostly figure is thought to be George Brumder himself. He haunts the George’s Suite, taking care of the home.

Contact Information

Phone: (414) 342-9767

Address: 3046 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53208

3. The Pfister Hotel

Another haunted location that’s hard to keep our eyes away from is the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. The Phiser Hotel has a long and unique history. It opened its doors in 1893 as a luxurious and elegant hotel, sometimes called the “Grand Hotel of the West.” It cost $1 million to build and was very innovative for its time, including features like fireproofing, electricity, and individual thermostat controls in every room.

This beautiful hotel is still open and is now about 130 years old! You can stay a night to enjoy luxury or test your luck at catching ghosts. Some visitors complain of having strange dreams and hearing loud noises at night. A common complaint is of televisions turning on and off by themselves. Interestingly, even famous baseball players have experienced unexplainable things within the hotel. The most popular theory as to who is causing all the strange events is that it is the ghost of the former owner, Charles Pfister, still watching over his beloved hotel.

Contact Information

Phone: (414) 273-8222

Address: 424 E Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202

4. Dartford Cemetery

What’s creepier than an old cemetery? Next on our list of haunted Wisconsin places is the Dartford Cemetery in Green Lake County near the shore of Green Lake. This cemetery is the final resting place for many different types of people including early settlers and Native Americans. Not only do some people say this cemetery is haunted, but it may also be cursed!

Long before the land was a cemetery, it may have been a sacred and mystical place for the Winnebago people. The last Winnebago chief to rule the area was Chief Highknocker, who now rests in the cemetery. He tragically drowned in 1911 but lived a long life.

Multiple ghosts haunt this cemetery, including the last chief himself. According to past visitors, if you stay at the cemetery past midnight, you may see the apparition of a Native American chief in full ceremonial dress. He doesn’t say anything, and instead either waves or disappears quickly, leaving witnesses confused. The laughter of children on a lonesome night is also a common complaint.

Contact Information

Address: 431 North St, Green Lake, WI 54941

5. Orpheum Theater

Fifth on our list is the Orpheum Theater in Madison. It’s still open and operating as a theater. C.W. and George L. Rapp of Chicago designed this stunning live theater in 1925. It opened on March 21, 1927, and was designed to hold 2,500 people. However, due to renovations, the theater now only holds about 1,727.

You can only imagine how many ghost stories surround this strange theater. It’s been almost burned down three times! The hauntings though happen after the exciting shows. A common story surrounding the Orpheum Theater is of a head usher who accidentally fell off the balcony, dying in the theater. Now at night, some employees see a shadowy figure sweeping the theater and walking near the doors. This though is just a tale with no known truth.

Contact Information

Phone: (608) 250-2600

Address: 216 State St, Madison, WI 53703

6. Bloody Bride Bridge

While most people don’t think of bridges when they think of haunted locations, the next spot on our list is a strange bridge! Although it doesn’t look too different from any other bridge, the Bloody Bride Bridge has a spooky name for a reason. The Highway 66 Bridge, is haunted by a bride, who according to local legends, was killed on that bridge. The bride was on her way to her wedding when she crashed on the bridge. She died instantly but is still seen wandering near the bridge, waiting for her wedding day.

Her figure is mostly seen on rainy winter days. One person riding down the bridge late at night reported the ghostly bridge jumping on top of the car! However when they swerved to check for damage, not a scratch or the bridge was found. A few locals even claim to see a groom on one side of the bridge.

7. Octagon House Museum

Last but not least is the Octagon House Museum in Watertown. It’s sometimes also called the Octagon House. John Richards designed and built this unique-style home in 1854. The house remained in the family until 1935. It was sold to the Watertown Historical Society and opened three years later. Now, you can visit this interesting brick museum on varying days throughout the year. It’s best to check the website for updated hours.

Although no strange tragedies have occurred at the home, some people swear it’s haunted! While visiting, some visitors have felt an eerie presence or heard strange sounds, with no explanation. Whether you are a believer in the spirits, or really like architecture, this place is worth a visit.

Contact Information

Phone: (920) 261-2796

Address: 919 Charles St, Watertown, WI 53094