Book a stay at one of Wisconsin’s 9 most haunted hotels (if you dare)
Wisconsin’s older hotels and bed-and-breakfasts are full of charm, but they might also be filled with paranormal activity. Here are some haunted hotels throughout the state where you can stay overnight.
When looking for a hotel to stay at, potential guests always look for a few things, like high ratings, included breakfast, and offered amenities. But for avid ghost hunters or people who just enjoy being a little spooked, there might be yet another requirement: Is it haunted?
There are several hotels, motels and bed-and-breakfasts throughout the state that are reportedly haunted. While some are more reserved when it comes to talking about the spirits left roaming throughout their buildings, others embrace it fully, offering ghost tours with excited staff members sharing their experiences.
If you’re brave enough, here are some of Wisconsin’s most haunted hotels where you can book a night or two and potentially encounter some paranormal activity.
1. Brumder Mansion Bed & Breakfast
3046 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee
Having ties to notorious gangster Al Capone doesn’t mean that a place is haunted, but it certainly adds to the allure of the Brumder Mansion Bed & Breakfast in Milwaukee. The historic B&B, which is rumored to be haunted in addition to its gangster connections, was first built in 1910 and now operates as a four-room B&B near Marquette University.
The Brumder Mansion is reported to be haunted by several spirits, as visitors have reported seeing apparitions. The Blue Room, which Brumder Mansion does not currently list as one of its available rooms to be rented, is said to be among the mansion’s most haunted rooms.
Guests looking for a comfortable place to stay overnight and ghost hunters aren’t the only ones who flock to the historic abode—it also brings in fans of magic. The bed-and-breakfast regularly hosts magic shows, as well as stand-up comedians, in its on-site 55-seat theater. There are four different suites to choose from when making a reservation, and prices typically range between $175 and $200, depending upon which suite is reserved.
2. Shaker’s Cigar Bar and Penthouse
422 S. 2nd St., Milwaukee
Anyone can sign up for a ghost tour. They’re in most major cities and even some small towns, with particularly spooky histories. You can even take a ghost tour at Shaker’s Cigar Bar and Penthouse, a storied bar in Milwaukee that was the site of a grisly murder. But you can’t always stay overnight at the ghost tour stops. In the case of Shaker’s Cigar Bar and Penthouse, though, that is an option.
While the bar isn’t technically a hotel, it does offer overnight stays. However, if you’re a guest simply looking for a place to rest your head, look elsewhere. Shaker’s Cigar Bar and Penthouse has specified that its penthouse is not a hotel room but a journey into paranormal investigations.
A stay in the penthouse also costs more than your average night at a hotel, as it is a ghost-hunting experience first and foremost. One night in Shaker’s Cigar Bar and Penthouse costs $350 per person, with a two-person maximum. Check-in begins when the final ghost tour of the night ends at 11:59 p.m., but the bar has said that any serious paranormal activity in the room doesn’t typically start until 3 a.m.
3. Astor House Bed & Breakfast
637 S. Monroe Ave., Green Bay
Nearly 150 years old, the Astor House Bed & Breakfast in Green Bay understandably has a storied history. The bed-and-breakfast was built on land owned by its namesake, Titanic survivor and businessman John Jacob Astor, in 1888, although it’s only been in use as a bed-and-breakfast since 1994.
In addition to being one of the top-rated places to stay in Green Bay, the Astor House Bed & Breakfast is also rumored to be one of its most haunted. According to owner Linda Steber, several guests and staff members have reported having unexplainable experiences, including seeing apparitions, having electronic devices turn on by themselves, and hearing disembodied voices.
“It’s a peaceful home with a storied history,” Steber said. “Some of our personal experiences have left us scratching our heads. In our personal experience it’s a beautiful and peaceful home.”
To help retain the home’s peace, Steber said that she and her husband and co-owner, Tom Steber, have priests come to bless the home on a frequent basis, especially after any reports of unusual circumstances. The family-owned bed and breakfast has five uniquely decorated rooms that range between $160 and $200 per night.
4. Old Rittenhouse Inn
301 Rittenhouse Ave., Bayfield
It’s understandable that ghost sightings happen more frequently in older buildings. In Bayfield, Wisc., some properties are more than a century old, including the Old Rittenhouse Inn, which has had its fair share of ghost sightings.
Visitors to the bed-and-breakfast, which was the first B&B in the state of Wisconsin, have reported seeing apparitions and experiencing cold spots. The bed-and-breakfast is also featured as a stop along the Bayfield Ghost Walk, and it encourages guests to ask staff members about spooky occurrences that they’ve witnessed themselves.
The historic hotel and restaurant has 12 different rooms located within the Queen Anne Victorian mansion, with several of them offering a view of nearby Lake Superior.
In addition to the Old Rittenhouse Inn, owners Mary and Jerry Phillips also purchased nearby Le Chateau, a bed-and-breakfast with seven rooms that also operates as a wedding venue. Rittenhouse Cottage is located one block away from the Old Rittenhouse Inn and can be rented in its entirety or just as a partial cottage with less access to all of its rooms and amenities.
5. Maxwell Mansion Hotel
304 S. Wells St., Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva, a resort city in southeastern Wisconsin, is best known for its elegant homes, luxurious resorts, and, of course, its namesake lake, which is home to a whole host of fun outdoor activities. But the elegant city also has a spookier side, including its haunted hotel, the Maxwell Mansion Hotel.
The home was built in 1855 by its namesake, Dr. Philip Maxwell, and was the city’s first mansion. It’s been operating as an inn and a hotel since 2002. Guests have reported some paranormal disturbances, including objects moving on their own, a feeling of being tapped on the shoulder, and hearing footsteps in the hallway when it’s otherwise empty. Paranormal researchers have also reported that the hotel is haunted, and it’s featured as a stop on the Lake Geneva Ghost Walk.
The mansion itself has six rooms, as well as amenities like an outdoor pool, which is open from May through September, and two craft cocktail bars. The hotel also offers regularly scheduled events that can be sort of spooky, like Joe Diamond’s mind reading show or the hotel’s spooktacular whiskey tasting.
6. The Karsten Nest Hotel
122 Ellis St., Kewaunee
Many hotels that are reported to be haunted have vague, unknown spirits that roam throughout the building. But at the Karsten Nest Hotel in Kewaunee, it’s clear who the ghosts are. The hotel claims to be home to three different ghosts: a former housekeeper, Agatha, who haunts room 310; former owner William Karsten Sr.; and Karsten’s grandson, Billy.
Agatha has been reported to appear as an apparition in the room, and faucets in the room have been reported to turn on by themselves, which is often blamed on Agatha. William Karsten Sr. is most frequently seen near rooms 210-215, which used to be his owners’ suite before a renovation, while Billy Karsten, who died at the age of 5, is said to be found playing in the hallways.
The hotel, which is located near the Kewaunee Marina and Lake Michigan, has 23 rooms and typically costs between $75 and $110 per night, depending on when it’s booked.
7. Hotel Retlaw
1 N. Main St., Fond du Lac
First opened in 1923, the Hotel Retlaw in Fond du Lac was built with the intention of making it one of the finest hotels in the state of Wisconsin. One can debate whether it has succeeded in becoming one of the finest hotels, but it’s reportedly one of the most haunted.
The hotel was first owned by Walter Schroeder, who named it after himself, only backwards. Ever since Schroeder passed in 1967, his ghost has been rumored to continue to haunt the Hotel Retlaw. Staff members have also said that they’ve heard screaming from one room in the hotel in particular—Room 717. Guests who have stayed in the room have also reported having the door shake violently, hair pulling, and lights and faucets turning on and off by themselves.
After a recent renovation, the hotel now houses a signature restaurant, Table One, which features a farm-to-table menu, a bar in its lobby, and a cafe. The Hotel Retlaw has 121 guest rooms, suites, and residential suites, and it is on the National Register of Historic Places. So, even if visitors don’t run into any ghosts during their stay, it’s still set to be one steeped in history.
8. The American Club
419 Highland Drive, Kohler
The American Club is one of the most renowned and luxurious hotels in the state of Wisconsin. In the century since its opening, it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, named the sole AAA Five Diamond Resort Hotel in the Midwest, and won numerous other awards. It’s also developed a reputation for being a supposedly haunted hotel.
Guests have reported seeing apparitions in the hotel, including a man wearing a dirty and torn flannel shirt, as well as a woman who supposedly died in one of the rooms. Another guest said to have an overwhelming feeling of sorrow when entering room 213.
The hotel has 241 guest rooms, an adjacent golf course, a grocery and convenience store, an on-site spa, and several dining options, including The Immigrant Restaurant, a four-star restaurant serving New American cuisine, including a five-course chef’s tasting menu.
9. Hotel Mead and Conference Center
451 E. Grand Ave., Wisconsin Rapids
While many people go to hotels for a place to stay, others visit as part of a conference. That’s the case with the Hotel Mead and Conference Center in Wisconsin Rapids. But other people come to this specific hotel not for work or rest but rather to encounter the spirits that supposedly haunt it.
The hotel was built in the 1950s and has hosted guests including Duke Ellington, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Richard Nixon throughout its history. According to guests who have stayed overnight, it has also had some more supernatural guests. The Hotel Mead’s basement is rumored to have paranormal activity, including a bad smell, lights that flicker on and off, cold spots, and doors that slam shut by themselves.
A night at the hotel can cost between $189 and $289, depending on the night that it’s booked for and what type of room guests stay in. The hotel has 150 guest rooms and suites, as well as 12 meeting rooms.
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