Who knew Wisconsin could be so delightfully creepy?
From spine-chilling mansions to eerie forests, the Badger State serves up a smorgasbord of spooky spots that’ll make your hair stand on end.
Let’s dive into this ghoulish tour of Wisconsin’s most haunting destinations!
1. Museum of Historic Torture Devices (Wisconsin Dells)
Well, folks, nothing says family vacation quite like a stroll through centuries of human cruelty, right?
The Museum of Historic Torture Devices in Wisconsin Dells is where history meets horror in a way that’ll make you grateful for modern justice systems.
As you enter, you’re greeted by a charming skeleton in a cage.
The museum houses an impressive collection of medieval torture instruments that’ll make your skin crawl faster than you can say Iron Maiden.
From thumb screws to stretching racks, it’s a veritable buffet of nope.
But wait, there’s more!
The museum doesn’t just stop at medieval times.
It takes you on a journey through the dark side of human history, including exhibits on witch hunts and even modern-day atrocities.
It’s like a really twisted version of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, minus the phone booth and plus a whole lot of nightmares.
2. The House on the Rock (Spring Green)
Imagine if Salvador Dali, Willy Wonka, and your hoarder uncle collaborated on an architectural project.
The result would probably look something like The House on the Rock in Spring Green.
This place is less house and more fever dream made manifest.
Created by eccentric architect Alex Jordan Jr., this attraction is a labyrinth of oddities that’ll make you question reality—and possibly your sanity.
You’ll find yourself wandering through rooms filled with automated music machines, a 200-foot sea creature battling a giant squid, and the world’s largest indoor carousel.
It’s like someone took a normal house, fed it psychedelic mushrooms, and let it run wild.
The pièce de résistance is the Infinity Room, a glass-enclosed walkway that juts out 218 feet over the Wyoming Valley.
It’s either breathtaking or terrifying, depending on your tolerance for heights and architectural madness.
3. Witches Gulch (Wisconsin Dells)
If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re in a real-life version of the Blair Witch Project, Witches Gulch in Wisconsin Dells is your ticket to spook-ville.
This narrow canyon, carved by glacial meltwater, is a natural wonder that’s equal parts beautiful and eerie.
As you walk along the wooden boardwalks, the moss-covered walls seem to close in around you, and the air gets noticeably cooler.
It’s like Mother Nature decided to try her hand at creating a haunted house.
The name “Witches Gulch” comes from the strange whispers and howls that can be heard echoing through the canyon.
Is it the wind?
Or something more… supernatural?
I’m not saying it’s witches, but I’m not not saying it’s witches.
4. Haunted Mansion (Wisconsin Dells)
In a town known for its water parks and fudge shops, the Haunted Mansion in Wisconsin Dells stands out like a gothic novel in a stack of beach reads.
This attraction takes the concept of a haunted house and cranks it up to eleven.
As you approach, you’re greeted by a facade that looks like it was designed by Tim Burton on a particularly gloomy day.
Inside, it’s a smorgasbord of scares, with live actors, animatronics, and special effects that’ll have you jumping out of your skin faster than you can say “I ain’t afraid of no ghost.”
The mansion boasts multiple floors of frights, each more intense than the last.
It’s like a terrifying layer cake, with each level adding a new flavor of fear to your experience.
By the time you reach the exit, you’ll either be laughing from the adrenaline rush or planning to sleep with the lights on for the next week.
5. Old Baraboo Inn (Baraboo)
If you’re the type who likes their beer with a side of paranormal activity, the Old Baraboo Inn is your kind of watering hole.
This historic tavern in Baraboo has been serving up spirits, both the liquid and ethereal kind, since 1864.
The building’s history is as colorful as a circus clown’s wardrobe, which is fitting given its proximity to the Ringling Brothers’ hometown.
It’s been everything from a brothel to a Prohibition-era speakeasy, and apparently, some of its former patrons liked it so much they decided to stick around.
Permanently.
Guests and staff have reported all sorts of ghostly shenanigans, from mysterious footsteps to objects moving on their own.
It’s like Cheers, if Norm was a spectral entity and Cliff was sharing conspiracy theories about the afterlife.
The current owners have embraced the inn’s spooky reputation, hosting ghost tours and paranormal investigations.
So, you can enjoy a cold one while trying to catch a glimpse of the other side.
Just don’t be surprised if your beer mysteriously moves when you’re not looking.
6. Nelsen’s Hall Bitters Pub (Washington Island)
Nelsen’s Hall Bitters Pub on Washington Island is less about things that go bump in the night and more about drinks that’ll make you go “Whoa!” in the afternoon.
This place is famous for one thing: Angostura bitters.
And when I say famous, I mean they go through more bitters here than anywhere else in the world.
The pub’s claim to fame is the Bitters Club.
To join, you must down a shot of straight Angostura bitters.
It’s like a frat house initiation, but instead of chugging beer, you’re downing what essentially tastes like concentrated tree bark.
The tradition started during Prohibition when the owner got a pharmaceutical license to dispense bitters as a “stomach tonic.”
They kept the bar open by serving bitters, which are 90 proof, as a “medicinal” drink.
I guess if you can’t cure Prohibition, you might as well make it taste terrible.
Today, thousands of people take the bitters shot each year.
It’s a rite of passage that’ll either put hair on your chest or make you question your life choices.
Possibly both.
7. Summerwind Mansion (Land O’ Lakes)
Ah, Summerwind Mansion, the abandoned haunted house that’s so creepy, even ghosts probably think twice before entering.
Located in Land O’ Lakes, this dilapidated mansion has a reputation that’s spookier than a skeleton’s dance moves.
Built in the early 1900s, Summerwind has seen more drama than a soap opera marathon.
From alleged hauntings to mysterious disappearances, this place has it all.
The most famous story involves a family in the 1970s who fled the house after only six months, claiming they were tormented by supernatural forces.
I guess some houseguests really overstay their welcome.
Now, here’s the catch: Summerwind is located on private property and is closed to the public.
So, unless you’re a ghost with no respect for property laws, you can’t actually visit.
But don’t worry, just knowing it exists is probably enough to keep you up at night.
If you’re desperate for a glimpse, try Google Earth.
It’s like urban exploration, but with less trespassing and more clicking.
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8. Forest Home Cemetery (Milwaukee)
Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee is where history and the heebie-jeebies collide in a beautiful, if slightly unnerving, way.
This Victorian-era cemetery is the final resting place for some of Milwaukee’s most notable residents, including beer barons and civil war heroes.
It’s like a who’s who of Milwaukee’s past, just… you know, underground.
The cemetery’s winding paths and elaborate monuments make it feel more like a sculpture garden than a graveyard.
That is, until you remember you’re surrounded by thousands of dead people.
It’s a great place for a peaceful stroll, as long as you don’t mind the occasional chill down your spine.
One of the most famous residents is Byron Kilbourn, one of Milwaukee’s founders.
Legend has it that his ghost still wanders the grounds, probably checking to make sure everything’s running smoothly.
Talk about job dedication!
9. Pfister Hotel (Milwaukee)
The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee is like the Hotel California of the Midwest.
You can check out any time you like, but you may never leave… because you’re too busy looking for ghosts.
This grand old dame of Milwaukee hotels has been hosting guests, both living and… otherwise, since 1893.
It’s known for its opulent decor, top-notch service, and a reputation for paranormal activity that would make the Ghostbusters salivate.
The most famous spectral resident is said to be Charles Pfister himself, the hotel’s original owner.
Apparently, he’s still making his rounds, ensuring everything’s up to snuff.
Talk about a hands-on manager!
Many guests, including several MLB players, have reported strange occurrences, from flickering lights to unexplained noises.
Some have even claimed to see apparitions in period clothing.
I guess some guests just can’t bear to check out.
10. Aztalan State Park (Lake Mills)
Aztalan State Park in Lake Mills is where ancient mystery meets Midwest charm in a way that’s both fascinating and slightly unsettling.
This archaeological site features the remains of an ancient Native American city that flourished between 1000 and 1300 AD.
It’s like stepping into a Midwestern version of Machu Picchu, minus the altitude sickness.
The park’s most striking features are its large, flat-topped pyramidal mounds and the reconstructed wooden stockade.
As you walk around, you can’t help but feel a sense of eerie wonder.
What happened to the people who lived here?
Why did they leave?
And most importantly, did they have good cheese curds?
Some visitors have reported feeling an unexplained presence in the park, especially around the mounds.
Whether it’s the spirits of ancient inhabitants or just the wind whistling through the prairie grass is up for debate.
Either way, it’s enough to give you goosebumps.
11. Glenbeulah Cemetery (Glenbeulah)
Glenbeulah Cemetery in the tiny town of Glenbeulah is proof that sometimes the creepiest places come in small packages.
This unassuming graveyard might not look like much at first glance, but it’s got enough ghost stories to fill a Stephen King novel.
The cemetery’s claim to fame is the legend of the Finger of Death.
According to local lore, there’s a tombstone with a finger-like protrusion that grows a little bit each year.
Apparently, when it reaches full length, the world will end.
Talk about a nail-biting situation!
While the veracity of this tale is… questionable at best, it hasn’t stopped curious visitors from flocking to the cemetery.
Some have reported feeling sudden cold spots or hearing whispers when no one else is around.
Maybe the spirits are just trying to warn us about that pesky finger.
12. Bloody Bride Bridge (Stevens Point)
The Bloody Bride Bridge in Stevens Point is where romance meets horror in a way that would make even Nicholas Sparks shudder.
This unassuming bridge over the Plover River has a legend that’s part Bridezilla, part The Ring.
According to local lore, a bride-to-be was driving to her wedding when she lost control of her car and plunged into the river.
Now, her ghost is said to haunt the bridge, forever searching for her groom in her bloodstained wedding dress.
It’s like The Graduate, but with more screaming and less Simon & Garfunkel.
Brave souls who visit the bridge at night claim to have seen a woman in white wandering the area or heard unexplained splashing in the water below.
Some even say if you park your car on the bridge and turn off the lights, you’ll see her in your rearview mirror.
13. Dartford Cemetery (Green Lake)
Dartford Cemetery in Green Lake is the kind of place that makes you wonder if Stephen King moonlights as a landscape architect.
This historic graveyard is home to some of Wisconsin’s earliest settlers and, if the stories are to be believed, a few residents who decided that death was no reason to check out.
The cemetery’s most famous spectral tenant is the Green Lady, a ghostly figure in a green dress who’s often seen wandering among the tombstones.
Legend has it she’s the spirit of a young woman who died of a broken heart.
Apparently, even in the afterlife, fashion choices matter.
Visitors have reported all sorts of spooky occurrences, from unexplained cold spots to the feeling of being watched.
Some have even claimed to capture orbs and strange mists in photographs.
It’s like Instagram filters, but for ghosts.
14. Brumder Mansion (Milwaukee)
Last but not least, we have the Brumder Mansion in Milwaukee, a bed and breakfast that offers a side of spectral activity with your continental breakfast.
This Victorian-era mansion has more layers of history than a century-old lasagna, and apparently, some of its former residents liked it so much they decided to stick around.
Built in 1910, the mansion has been everything from a private residence to a boarding house to a den of mobster activity during Prohibition.
Today, it’s a charming B&B where guests can enjoy period-accurate decor, antique furnishings, and the occasional ghostly encounter.
Visitors and staff have reported all sorts of paranormal shenanigans, from mysterious footsteps to doors opening and closing on their own.
Some have even claimed to see full-bodied apparitions.
It’s like Downton Abbey meets Ghostbusters.
The current owners have embraced the mansion’s spooky reputation, offering ghost tours and paranormal investigations.
So, you can enjoy a Victorian-style getaway with a side of ghost hunting.
Just don’t be surprised if your midnight snack gets interrupted by a spectral snacker.
So, there you have it, Wisconsin’s creepiest, spookiest, and downright hair-raising spots.
Who knew the Dairy State could curdle more than just milk?
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go sleep with the lights on for a week.
