By: Bailey Gaffney

I’m sure that by now, most of you have heard about all of the spooky things that happen here in Whitewater. If you haven’t, I recommended reading some of our other blogs such as “Who Were the Whitewater Spiritualists?” and “Morris Pratt and the Temple of Psychic Science In Whitewater”. Although it is easy to talk about our own second Salem, there are a lot more myths, spooky stories and places to visit throughout Wisconsin that I feel deserve to be visited this Halloween season. I took the time to pick out some of the top-rated spooky places in both northern and southern Wisconsin, and created a recommended southern Wisconsin road trip starting right here in Whitewater, for those looking for some Halloween weekend fun!

Wisconsin Haunted Road Trip- Southern Wisconsin:

Pfister Hotel: 424 E Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202

The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee was built in 1893 and has been an icon of Milwaukee for over a century. It is best known for its amazing architecture and timeless beauty, but also comes with a dark side. Many celebrities, MLB players and everyday guests report constant ghost stories and creepy events that they experienced while staying here. These events are things such as knocking, objects moving, footsteps and more. Some claim that the original owner and builder, Charles Pfister, haunts the place to make sure that it is still living up to its full potential. Being ranked one of the most haunted hotels in the nation, this is definitely on the list of must-see haunted places in Wisconsin!

La Belle Cemetery: 700 E Grove St, Oconomowoc, WI 53066

A statue that cries, and girl that emerges from the water at dusk, and dimes. What do all of these things have in common? They’re legends and ghost experiences that have been reported happening at La Belle Cemetery in Oconomowoc, WI. I grew up in Oconomowoc and have visited this cemetery a few times with my friends, and can say first hand that this place will give you the creeps! Legend has it, that if you place dimes in the hands of the statue of an angel standing next to a cross, she will start to cry. I haven’t tried this or seen it happen, but many people have reported it. There are also reports of an apparition of a girl that will walk out of the water at dusk to find her way back to her grave. If you are looking for a spooky adventure this Halloween weekend, make sure to add La Belle Cemetery to your list!

Calvary Cemetery: Whitewater, WI 53190

*This destination is located on the North side of campus!

Calvary Cemetery is known to be the most haunted cemetery in Whitewater and is home to many active spirits. The ghost of Nellie Horan roams the cemetery grounds, and has since her execution in 1855 for poising her sister. Many people have also reported summoning the spirit of axe murderess Mary Worth, who is reported to be just as violent in death as she was alive. Calvary Cemetery is also one of the 3 cemeteries in Whitewater, and is known to be apart of the famous “witches triangle” you may have read about in our other blogs. If you plan on visiting Calvary Cemetery for a Halloween night, I suggest going with a friend or two!

Starin Park Water Tower: Whitewater, WI 53190

*This destination can actually be seen from the UC and is by Wells Residents Hall!

This is more than just a water tower. Being one of the oldest that is still in operation, means that it has had many years to accumulate spirits. Many report seeing figures around the bottom of it, hearing echoes from the top of it, and there are even rumors that bodies were once found floating in the water. Some believe that the water tower rotates on its own on Halloween night. With Whitewater being known as the Second Salem, there are also many rumors that witches used this spot as their hide away to practice their witchcraft. Overall, if you are looking for a spook, this is the place for you!

Shaker’s Cigar Bar: 422 S 2nd St, Milwaukee, WI 53204

Built in 1894, Shaker’s Cigar Bar has had its fair share of ownerships, illegal activity and murder. Yes, you read that right, murder. In 1922 after being sold and rebought a few times, Al and Frank Capone operated the building as a “soda bottling operation” as a front for their speakeasy. During that time, there was a lady murdered and disposed of in one of the walls. Her remains were found in 2001 and she is still said to haunt the place to this day. This budling was also built over one of the original cemeteries in Wisconsin for non-indigenous people, which has said to add to its spook factor. Shaker’s Cigar Bar offers ghost tours and a great spot to spend Halloween weekend, if you’re up for sharing the night with ghosts!

Brumder Mansion: 3046 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53208

Built in 1910 by George Brumder. It is a three story and 8,000 square foot house that is a mix of Victorian and gothic, giving it your typical horror house vibe. Unfortunately, George Brumder died before he was able to see the completion of the mansion, and it was later sold in 1927 to Sam and Ed Pick after the death of Mrs. Brumder. Sam and Ed had ties to Al Capone and decided to start running a speakeasy out of the basement, creating the perfect place for trouble. Today, it is run as a bed and breakfast, and has three known and active spirits who love to prank and scare guests. If you’re looking for active spirits and to get a good Halloween scare, the Brumder Mansion is the place for you!

If you’re looking for ways to visit all of these places over Halloween weekend, here is a potential road trip route to hit all of these spots, starting right here in Whitewater!

Start: Starin Park Water Tower

Shaker’s Cigar Bar

The Pfister Hotel

Brumder Mansion

La Belle Cemetery

End: Calvary Cemetery

We can’t forget our friends in the North! Here are some of the most haunted places in Northern Wisconsin to add to your list if you’re looking to visit Northern Wisconsin over the weekend!

Riverside cemetery Appleton: 714 N Owaissa St, Appleton, WI 54911

Siren Bridge: 6517 Lynch Bridge Rd. Siren WI

Maribel Caves Hotel: 15401 County Rd R, Maribel, WI 54227

Grand Opera House: 100 High Ave, Oshkosh, WI 54901

Boy Scout Lane: Stevens Point, Wisconsin54481 USA

Witch Road: Callan Rd Ripon WI

Overall, there are a lot of spooky places in Wisconsin to visit this Halloween weekend. These were just a few that I have heard scary stories about. Remember that the places highlighted above are subject to change availability due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, and are just suggestions. The great thing about a road trip, is that you can stop at whatever places you want! Happy traveling!