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Wisconsin is famously known as America’s Dairyland. The Swiss Cheese capital of the world is actually located right here, too. Our great state also has over 15,000 lakes, and I bet you didn’t know that the oldest city is actually Green Bay.
Wisconsin is also home to professional sports teams like the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bruins, and Milwaukee Bucks. Enjoy the beautiful Wisconsin scenery as you drive around, but watch out for the ghosts…..and haunted houses in Wisconsin.
The Real Deal: Haunted Houses in Wisconsin
Summerwind Mansion, built in 1916 by Robert Patterson Lamont, is said to have been Wisconsin’s most haunted house. Back in the 1970s, the Hinshaw family moved into the property with their children and began hearing voices, doors and windows opening on their own, and the presence of a woman ghost.
A human corpse was discovered in a hidden closet partition, and that’s when things got bad for the Hinshaw family. Arnold Hinshaw had a nervous breakdown and said demons were in his head, and his wife Ginger attempted suicide. Arnold was sent away for psychiatric treatment and Ginger moved herself and her kids away from the house after only 6 months of living there.
Ginger’s father bought the house and wanted to turn it into an Inn and restaurant but never followed through because of all the odd occurrences at the property. The mansion was struck by lightning in the 1980’s and all that remains is the foundation and chimneys.
Nelsen’s Hall dates back to the Prohibition Era. Owner Tom Nelsen wasn’t about to shut his doors so he went and got a pharmacist license so he could distribute bitters for “medicinal purposes”. Nelsen’s Hall claims to be the largest supplier of Angostura Bitters in the world. With its alcohol content being 90 proof it was said that the bitters were a cure for more than just stomach aches and hiccups.
Tom Nelsen lived until he was 90, they believe because of his drinking a pint of Angostura Bitters daily. Today his spirit can be heard walking upstairs and shutting doors when they were left open. You can join the “Bitter’s Club” by downing a shot of bitters, and you even get a special certificate.
The Phantom Hitchhiker of Baraboo is said to be a man wearing a green Army jacket and jeans walking down the highway. Most people say he has a dark beard and long black hair. Drivers who have seen him once will notice him again a few miles down the road and get confused because there is no way he could have gotten ahead of them. When drivers attempt to pick him up he seems to disappear before they can. Nobody has been able to explain who he is or why he is “hitchhiking” down this road eternally.
The Grand Opera House is located in Oshkosh and first opened its doors in 1883. Famous performers like Houdini, the Marx Brothers, and Charlie Chaplin were featured here during the early years. It is said that a former stage manager named Percy Keene is still very much a big part of the opera house. Mysterious reports of a ghost going into underground passages and unseen hands grabbing ankles have been made. Lights are seen turning on and off, and reports have been made of a man wearing a white shirt and round glasses watching over the theater.
Haunted Attractions in Wisconsin
Ghosts of Galloway is a fun place that I was able to see a few years ago! The amount of work these folks put into making this one-of-a-kind haunted town is amazing. Screams abound and scares are plentiful as they send you through the “town” in small groups. You can jump ahead of the lines with a “fast pass” ticket if you wish. It’s open Fridays and Saturdays in October from 7-10 PM starting this weekend! I might add, it’s fun to go to with the girls, after a glass or two of wine. Leave the kids at home, LOL!
Escape MKE is said to be Wisconsin’s #1 Escape Room game. Your team is locked into a themed room and has to work together to find a way to get out! Rooms like Mr. Dupree’s Office and James Bomb are featured at Escape MKE. Can you and your friends escape before the room explodes?!
Seven Keys to Escape is currently running a scenario called “Nora’s Nightmare”. Little Nora lost her special dream catcher and her dreams are becoming very troubling. You and your friends must work together as a team to figure out the cause of Nora’s nightmares and return her extraordinary dream catcher before time expires. You don’t want sweet little Nora to continue to have nightmares, do you?
Terror on Rural Street is a haunted attraction located in Hartford, boasting 17 frightening rooms. It’s open Fridays and Saturdays in October and is said to be too intense for children, so you’ll want to leave the littles home for this one.
Abandoned Haunted House Complex features three of the best haunted houses in Wisconsin. Visit Ambush Haunted house for a “startle-scare” experience, or Hysteria Haunted House for a real adventure! Stalker Haunted Corn Field is an interactive maze filled with lurking characters, and Shoot A Freak is a paintball experience you are sure to enjoy. Each attraction takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
