A Spinetingling Celebration of National Ghost Hunting Day: 6 of The Most Haunted Places Across The Midwest

Sep 28, 2024

What would be more fitting to share on National Ghost Hunting Day than a place of real live haunted places paranormal aficionados have visited in person? That’s right! We’re kicking it into high gear for the approaching “spooky season” with a list of tantalizing presumed paranormal locations. From spectral sightings to devious disappearances to mysterious moans and wails, you’ll surely have goosebumps by the end of the stories and details on this post. Check it out, if you dare, and happy haunting–er, hunting!

Note: Please, if you’re itching to visit any of these locations yourself, be mindful of local posted signage for your safety and legal purposes! Do not trespass onto private property or desecrate any of the historic sites. Obey any closed off areas, caution tape, or signs listing environmental risks. Enter at your own risk and ghost hunt responsibly.

Bartonville Insane Asylum in Illinois was in operation as a mental hospital as the Peoria State Hospital from 1902 through 1973, but closed due to lack of government funding, overcrowding issues, and overuse of psychotropic medications on patients. While considered on the “milder” side of psychiatric hospital sites thanks to Dr. George Zeller’s more humane treatment philosophies and less prison-like housing, the site still saw its fair share of deaths. The expired patients with no families or relatives were given respectful memorial ceremonies and burials on site; the grounds eventually housed 4 different cemeteries where 4,100 patients were interred. After Zeller’s death, the facilities were transferred to new hands who adopted the less than ideal Electro Convulsive Therapy treatment, with several patients dying of mysterious circumstances or being killed. Modern day ghost hunters report ghostly apparitions and strange shadows flitting about the corridors, while others have noted sobs and whispers from patient rooms.

McPike Mansion of Alton in Illinois, sometimes referred to as Mount Lookout, is a historic and haunted property on the former 15-acre estate of Henry Guest McPike. In 1994, the home was purchased at auction by Sharyn and George Luedke, with plans to restore the mansion to its former glory! Sharyn herself has reported ghostly sightings of servants and residents or guests of the mansion while removing items from the home, making repairs, and restoring the house. She and George have also caught a whiff of lilac perfume wafting through the hallways of the third floor. Some people claim the house was built on hallowed grounds, still others report the happenings only began after McPike and later owners’ passings. Spooky!

Pfister Hotel in Wisconsin is considered one of the most haunted in the state! This historic Milwaukee landmark has housed some of the most famous and notable baseball and basketball players over the years, many of whom have corroborated the stories of paranormal activities. Visiting players have reported objects being moved or dropped, strange shadowy apparitions, electrical anomalies, and mysterious noises! Built in 1893 as a premiere accommodation for the times, the hotel has undergone several renovations and additions since, now housing 82 personal suites including wet bars and sitting room areas. It has been reported that the older wings of the hotel are more haunted, along with the 19th floor of the tower addition and the grand ballroom area. Have a stay and see for yourself!

Missouri State Penitentiary was once the oldest continually operating prison west of the Mississippi, open from 1836 through 2004, and functioned as its own little town. The facility has seen its fair share of injuries, deaths, escape attempts, mistreatment, abuse, experiments, and even a major inmate riot in 1954, and has been dubbed “the bloodiest 47 acres in America” by Time Magazine. Yes, this tumultuous and terrifying history has left this facility with its fair share of ghosts both metaphorical and literal. Today, you can opt for a 2 or 3 hour guided ghost tour and explore the housing units, dungeon cells, death row chamber, and more. For the squeamish and ghost-averse, there are also run of the mill historic tours without all the spooky stuff.

Villisca Axe Murder House in Iowa contains stories that will put any Ryan Murphy series plot to shame. This terrifying site of octuple murders in 1912 is home to one of America’s most infamous unsolved murder cases, and some seriously spine-tingling paranormal sightings. (We will spare you the gruesome details, but it’s quite frightening!) Over the course of 90 years, the home had 7 different owners, all of whom reported unpleasant experiences and unexplained events. In the late 90s, the home was purchased by Darwin and Martha Lin, who have since opened the house to the public for daytime tours and overnight stays, as well as special ghost hunting expeditions. It’s been added to the National Register of Historic Places, and remains a hot spot for those seeking thrills, chills and scares. If you’re feeling brave, you can book the overnight stay and wait until 2AM when the real “fun” begins.

Whitefish Point Lighthouse in Michigan is a picturesque maritime setting and the oldest operating lighthouse on Lake Superior, in operation since 1849 and reconstructed in 1861. It was later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and the Shipwreck Museum opened in 1897. Over the years this site has received reports of strange, otherworldly appearances and ethereal figures. Visitors have reported seeing ghosts of little girls waving from the windows and running around the grounds, a Native American woman wandering through the museum, a woman in a long gown walking around the galley, and a man in a blue uniform. Even employees of the Museum Gift Shop have reported strange accounts of buttons being pushed and toilets flushing with no one around. Professional ghost hunters at the UPPRS have caught numerous spikes of spectral activity as well. There’s no telling what you’ll see on your visit, but even if you don’t spot any specters, it’s still quite worth the visit.