After being cooped up in our homes all winter, most of us are yearning to escape, even if it's just for a night.

When we're in the mind for a quick getaway, most Illinoisans turn their sights to Wisconsin and the plethora of fun things to do and places to stay there. If traveling to Wisconsin is on your near-future to-do list, let me just tell you there might be some hotels you won't want to add to your shortlist of housing options...unless you prefer your overnights filled with paranormal experiences.

The Most Haunted Hotels in Wisconsin

1. Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

One thing I learned very quick during my hunt for the most haunted hotels in Wisconsin is that the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee often tops every list.

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Google Street View
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Not only if the Pfister Hotel beautiful and luxurious, but numerous people, including several professional baseball players, have experienced odd, paranormal events while staying there. Here's a video from 2009 where former Milwaukee Brewer Mike Cameron talks about the haunted history of the Pfister Hotel...

2. Hotel Retlaw in Fon Du Lac, Wisconsin

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Google Street View
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Hotel Retlaw is another grand hotel with an infamous history of haunted experiences. Wearegreenbay.com says visitors and staff at Hotel Retlaw have reported paranormal encounters as minor as "cups flying from carts and ice flying from the ice machines", but it sounds like the one room you REALLY want to avoid staying in is #717. Here's why according to wearegreenbay.com;

staff members have reported hearing screams coming from one specific room in the hotel, Room #717, which is located on the seventh floor, followed by the door of that room shaking viciously as if it was being kicked in from the inside. Yet, after staff members enter the room, they always find nothing and no one inside.

NOPE!

3. The Karsten Hotel in Kewaunee, Wisconsin

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Google Street View
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The Karsten Hotel, now known as The Karsten Nest in Kewaunee, Wisconsin may be far less luxurious that the Pfister or Retlaw, but it is no stranger to bad luck and scary stories. The Karsten Nest is rumored to be haunted by three ghosts, and all I needed to believe the rumors was watching this video that NBC26 Green Bay did in October in 2021..

 

4. Hotel Mead and Conference Center in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Hotel Mead and Conference Center via Facebook
Hotel Mead and Conference Center via Facebook
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According to hauntedhouses.com Hotel Mead has a basement with a sordid haunted history that past and present staff members have been told not to talk about including weird smells of blood, flickering lights and slamming doors. Here's the back story from hauntedhouses.com;

In 1953, the basement known as the Shanghai Room, was used as a bar and gambling room. It is said that a female bartender was stabbed to death, which hasn’t been confirmed. It is probable though that someone, an employee of the hotel was killed here, as the room was haunted with paranormal activity suggesting a murder happened here.

5. Union Hotel in De Pere, Wisconsin

Union Hotel via Facebook
Union Hotel via Facebook
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Union Hotel takes the crown for the oldest, still operating, hotel in Wisconsin, so of course it has some scary stories to tell. Weird voices, a child's face being seen on the wall, and a ghost being spotted on the landing are just a few of the haunted experiences people have reported at Union Hotel. Need proof? Check out this old video from WLUK-TV Fox 11...😨

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