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A resort city on Geneva Lake, Lake Geneva is located in southwestern Wisconsin. Lake Geneva is known for its lovely beaches, scenic beauty, historic mansions and luxury resorts. After the Civil War, people started calling it the “Newport of the West.”
Discover the dark side of this beautiful city on the Lake Geneva Ghost Walk, an hour and a half walking tour. Explore the downtown by Geneva Lake. Hear tales of haunted mansions, lake monsters, colorful characters and vengeful spirits.
The Lake Monster
In 1892, a man and 2 boys reported seeing a sea serpent in Geneva Lake. They described it as being 65 feet long and 3 feet at its widest point. It was said to have a monstrous head with fierce looking eyes and a mouth with rows of sharp teeth.
From 1892 to 1902, this lake monster was seen by many Lake Geneva residents. They named it “Jenny.” You’ll learn more about this USO – Unidentified Swimming Object – on this tour.
The Maxwell Mansion
The Maxwell Mansion was built in 1856 and used as a residence for decades. The basement of the house was used as a speakeasy in the Roaring Twenties. Later it became a hotel.
Hotel guests and staff have reported phenomena for which there is no reasonable explanation. A supernatural being called “The Watcher” has been seen sitting and watching the hotel guests. A little boy named “Eddie” is believed to be inhabiting the attic. People have reported hearing cries for help from the lobby when no one was there.
Inside the hotel’s tavern (which was the speakeasy), mugs hanging on the wall have been known to fly off the wall by themselves, crashing to the floor. A cash register in the tavern once kept ringing up a charge for a Bloody Mary over and over on its own.
In 2020, the Wisconsin Paranormal Research’s investigators spent five hours at night investigating the mansion when the building was empty. The team recorded voices, heard foot steps and observed strange lights and orbs. Most of the paranormal activity was in the speakeasy tavern and in the Cognac Room on the first floor.
Click here if you’d like to check the Maxwell Mansion Hotel out for yourself.
The Beast of Bray Road
Stories about the Beast of Bray Road go all the way back to 1936. People have been reporting seeing a huge dog or a wolf standing on two legs. Some people believe it’s a werewolf.
There were numerous sightings in the late 1980s. A reporter wrote a story about this creature and it ran in the local newspaper in December, 1991. After the story ran, many people contacted the reporter to say they, too, had seen what started to be known as the Beast of Bray Road. The vast majority of the sightings were on or near Bray Road. What is it? Your guess is as good as mine.
Your guide’s storytelling will bring Lake Geneva’s haunted history to life. It will be a mix of chills, humor and history
Black Point Estate
You’ll hear about the tragedies that have happened on Lake Geneva. Its icy depths are littered with the wrecks of many sailboats and ships.
Black Point Estate is a 4 story mansion with a tower on Lake Geneva. It was built as a summer home but now is owned by the State of Wisconsin. And its tower is said to be haunted.
Some years ago, a ship carrying a priest and his three sisters was going to Black Point Estate. It sank during a storm, killing everyone.
There have been numerous sightings of apparitions in the Black Point tower. Locals believe it’s the priest and his sisters.
The Baker House
The Baker House was built in 1885. Photos taken of the outside of the house show a woman in the window dressed in period clothing. She appeared and then vanished.
Pictures taken at the Baker House also show a small child materializing on the front lawn. In the first picture, he is transparent. The next photo shows him filling in more. The third picture has only his legs being transparent. In the last picture, there was nothing there.
The Baker House is now an upscale B&B, so if you want to see for yourself, you can. Book your stay here to get the best available price.
More Tour Details
Your knowledgeable guide will be dressed in Victorian clothing. The stories you hear will be informative as well as entertaining. Listen to chilling tales of the ghosts of the lake and Native American legends.
You’ll walk around a beautiful lake and see stunning architecture. Your guide will tell you about each site and the history behind it. If you’re interested in the paranormal and history, you’ll love this tour.
Coupon
Looking to save money on this tour? Then you’ve come to the right place!
Book your tour here and you can purchase the tour at a discounted price. The discount is automatic, too, so you won’t need a coupon code or promo code!