‘Tis the season for haunted houses, horror movies, and creepy costumes. These manufactured scares are thrilling, but sometimes the spookiest spots are the ones rooted in real-life legends. Luckily, Minnesota has its fair share of ghost stories and eerie landmarks. Here are a few haunted spots to check out—if you dare.
Twin Cities
Dinner… and a Side of the Supernatural
Built in 1870 in St. Paul’s Irvine Park neighborhood, Forepaugh’s is known for French cuisine and Gilded Age grandeur—and the ghosts that allegedly haunt it. Legend has it, a young maid named Molly (a former servant of the Forepaugh family in the late 1800s) appears in the restaurant from time to time, and fearless diners can sit at her designated table—if they dare. Visitors have also reported numerous supernatural occurrences, such as flickering lights, strange voices, and eerie shadows. forepaughs.com
Spirits at the Station
When a place has been around for 140-plus years, its lore is sure to include a few ghostly tales. In the case of St. Paul’s Union Depot, which opened in 1881, haunting encounters have included flying objects and shattering glasses, hidden voices, and other spooky sights. Take a Union Depot Ghost Tour led by CynCity Tours to explore behind-the-scenes areas and learn more about the building’s spirited past. uniondepot.org
Courtesy of Union Depot
Hop On, Freak Out
Hop on the Minneapolis Trolley for a ghostly good time—in rain, snow, or supernatural glow. From spooky mansions to shadowy graveyards, these year-round tours deliver chills, thrills, and true-crime tales with a side of candlelight. Choose your scare: Brave the Candlelight Ghost Tour through haunted mansions and eerie neighborhoods or join the Graveyard Ghost Hunt for a hands-on paranormal investigation in one of Minneapolis’ most haunted cemeteries. minneapolistrolleytours.com
Courtesy of Minneapolis Trolley Tours
Where the Past Still Performs
St. Paul’s historic Mounds Theatre was once known for its silent movie screenings and vaudeville theater performances. Now, the theater is well known for its paranormal activity. Legend says a trio of ghosts haunts the stage: a former usher, a cursed old man, and a little girl in a pink dress. The theater offers ghost-hunting tours every October, but beware: Guests have described flickering lights, strange smells, and chilling cold spots. moundstheatre.org
Sinister Subterranean Secrets
Used as a speakeasy during the Prohibition era, the Wabasha Street Caves in St. Paul are rumored to be haunted by murdered gangsters whose bodies were never found. Tour guides point out bullet holes in the wall, share the caves’ history as a silica mine turned mobster casino, and tell stories about ghostly apparitions. For an extra thrill, visitors can sign up for the Caves and Graves tour, where a costumed character guide drives visitors around St. Paul to check out the capital city’s spookiest landmarks. wabashacaves.com
Courtesy of Visit Saint Paul
Greater Minnesota
Haunted Hometown
Coined the “Halloween Capital of the World,” Anoka prides itself on all things spooky. After hosting its first Halloween parade in the 1920s, Anoka has continued to celebrate every October with a wide variety of parades, costume contests, and family-friendly events. Ghosts of Anoka is an annual walking tour hosted by the Anoka Historical Society that shows visitors the historic neighborhoods of the city—and the ghost stories that go along with them. anokahalloween.com
Photo by Andrew Parks
Spooky Sauk Centre
One of Minnesota’s most infamous spooky spots, The Palmer House in Sauk Centre appeared on a 2012 episode of the Travel Channel’s “Ghost Adventures.” Guests and former employees have shared eerie encounters online, from childlike voices to flickering lights and tableware moving on its own. The historic hotel offers basement tours and monthly paranormal investigations—check online for dates. thepalmerhousehotel.com
Photo by Kerry Peterson
Ghosts Ahoy
The historic William A. Irvin ship in Duluth transforms into a ghoulish haunted vessel every October. Fearless visitors can explore the boat’s dark passageways and engine room with dim lighting and sudden scares. According to the ship’s website, the paranormal activity isn’t just a rumor—three paranormal groups concluded that the ship was haunted after hearing eerie sounds and capturing unexplained voices on tape. Enter at your own risk—each year, dozens of people have to be escorted off the ship out of sheer terror. duluthhauntedship.com
