10 Things to See in Minnesota if You’re Into the Creepy & Macabre

If you’re drawn to the creepy and macabre, Minnesota offers a fascinating array of eerie sites, haunted places, and ghost towns that provide chilling experiences and spine-tingling stories. Here are 10 must-see creepy and macabre attractions in Minnesota:

1. Wabasha Street Caves, St. Paul

These extensive sandstone caves carved in the 1800s have served many purposes, including a mushroom farm, restaurant, and casino. They were a notorious gangster hangout during Prohibition and are reputedly haunted, making them one of Minnesota’s creepiest places.

2. Warden’s House Museum, Stillwater

The former warden’s home of the Stillwater Prison is haunted by Gertrude Wolfer, the warden’s daughter, who died young. Visitors report sightings of her ghost in 19th-century attire and a cradle rocking by itself.

3. St. James Hotel, Red Wing

Built on Native American burial grounds, this historic hotel is known for ghostly murmurings, cold spots, and the spirit of former owner Clara Lillyblad who reportedly ensures diners’ cutlery is properly placed.

4. Crazy Annie’s Bridge, Henderson

This rural bridge is the site of a tragic local legend where a grieving widow drowned her children and then herself. Visitors report eerie cries, whispers, strange handprints on cars, and a heavy sense of dread.

5. The Dead Man’s Trail, Thief River Falls

A wooded trail steeped in legend, said to be a portal to another realm with ghostly apparitions, disembodied voices, and time slips that confuse visitors about how much time has passed.

6. Griggs Mansion, St. Paul

An 1883 mansion with a tragic history of a maid who hanged herself. Her spirit is said to appear as a white mist on the top floor landing where she died.

7. First Avenue, Minneapolis

A nightclub formerly a bus depot, haunted by the spirit of a woman who hanged herself after learning of her soldier husband’s death in WWII. Visitors report sobbing and sightings of her ghost in a green army jacket.

8. Minnesota Ghost Towns (e.g., Forestville, Elcor, Nininger)

Abandoned towns like Forestville and Elcor offer haunting ruins and a glimpse into Minnesota’s past. Forestville is preserved as a state park with old buildings to explore, while Elcor’s mining town remnants evoke eerie nostalgia.

9. The Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul

Considered one of the most haunted places in Minnesota, with unexplained paranormal activity attributed to a former stagehand named Ben.

10. Haunted Hotels and Halloween Attractions

Minnesota hosts many haunted houses and Halloween events such as THE UNKNOWN ACRES, Oak Blood Forest, and Scream Town, which offer immersive horror experiences for thrill-seekers during the fall season.

These sites combine history, tragedy, and paranormal lore, making Minnesota a rich destination for those fascinated by the creepy and macabre. Whether exploring haunted mansions, eerie caves, tragic bridges, or ghost towns, you’ll find plenty of spine-chilling adventures across the state.

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