Experience Minnesota’s “Real” Haunted Houses and More

At this time of year it seems like every time you turn around there is another Fall and/or Halloween event.  There are haunted houses, hay rides, trails, corn mazes, some are for kids and some are definitely not for kids.  There are some daytime events there are some more events that are just geared for adults at night, and some fun fall harvest events too.

Get our free mobile app

But - there are also some haunted attractions that are supposedly real.  Like not put on by some group or town.  Some are haunted year round and just become more popular at this time of year.

R.D. HUBBARD HOUSE MUSEUM

This is located in Mankato and employees say that the place is definitely haunted.  Lots of strange things that happen when everyone has left and they are closing up.

GRIGGS MANSION

Located in St. Paul, this mansion was turned into apartments and then an art school in 1939. The location is rumored to have many spirits, including that of a maid who supposedly hanged herself on the fourth floor landing in 1915, gardener Charles Wade, who is rumored to be heard in the library looking through books, a skinny man in a top hat and a black suit, a child who has been seen floating above a bed, and a teenage girl named Amy. Many other paranormal occurrences have happened at the location, including windows and doors opening on their own, coughs, footsteps and light bulbs that shatter.

HARRINGTON - MERRILL HOUSE

Head to Hutchinson for this one. This house dates back to the early 1800s and there is a rumor that a Native American man and his son were murdered there - shot by a farmer.  They, apparently, haunt the house. 

GLENSHEEN MANSION

This house is located in Duluth.  The public is definitely invited.  And they really don't talk about the murders that happened in the house when giving the tour.  But I'm thinking that might change around Halloween - as a special tour.

HERITAGE HOUSE

You will have to travel to Embarrass, Minnesota for this one.  It is also open to the public, and the story is that there was a murder here too. This one sounds almost more like the story of Friday the 13th movies.  Where Jason Voorhees drowned in the lake at a camp.  This time the story is that there was an abusive father who tried to force his son to walk on water like Jesus did.  Well, obviously that didn't work, the child drowned and the rumor is that he is haunting the area.

Spooky, right?  Plus, if you want to stay somewhere that's haunted, but the owners embrace the ghosts.  Head to the Palmer House in Sauk Centre.  They have a Halloween event every year.