A Haunted Weekend in Whitewater
Whitewater may look like a charming Wisconsin college town, but its past tells a different story. Known for generations as the "Second Salem," Whitewater is home to tales of witches, spiritualists, mysterious landmarks, and unexplained happenings. Spend a fall weekend uncovering Whitewater's legends and lore, exploring colorful trails, enjoying local flavors, and discovering a spookier side of this small Wisconsin town.
Before you go: Discover how Whitewater became known as the “Second Salem,” check out our self-guided spirit tour, and review the Haunted Whitewater map to uncover the historic places, haunted legends, and mysterious locations featured throughout your weekend.
-----Friday Evening-----
Check into your accommodations and head downtown for dinner.
A few lodging options:
Second Salem Brewing Co.
📍111 W Whitewater St, Whitewater, WI 53190
Start the weekend at Second Salem Brewing Co., where Whitewater’s tales of witches, mysterious murders, strange creatures, and unexplained happenings inspire brews such as Ghost and the Dankness, Wytches' Brew, and Wildman of LaGrange.
The spooky influence carries onto the food menu, too. Try a fried Bavarian pretzel or crispy Brussels sprouts withWitchtower Pale Ale mustard, or dig into Wisconsin favorites like fried Ellsworth cheese curds, Wisconsin beer cheese soup with Polish sausage, and the Wisconsin Burger topped with bacon, cheese curds, and beer cheese soup. Other options include blackened salmon tacos, Salem Smash Burgers, wings, flatbreads, mac and cheese, and Friday fish fry.
After dinner, it’s time to start exploring the legends that gave Whitewater its mysterious reputation.
Hillside Cemetery
📍 S. Wisconsin St. Whitewater, WI
After dinner, make your way to nearby Hillside Cemetery, one of Whitewater’s most significant historic cemeteries. It is the final resting place of prominent community members, including Morris Pratt, other spiritualists, and members of the Winchester and Partridge families.
According to local legend, Hillside is also one of three cemeteries that form the mysterious isosceles triangle tied to Whitewater’s “Second Salem” reputation. Local lore claims the cemetery is home to the above-ground crypt of Mary Worth, a self-proclaimed witch whose story has become part of Whitewater folklore.
Hillside Cemetery is generally open dawn to dusk. If it gets dark early, visit Hillside Cemetery before heading over to Second Salem Brewery Co.
Oak Grove Cemetery
📍E. Main St, Whitewater, WI
Looking for one more stop? Walk along Oak Grove Cemetery, another point in Whitewater’s legendary Witches Triangle. As Whitewater’s oldest cemetery, Oak Grove is the final resting place of many of the community’s earliest settlers, including Revolutionary War veterans and Civil War soldiers. The cemetery itself is locked, but you can view the historic grounds from outside the gates.
-----Saturday Morning-----
Coffee With a Ghost at the SweetSpot Café
📍141 W. Whitewater St. Whitewater, WI
Start your morning with coffee and breakfast at The SweetSpot Café, located inside the historic Whitewater Hotel building.
Grab a coffee, breakfast sandwich, scone, or sweet treat, and keep an eye out for Ruby. Employees over the years have reported unexplained happenings inside the historic Whitewater Hotel building, from the mysterious scent of perfume to Frank Sinatra music playing when the stereo was turned off. The building’s resident ghost has become known as Ruby, who is said to have grown up in the hotel and later owned it.
Take a Stroll Along Cravath Lakefront
📍341 S Fremont St, Whitewater, WI 53190
Coffee in hand, take a walk along the Cravath Lakefront before exploring more of downtown Whitewater. Follow the paved path along the water, enjoy views of Cravath Lake, and make your way toward Main Street.
Explore Main Street
Spend the rest of the morning exploring downtown Whitewater, where local shops and historic places tied to some of the city’s best-known legends sit just blocks apart.
Browse the work of local artists at Studio 84, spend some time with the adoptable cats at BaristaCats Café, hunt for one-of-a-kind finds at Stellar Vintage, browse the shelves at The Book Teller, or search for antiques and collectibles at Reflections of the Past.
As you explore, keep an eye out for historic locations connected to Whitewater’s haunted lore, including Hamilton House, the Lucius Winchester House, and the Poison Widow House. Use the Haunted Whitewater map along the way to discover the stories behind each stop.
-----Saturday Afternoon-----
Lunch
📍 841 Brewhouse - 841 E Milwaukee St, Whitewater, WI 53190
📍 Taco Fresco - 175 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190
📍 Rosa’s Pizza - 180 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190
📍Rick’s Eastside Pub - 561 E Milwaukee St, Whitewater, WI 53190
Take a break from exploring and grab lunch at one of these Whitewater favorites. 841 Brewhouse serves burgers, sandwiches, salads, and brewpub favorites alongside its house-brewed beers. Taco Fresco offers tacos, burritos, quesadillas, bowls, nachos, and creative options ranging from fish and shrimp tacos to globally inspired flavors. Rosa’s Pizza is a casual choice for pan, stuffed, and double-decker pizzas, plus calzones, pasta, and Italian sandwiches. Rick’s Eastside Pub & Grill rounds out the options with burgers, sandwiches, wings, wraps, Wisconsin cheese curds, and other classic pub fare.
Whitewater Lake Public Beach
📍 N7660 State Park Dr., Whitewater, WI
After lunch, leave downtown behind and head into the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit, where one of Whitewater’s strangest legends awaits.
According to local legend, Whitewater Lake has a mysterious resident of its own. In 1923, a fisherman claimed his boat tipped over and that he felt tentacles pulling him beneath the water as he tried to retrieve it.
Another tale tells of three friends who encountered black-cloaked figures chanting and dancing along the beach one night. They claimed to see a mysterious creature rise from the lake and move toward the group. When the friends returned the following morning, they reportedly found a burn pile and what appeared to be small animal bones on the beach.
Fact, folklore, or a story that grew a little stranger with every retelling? You can decide while taking in the much more peaceful version of Whitewater Lake during the day.
While you’re at the lake, stretch your legs with the Walk About Whitewater and Rice Lakes. This simple walk-about (.5mi) provides beautiful views of Whitewater and Rice Lakes.
-----Saturday Evening-----
Dinner
Choose your dinner adventure: stay close to Whitewater for shopping, pizza, and a rumored haunting, or take a short drive for a classic Wisconsin supper club with a mysterious past.
The Fuzzy Pig Country Mall & Whiney’s Wine & Beer Haus
📍 N8660 Clover Valley Rd, Whitewater, WI 53190
Start with a little shopping at The Fuzzy Pig Country Mall, a sprawling country store housed in a renovated barn and filled with antiques, home décor, gifts, specialty foods, and other finds. Rumors of unexplained activity in the barn have circulated over the years, adding another local ghost story to your haunted weekend.
After shopping, stay at The Fuzzy Pig Complex for dinner at Whiney’s Wine & Beer Haus. The menu centers around wood-fired pizzas, with choices ranging from Margherita and artichoke and spinach to taco, Reuben, Philly cheesesteak, and the unusual Pig Out topped with shredded pork, pineapple, maraschino cherries, sauerkraut, and mozzarella. Live music is also offered on select Friday and Saturday nights.
The Duck Inn Supper Club
📍 N6214 WI-89, Delavan, WI 53115
For dinner with a side of history and a ghost story, head to The Duck Inn Supper Club near Delavan. According to the restaurant, The Duck Inn got its name during the Prohibition era, when it operated as a speakeasy. Patrons would secretly “duck in” for a drink and were reminded to keep quiet and “speak easy.” Today, the traditional Wisconsin supper club serves Old Fashioneds and other classic cocktails alongside duck entrées, steaks, seafood, and homemade desserts.
And then there’s Joyce. A longtime Duck Inn waitress, Joyce once joked with owner Jeff Karbash that if she passed away before him, she would give him a sign by flickering the lights. Years later, on the night Joyce died, Karbash says the bar lights repeatedly turned themselves off. He did not learn that Joyce had passed away until the following morning. Coincidence? Maybe. But it adds one more story to a building that has been welcoming guests for more than a century.
Learn more about the history of The Duck Inn
Choose Your Saturday Night Scare
Depending on when you visit, choose from one of these ways to end your Saturday night.
Reserve Your Spot on the Annual Spirit Tour
Visiting during the annual Spirit Tour? Make it the centerpiece of your Saturday night. Held one weekend each October, the guided experience brings the city’s legends to life with visits to some of Whitewater’s most “spirited” locations. Explore cemeteries after dark, meet infamous characters from Whitewater’s past, and learn more about Spiritualism and its influence on the community.
Shockwave Haunts
📍 N8660 Clover Valley Rd, Whitewater, WI 53190
Visiting another weekend in October? Head to Shockwave Haunts for a more traditional Halloween scare. Located at the Fuzzy Pig complex, Shockwave takes visitors through original haunted attractions filled with elaborate sets, characters, and plenty of surprises.
Starin Park
📍 504 W Starin Rd, Whitewater, WI 53190
Looking for One More Whitewater Legend? Make your way to Starin Park to see one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks: the Starin Park Water Tower or the Witches Tower. Built in 1889, the stone tower has accumulated plenty of stories during its long history. Local legends claim witches once gathered around the tower to perform rituals. Another story says the barbed wire that once surrounded it pointed inward, leading generations to wonder whether the fence was designed to keep people out or something else in.
-----Sunday-----
Breakfast at Jessica’s Family Restaurant
📍140 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190
After a night of ghost stories, start Sunday with a classic Wisconsin breakfast at Jessica’s Family Restaurant. Fuel up with eggs, pancakes, French toast, omelets, skillets, and other breakfast favorites before heading into the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit for one final adventure.
End the Weekend With a Hike
Leave the ghosts behind and spend Sunday experiencing another side of Whitewater.
The Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit surrounds the area with miles of hiking trails through hardwood forests, prairies, rolling hills, and landscapes shaped by Wisconsin’s glacial past. Whitewater is also an official Ice Age Trail Community, making it an ideal starting point for exploring nearby segments of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
In fall, those forests turn shades of red, orange, and gold, providing a colorful ending to a weekend spent discovering the darker side of Whitewater. Not sure where to start? Explore our 6 Best Fall Hikes in Whitewater, WI and choose a trail for your Sunday adventure.
Plan Your Haunted Weekend in Whitewater
History or legend? Ghost story or tall tale? In Whitewater, the lines have been blurred for generations. Spend a weekend exploring the places behind the stories, then use the Haunted Whitewater map and Self-Guided Spirit Tour to uncover even more of the Second Salem.
Just be careful what follows you home.