The Haunted McPike Mansion in Alton, Illinois

The McPike Mansion – Madison County, Alton, Illinois

Photo © wikipedia

Once a Mansion, Now a Memory

There’s something about the McPike Mansion that’ll make the hair on your arms stand up long before you even step foot on the porch. Maybe it’s the way the shadows gather in the windows. Maybe it’s the silence that wraps around it like a shroud. Either way, something’s watching—of that, I am sure.

Nestled on a hill in Alton, Illinois, the McPike Mansion has been sitting heavy with history since 1869. It was built by Henry Guest McPike, a man of wealth and ambition—real estate tycoon, horticulturist, even a former mayor. He planted rare trees and hybrid grapes on his 15-acre estate, and the house itself was nothing short of grandeur: sixteen rooms, sweeping staircases, marble fireplaces, and a wine cellar dug deep into the Earth. She was a beauty, all right. But beauty fades… and some things never die.

From Glory to Ghost Town

After McPike passed in 1910, the house lost its purpose. It bounced around from business school to boarding house, until time, weather, and human greed stripped her bare. Vandals tore out the carved woodwork, shattered the stained glass, and left behind nothing but bones and echoes. Even the toilets were stolen. You know you’ve hit rock bottom when your bathroom ghosts got no place to haunt.

By the time George and Sharyn Luedke bought the place in 1994, the mansion was a shell—broken and forgotten. But they saw something worth saving. Maybe they felt what everyone else just brushed off... that the house wasn’t empty. Not by a long shot. They’ve been restoring it ever since, one brick, one dollar, one ghost tour at a time.

Whispers in the Walls

Now let’s talk about what you came for—the hauntings. McPike Mansion ain’t just creaky floors and cold spots. This place is alive with the dead.

People have seen a tall man—dressed in 19th-century style—roaming the upstairs hallway. That would be Henry himself, still walking the house he built. His wife Mary has been spotted in the garden, her figure fading into the mist like a memory refusing to let go. Visitors claim they’ve seen Henry’s mother Lydia in the front parlor and even his son James near the cellar stairs. It’s like the whole McPike family decided they weren’t leaving, no matter what century it is.

But they’re not the only ones here.

There’s a woman named Sarah, believed to have been a servant in the house. She makes her presence known through the scent of lilacs—her favorite perfume, they say. It comes out of nowhere, strong and sweet, even in the dead of winter. And if the smell don’t get you, the sounds will. Footsteps echo on empty floors. Doors creak open like they’ve been waiting for someone. Laughter—faint, girlish, wrong—bubbles up when no one’s joking. And sometimes? People feel a cold hand on their shoulder when there’s no one behind them.

The Cellar That Breathes

Now, if you’re brave—or dumb—you’ll want to go down into the wine cellar. That’s where the air changes. Thickens. Gets heavy. That’s where the veil feels thinnest. Paranormal investigators have called this one of the most active basements they’ve ever stood in. And I believe it. They’ve caught footage of doors scraping open by themselves, unexplained footsteps echoing behind them, and figures moving in the shadows that disappear when you turn your head.

And let me tell you, that cellar don’t just hold wine. It holds secrets. You can feel them, clinging to the stone walls like mold. People go down there cocky and come up shaken. Some swear they were touched. Others swear they weren’t alone, even when the room was empty.

It’s not just spooky—it’s sacred. Sacred in that way death gets sacred when it doesn’t move on. You can feel the grief, the pride, the memories embedded in the dust. It’s not all evil... but it is powerful. And whatever lives down there—it knows when you're scared.

Still Breathing, Still Watching

Today, the McPike Mansion is still under renovation, but the spirits don’t care if there’s paint on the walls. Tours are held year-round, especially around Halloween, and they sell out fast. People don’t just come to see a haunted house—they come to feel it. To stand in the same space where history refuses to stay buried. And to maybe, just maybe, bring a little piece of it home with them.

Some houses live. Some houses die. And some, like McPike, get caught in between. It’s a place where time doesn’t flow quite right. Where footsteps echo from the past. Where people feel watched—and they are. If you go, be respectful. The dead have claimed it now. And they’re not letting go.

McPike Mansion:

2018 Alby Street, Alton, Illinois 62002  

(618) 830‑2179  

The Haunting of White Cemetery

White Cemetery – Lake County, Barrington, Illinois

Established in the early 1800s, the White Cemetery has become a focal point for paranormal reports over the years, attracting both visitors and graveyard workers alike.

Witnesses frequently describe encountering glowing orbs or balls of light meandering through the graveyard. In some instances, these ethereal orbs traverse the fence, drifting across the road or even finding their way into nearby homes. Hazy, misty apparitions have also been reported, often seen among the tombstones or near trees after nightfall.

One notable specter is that of an elderly woman, with many motorists recounting incidents where she seemingly flags them down for assistance before vanishing into thin air before their very eyes.

Adding to the eerie ambiance is the apparition of a deceased gangster, occasionally appearing in the rearview mirrors of passing vehicles. However, when drivers turn to get a better look, the mysterious figure is nowhere to be found.

Two particularly intriguing reports set this haunted cemetery apart. Some witnesses claim to have seen a black phantom car, while others report glimpsing a house that had burned down many years ago. Both of these phantom entities, once observed, inexplicably vanish within seconds, leaving an air of mystery lingering over the White Cemetery.

Address:
Cuba Road
Barrington, Illinois 60010

The Haunting of the Woodstock Opera House

Woodstock Opera House – McHenry County, Woodstock, Illinois

Photograph ©National Trust for Historic Preservation

Within the storied walls of the opera house resides a haunting tale centered around at least one known apparition. The poignant narrative unfolds with the tale of a young actress, her dreams shattered after being denied a coveted role in a play. Faced with despair, she ascended the five flights of stairs to the belfry tower, choosing to leap to her tragic demise.

This sorrowful figure, forever etched in the annals of the opera house, is none other than Elvira. Witnesses have recounted encountering her spectral presence, adorned in a dancing gown, her beautiful blond hair cascading down to her waist.

Intriguingly, the belfry tower exerts a mysterious allure on young actresses, drawing them in under what some describe as a "hypnotic state." The prevailing belief is that Elvira, long departed from the mortal realm, emanates an otherworldly force that beckons these performers up the stairwell.

Beyond her ethereal manifestation, Elvira engages in mischievous activities, orchestrating the movement of props and the untying of scenery supports, resulting in their untimely descent. Witnesses have attested to audible sighs of annoyance, emanating from Elvira when actors falter in their lines or miss their cues.

Seat 113, nestled within the auditorium, holds a peculiar significance in Elvira's spectral realm. Claimed by many as her favored vantage point, during rehearsals, this seat purportedly descends to a lowered position as she watches with an otherworldly gaze. Adding to the enigma, these seats are spring-loaded, designed to resist staying in a lowered position without external weight. Despite repeated examinations, Seat 113 remains in perfect working order, serving as an eerie testament to Elvira's enduring influence within the opera house.

 
Address:
121 West Van Buren Street
Woodstock, Illinois 60098
(815) 338-4212
Website

The Haunting of the Resurrection Cemetery

Resurrection Cemetery – Cook County, Justice, Illinois

Photograph ©Mystical Universe

One of the most well-known ghosts in Illinois is called "Resurrection Mary." Mary is not just a story; there are legal records of people claiming to see her, and there's even physical evidence supporting these accounts.

While Mary's true identity remains unknown, many believe she was killed in a hit-and-run accident on Archer Road. According to the legend, Mary attended a dance with her boyfriend, but for some reason, she left alone. As she walked along Archer Road, a car hit her, and the driver didn't stop, leaving Mary to die there.

Sightings of Mary's ghost have been reported for over seventy years, starting in the early 1930s. One account involves a man named Jerry Palus, who met a woman at a dance shortly after Mary's death. They danced all night, and when Jerry offered to drive her home, she became anxious near Resurrection Cemetery. She asked him to stop, jumped out of the car, and disappeared just before reaching the cemetery gate.

In 1971, a taxi driver picked up a disoriented young woman on Archer Road. When they approached the cemetery, she yelled to stop, and when the driver turned to talk to her, she vanished from the back seat.

In 1976, a man reported seeing a frantic young woman inside the cemetery, pulling at the bars as if trapped. Officer Pat Homa responded, finding no one inside but discovered outward-bent heavy steel bars with small hand impressions burned into them. These bars were later removed by the cemetery administrators due to the attention they attracted. You can check the picture below for evidence.

Photograph ©Ghost Search

A few days later, the police received another call. A distressed woman reported hitting a young woman with her car. When the police arrived, they found the shaken woman sitting beside a human-shaped impression in the snow, still holding her CB radio. When asked about the body, she said the woman she hit disappeared as they approached.

In 1978, a married couple driving down Archer Road encountered a woman standing in the middle of the road. Despite slamming the brakes, the car passed right through her. The apparition turned into mist and vanished.

In August 1980, there was a surge in reports of sightings and car collisions with a woman resembling Mary. Despite numerous police dispatches, nothing was found. Over the years, hundreds of similar reports have been made.

Resurrection Cemetery is known for Mary, the most famous ghost in Illinois. However, she's not the only restless spirit. People have reported a horse-drawn hearse driving strangely and disappearing through the cemetery gates. Other strange occurrences are often attributed to Mary, whether she's responsible or not.

 
Address:
7201 Archer Road
Justice, Illinois 60458