The Haunting of Spirit Lake

Photo: Wikipedia

Kootenai County – Spirit Lake, Idaho

Spirit Lake, nestled in the northern panhandle of Idaho, is a place of serene beauty — tall pines, clear waters, and peaceful stillness. But behind its postcard-perfect surface lies a legend soaked in sorrow. The lake’s name isn’t just poetic — it’s literal. For generations, this has been known as the resting place of a wandering spirit.

Long ago, tribal folklore tells of a young woman and a warrior from rival groups who fell in love. Forbidden by their people to be together, the couple chose death over separation. On a still, moonlit night, they paddled a canoe into the center of the lake and never returned. Some say they drowned by choice. Others say they were pulled under by something far more sinister.

To this day, people report strange activity on the lake. The most common tale is that of the spirit woman — seen beneath the surface, her face pale, her hair flowing in the current, her hands reaching upward. Some have seen her standing at the edge of the water, vanishing the moment they try to speak. Others hear soft weeping carried on the wind.

Boaters often experience equipment malfunctions in the same area said to be the lovers’ watery grave. There are even reports of phantom canoes appearing in the mist, drifting soundlessly before disappearing without a ripple. In the early morning fog, her presence seems closest — watching, waiting.

Is she searching for her lost love? Or warning others not to repeat her fate?

Whether folklore or fact, Spirit Lake continues to live up to its name — quiet, haunting, and unforgettable.

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Visitor Info

📍 Spirit Lake, Idaho
Public lake with access via Spirit Lake City Park and surrounding areas
📞 Spirit Lake City Hall: (208) 623-2131

The Haunting of Summerwind Mansion: Whispers from the Northwoods

Location: Vilas County, Wisconsin

Tucked deep in the woods of Vilas County, Wisconsin, the ruins of Summerwind Mansion — once called Lamont Mansion — are now a ghostly skeleton of what was meant to be a lakeside dream home. But for those who dare to wander near the remains, the decaying foundation still breathes with whispers from another world.

Originally built in the early 20th century and later purchased in the 1960s by Arnold and Ginger Hinshaw, Summerwind was meant to be a family retreat. But it quickly became a house of horrors. The Hinshaws reported bizarre activity almost immediately: unexplained noises, doors opening and closing on their own, eerie shadows flitting down the halls. Arnold began behaving erratically, sometimes playing the organ late into the night in a trance-like state. Ginger claimed she saw a ghostly man in the basement, dressed in period clothing, standing silently before vanishing.

Eventually, the family fled. Arnold ended up in a mental institution. Ginger returned to her parents' home, and the house stood empty once again.

But the tale doesn’t stop there. Years later, Ginger’s father, Raymond Bober, a self-proclaimed spiritual researcher, moved in and declared that the mansion was haunted by the spirit of Jonathan Carver, an 18th-century British explorer. Bober claimed Carver’s ghost was angry because his land grant — supposedly buried on the property — had been ignored and desecrated. He even wrote a book about his experiences titled The Carver Effect, insisting that supernatural forces prevented any renovation or sale of the house.

Others who visited over the years reported windows that changed size, rooms that shifted shape, and a general sense of malevolence that left them sick, shaken, or panicked. No attempts to renovate or live in the home ever lasted.

Then, in 1988, lightning struck the property and the mansion burned to the ground. Only the basement and stone foundation remain — but that hasn’t stopped people from visiting. Paranormal investigators, thrill-seekers, and skeptics alike report continued activity: whispers in the trees, disembodied voices, cold spots, malfunctioning equipment, and a lingering feeling of dread.

Some say Summerwind Mansion doesn’t want to be found, that the land itself has a will. GPS systems glitch. Maps become unreliable. Directions lead nowhere.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, Summerwind’s story is one of the strangest and most chilling in all of Wisconsin. And with the house gone, only one question remains: Was it the spirits… or the land itself… that refused to let anyone stay?

The Haunting of The Wyoming Frontier Prison Rawlins

Photo: Wikipedia

Rawlins, Carbon County, Wyoming

A Cold Cell, A Colder History

Built in 1901 and closed in 1981, the Wyoming Frontier Prison housed some of the state’s most dangerous criminals — and now, it may house their ghosts. With its stone walls, claustrophobic cells, and chilling execution chamber, the prison left behind more than just a brutal legacy. Visitors and staff alike have reported paranormal activity that suggests some inmates never left.

Inside, the temperature is said to drop dramatically in certain areas, even during warm months. Disembodied voices echo down empty corridors. Doors slam shut on their own. Apparitions of former inmates have been seen pacing cellblocks or staring through the bars. One infamous hotspot is Death Row, where a thick sense of dread lingers in the air — and where people have heard whispering, footsteps, or felt icy hands brushing against them.

The Execution Chamber

Perhaps the most disturbing room is the gas chamber, installed in 1936. Over a dozen men were executed here, and several more by hanging in earlier years. Paranormal investigators have reported electromagnetic spikes, ghostly moans, and equipment malfunctions in this space — often after asking questions aloud, as if something is still listening… or answering.

The ghost of Andrew Pixley, executed in 1965 for the murder of two young girls, is said to still haunt the prison. Some claim his remorseful energy has imprinted itself on the facility. Others sense anger, confusion, or simply the restless presence of souls long trapped behind stone and steel.

Ghost Tours and First-Hand Encounters

Today, the prison offers guided ghost tours and paranormal investigations for brave visitors. Many guests leave with chilling stories of their own — including shadowy figures, camera malfunctions, sudden illness, or unexplained scratches appearing on their skin. One visitor claimed to hear a man say, “Get out,” in her ear when no one was nearby. Another caught an EVP of the word “help” in a vacant cell.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the Wyoming Frontier Prison radiates the weight of its dark history. For nearly 80 years, it was a place of punishment, execution, isolation, and desperation — and such emotions don’t always rest in peace.