Red Wing Haunted History Walking Tour

It was way back in May 1823 when a steamship chugged up the mighty Mississippi River and moored, for the first time, at the Mdewakanton Sioux settlement of Red Wing . In the decades that followed, trade and tourism transformed the tribal land into a thriving town, and plans for the St. James Hotel were drawn up to give weary visitors a place to lay their heads. But when laborers were digging out the foundations, the discovery of skeletal remains in a burial ground was a stark reminder of the town’s Native American heritage.
Ever since then, St. James Hotel has been the epicenter of Red Wing’s paranormal mysteries. Tales are told of phantom floating heads emerging from the darkness, mysterious noises in the bowels of the basement, and the domineering presence of deceased owner, Clara Lillyblad.

Join us on this fully narrated 1.5-hour experience – Red Wing's first haunted history walking tour! See the Itinerary section below for a sample of the stops.

Meeting Point

418 Levee St

418 Levee St, Red Wing, MN 55066, USA

418 Levee Street in front of the Red Wing Depot

What to expect:

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Sheldon Theatre of Performing Arts

443 W 3rd St, Red Wing, 55066-2310, Minnesota

Built in 1904 by Annie Sheldon, the wife of a local business leader, the Sheldon Theatre takes pride of place at the heart of the Red Wing community. Annie was, by all accounts, quite the force of nature, and even in death her presence can still be felt around the grand auditorium.

15 minutes

Liberty's Restaurant and Lounge

303 W 3rd St, Red Wing, MN 55066, USA

This historic building has housed many different businesses down the decades, from a shoemaker’s and a clothing store to a pool hall. It’s also rumored to have been a speakeasy during the dark days of prohibition, and even a brothel. One thing’s for sure, it offers fascinating insight into Red Wing’s colorful past.

15 minutes

St. James Hotel, 1875 - A Historic Hotel of America

406 Main St, Red Wing, MN 55066, USA

This grand old hotel has been welcoming guests to Red Wing for over a hundred years, but its location is far from ideal. The property was built on Native American burial grounds, and stories abound of creepy goings-on, unexplained cold spots, and ghostly whispers.

15 minutes

Caribou Coffee

726 Main St, Red Wing, MN 55066, USA

Dating back to 1906, this historic building was originally a Chicago Great Western Railway train depot. If the walls could talk, what tales would they tell? Fond farewells of brave soldiers off to war, never to be seen again? Or heavy-machinery accidents where lives were lost? It makes you wonder, could those tales help explain the paranormal activity felt here...?

15 minutes

Colvill Park

515 Nymphara Lane, , Red Wing, Minnesota

Colonel William Colvill is Minnesota’s best-known Civil War hero, remembered for commanding the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment. His story is inextricably linked to the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, with heroic tales of fierce fighting, valor, and bravery.

15 minutes

Home Plate Grill & the Dugout Lounge

227 Bush St, Red Wing, MN 55066, USA

Much more than a traditional sports bar, the Home Plate Grill & Dugout Lounge offers upscale food as well as live music. But if you know musicians, you know that they are often reluctant to leave the stage, even after death. Learn how this new establishment has been conjuring some interesting hauntings in this historic building.

15 minutes

What's included:

• An expert paranormal storyteller guide