Self-Guided Visit
Visit the Bar
A functioning neighborhood bar in downtown La Crosse. Staff have reported a disembodied female voice and recurring sounds of giggling in empty hallways.
- Duration:
- 1 hr
No photograph
on file
on file
HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena — as catalogued
- 01Disembodied female voice
- 02Disembodied giggling
- 03Voice commanding maintenance worker to leave
Haunted Dining / Bar
Del's Bar
A La Crosse saloon operating since the city's founding era where staff report a disembodied female voice ordering workers out of the women's restroom and recurring giggling in empty hallways.
229 3rd St, La Crosse, WI 54601
Research updated June 2026
Age
21+
Cost
$
Bar; standard drink prices
Access
Limited Access
Street-level bar in historic downtown building
Equipment
Photos OK
Long-operating La Crosse saloon · Downtown Mississippi River commercial district · Footsteps of La Crosse ghost tour stop
Del's Bar at 229 3rd St occupies a building in downtown La Crosse's historic commercial district, which developed rapidly in the mid-19th century as the city became a Mississippi River trade hub. La Crosse's 3rd Street corridor was part of a dense network of saloons, boarding houses, and entertainment establishments that served river workers, railroad employees, and the general population.
The bar has operated under various names and ownerships over the decades, with 'Del's Bar' being the current designation. Precise founding records are not available in the sources reviewed, but local sources characterize it as one of the city's long-standing drinking establishments with roots going back to La Crosse's founding era.
The Footsteps of La Crosse ghost tour includes Del's Bar as a regular stop, alongside other downtown locations with paranormal reputations, placing it within the city's recognized heritage tourism circuit.
Sources
- https://footstepsoflacrosse.org/ghost-and-dark-tours
- https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/dels-bar/
Disembodied female voiceDisembodied gigglingVoice commanding maintenance worker to leave
The most specific paranormal account tied to Del's Bar involves a male maintenance worker who was addressed by a disembodied female voice while working in or near the women's restroom. The voice ordered him to leave; no one was found on the premises who could have spoken. The account is documented by the Haunted Places database alongside the 229 3rd St address.
Additionally, staff report recurring sounds of giggling in empty hallways — a pattern consistent enough to have become part of the bar's local reputation. The Footsteps of La Crosse walking tour includes Del's Bar as a named stop, indicating the accounts have enough credibility to anchor a commercial heritage product.
No historical death or specific incident has been identified in available sources as the origin of the reported activity. The phenomena rest on staff testimony.
Plan Your Visit
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Featured on these tours
Ghosts of Historic La Crosse Walking Tour (Footsteps of La Crosse)
This La Crosse tour includes Del's Bar on its route.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Del's Bar family-friendly?
21+ bar. Ghost phenomena involve audio rather than visual scares. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Del's Bar?
Bar; standard drink prices
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Del's Bar wheelchair accessible?
Del's Bar has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Street-level bar in historic downtown building.