Self-Guided Visit
Campus Visit
The theatre is located on the UW-Eau Claire campus. The exterior and surrounding campus grounds are accessible during regular campus hours.
- Duration:
- 30 min
No photograph
on file
on file
HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena — as catalogued
- 01Apparition in favorite seat
- 02Props going missing
- 03Lights activating on their own
- 04Curtains moving without cause
Theater / Performance Venue
Kjer Theatre at UW-Eau Claire
A UW-Eau Claire theatre named for drama professor Earl S. Kjer, who died at 61 in 1965 — and is still reported sitting in his favorite seat on opening nights.
105 Garfield Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 2 sources
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free to view from campus grounds; ticketed for performances. Check UWEC Theatre Arts for current production schedule.
Access
Wheelchair OK
UW-Eau Claire campus; indoor theatre with standard seating
Equipment
Photos OK
UW-Eau Claire performing arts history · Named for faculty who shaped regional theatre education
Earl S. Kjer built his career in drama and speech at what was then Wisconsin State University–Eau Claire, teaching for decades and guiding the development of the campus theatre program. He was a fixture of university arts life and was known, according to accounts from students and colleagues, for sitting in a particular seat during rehearsals and productions — watching, evaluating, invested in every performance.
Kjer died of a heart attack in 1965 at the age of 61. The university named the theatre in his honor, and the department continued operating out of the facility Kjer had helped develop over the course of his career.
The theatre at 105 Garfield Ave remains the home of UW-Eau Claire's Department of Theatre Arts. Productions are staged throughout the academic year for public audiences. It is a working educational theatre, not primarily a tourist destination, though its paranormal reputation has been covered by regional media repeatedly since at least the early 2000s.
Sources
- https://www.wqow.com/news/chippewa-valley/5-spooky-spots-reported-to-be-haunted-in-eau-claire/article_2c3fa5a0-4c0e-11ed-bd7b-9b8c57d89c7e.html
- https://volumeone.org/articles/2014/10/20/204860-10-real-chippewa-valley-haunts
Apparition in favorite seatProps going missingLights activating on their ownCurtains moving without cause
The haunting accounts at Kjer Theatre center on a consistent figure: Earl Kjer himself, still occupying his preferred seat as he did throughout his career. Staff working late have reported seeing a figure that disappears when they look directly at it. On opening nights — when Kjer was most reliably present during his lifetime — the apparition is reported sitting in his familiar seat by the front of the house.
Beyond sightings, Kjer is credited with interference in productions. Lights, props, and curtains reportedly activate or shift on their own during rehearsals and performances. The Volume One regional arts publication documented these accounts in 2014, drawing on interviews with campus community members. WQOW local news has covered the theatre's reputation separately.
The accounts are internally consistent across multiple independent sources: a figure identified as Kjer, associated with specific technical disruptions, concentrated around opening-night productions. No violent or distressing history underlies the claims; the reports read as a professor who simply has not left.
Notable Entities
Earl S. Kjer
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Guided Tour Booking Required
Attend a Performance
UW-Eau Claire Theatre Arts presents productions throughout the academic year at Kjer Theatre. Opening nights are when Kjer's apparition is most often reported by staff and students.
- Duration:
- 2 hr
Sources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
Similar Destinations
Theater / Performance Venue
Grand Theater Wausau
Wausau, WI
The Grand Theater opened in November 1927 on the site of the 1899 Grand Opera House, which it replaced after the original structure was demolished. It serves as Wausau's primary performing arts venue and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
$$ All Ages
Family: High
Theater / Performance Venue
Meyer Theatre
Green Bay, WI
The Meyer Theatre opened in 1930 as one of Green Bay's premier entertainment venues, built in the Art Deco style during the height of the movie palace era. The building has operated continuously as a performance venue and anchors the city's Washington Street arts district.
$$ All Ages (varies by performance)
Family: High
Theater / Performance Venue
Forum Theatre (Foundation of Arts)
Jonesboro, AR
Built in 1926 as the Strand Theatre, the Forum Theatre has operated as a downtown Jonesboro performance venue for nearly a century. The Foundation of Arts, a non-profit arts organization, has managed it for decades and continues to produce community theater and musical productions.
$$ All Ages
Family: High
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kjer Theatre at UW-Eau Claire family-friendly?
University theatre with regular public performances. Suitable for all ages attending shows. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Kjer Theatre at UW-Eau Claire?
Free to view from campus grounds; ticketed for performances. Check UWEC Theatre Arts for current production schedule. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Kjer Theatre at UW-Eau Claire wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Kjer Theatre at UW-Eau Claire is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: UW-Eau Claire campus; indoor theatre with standard seating.