Overnight Stay Booking Required
Stay at the Karsten
Book a room at the 1913 hotel on Ellis Street in Kewaunee. Room 310 is the room most often tied to the Agatha tradition in regional ghost-tourism coverage.
- Duration:
- 12 hr
No photograph
on file
Est. 1913on file
HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena — as catalogued
- 01Apparition (Agatha) in room 310
- 02Faucets running unattended
- 03Sounds of a child running upstairs
- 04Woman crying on second floor
+ 2 further entries on record
Haunted Hotel / Inn
The Historic Karsten Inn
1913 Kewaunee Hotel with Three Resident Spirits
122 Ellis St, Kewaunee, WI 54216
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages (bar 21+)
Cost
$$
Mid-range room rates; restaurant and bar on site.
Access
Limited Access
Three-story 1913 hotel with stairs and historic carved staircase
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1913 · Kewaunee Historic District · Lake Michigan Shore Innkeeping · William Karsten Sr.
The current Karsten building opened on February 14, 1913, as Hotel Karsten. The site had previously held a large wooden inn called the Steamboat House, which had burned down in the early 1910s just as the property came under William Karsten Sr.'s ownership. The new three-story hotel offered 52 rooms, a 90-seat dining room, and a separate bar entrance.
When William Karsten Sr. died in 1940, his son William Karsten Jr. took over operations and ran the hotel until his death twenty-four years later. The hotel then closed, and new owners purchased the property in 1966 and remodeled it. Regional retellings tie the onset of the building's ghost tradition to that 1966 remodel.
The hotel underwent a major restoration in 1991, at a cost of about $750,000, during which the reception desk, bar, carved staircase, lobby, and Victorian interior were reconstructed to approximate the building's 1913 appearance. Guest rooms were revamped at that time. The property has continued to operate as a hotel and restaurant under successive ownerships.
Sources
- https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/kewauneeinn
- https://hauntedus.com/wisconsin/karsten-inn/
- https://frightfind.com/the-historic-karsten-inn-kewaunee-inn/
Apparition (Agatha) in room 310Faucets running unattendedSounds of a child running upstairsWoman crying on second floorGlass-breaking sounds in barFlute music
The Karsten Inn's haunted reputation has circulated in regional travel writing for decades. Three named figures appear repeatedly in retellings: a former housekeeper called Agatha, most often associated with room 310, where faucets are reported to be found turned on; former owner William Karsten Sr., who ran the hotel from 1913 until 1940; and his son Billy Karsten Jr., who ran the hotel until his death in 1964.
Agatha is reported to knock over sugar bowls and salt shakers in the dining room and to appear suddenly in room 310. Additional reports collected over the years include unusual odors, sounds of breaking glass in the bar, sounds of a child running upstairs, flute music, undecipherable whispers, and sounds of a woman crying on the second floor. A shadow figure with a moving object has been reported in photographic accounts in the property's coverage.
Wisconsin Ghost Investigations conducted an investigation at the property in March 2002 and reported orbs, mist photography, apparitions in photos, and cold and hot spots. The investigation report contributes to the property's continued listing in Wisconsin haunted-tourism coverage.
Notable Entities
Agatha (former housekeeper)William Karsten Sr.Billy Karsten Jr.
Media Appearances
- Wisconsin Ghost Investigations report (March 2002)
- NBC 26 — Karsten Hotel Paranormal Investigation
- OnMilwaukee — Psst ... hey, buddy, wanna buy a haunted hotel?
Plan Your Visit
2 ways to experience Dinner
Bar and Dining Room
Eat in the 90-seat dining room and bar with its original 1913 footprint and reconstructed Victorian carved staircase. The bar's separate entrance is a continuous feature of the building.
- Duration:
- 1.5 hr
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Sources & Further Reading
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Historic Karsten Inn family-friendly?
Working hotel suitable for families; the bar area is 21+. Ghost-tourism coverage is openly part of the property's marketing. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit The Historic Karsten Inn?
Mid-range room rates; restaurant and bar on site.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is The Historic Karsten Inn wheelchair accessible?
The Historic Karsten Inn has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Three-story 1913 hotel with stairs and historic carved staircase.