Mason House Inn Ghost Hunt Sleepover, Bentonsport, Iowa
Built in 1846 as a lodging for steamboat travelers, The Mason House Inn in Bentonsport still operates today! During this time, it’s built up quite a haunted reputation and is regarded by many as the most haunted lodging in Iowa!
Event time: 8PM – 2AM CT
Limited Spaces Available!
(8PM – 9AM) Ghost Hunt + Room & Breakfast = $159 per person
Ghost Hunt Only (finishes at 2am and doesn’t include room) = $99 per person
Private rooms for the ghost hunt + sleepover require at least two people sharing. *Bookings for the sleepover, therefore, have a two-person minimum. Two tickets guarantee a private room for up to two people.
This 170+ year old Inn is one of the most haunted inns in the country!
The event includes a ghost hunt, equipment, snacks and refreshments, lodging, and breakfast!!
Built in 1846 as a place for steamboat travelers to rest, the Mason House Inn has been drawing in paranormal enthusiasts for decades. During this time it’s built up quite a haunted reputation. Regarded by many as the most haunted place in the whole state of Iowa!
According to the owners, there are at least 5 spirits that they know of that call the inn home with countless more reported. It’s had three of its owners die in the inn, 1 guest was murdered, it was used as a hospital during the Civil War, and again during 1920-1940 by a doctor who treated patients in the inn. He died here of Diptheria along with several of his patients. And you can only speculate how many people died here during the Civil War…
The Spirits of the Mason House Inn
George
There’s the spirit of a young boy that they call George. His apparition has been seen on the landing, he likes to play tricks on guests and is believed to move things around the house, knock on doors, and poke and tug at your clothes.
In one instance a guest was lying in bed asleep in room 5, when he was awoken by a tug on his pajamas, thinking it was his wife asking him to turn over, he tried but his arm just would not budge, upon waking he panicked remembering his wife wasn’t with him on this trip and there was something/someone tugging at his pajamas before his very eyes that he couldn’t see!
Needless to say, he didn’t go back to sleep after that. He was a man of God and didn’t believe in ghosts, but that experience forever changed his mind.
Old Lady in White / Mary Mason Clarke
Another ghost at this historic inn is that of an old lady on the third floor, south bedroom (which is used for storage). Her apparition has been seen in a white nightgown standing in the doorway of the north bedroom on the third floor. She was clearly visible for a second or two and then disappeared!
People staying in room 5 which is directly below the south bedroom, have reported hearing thumping sounds coming from the empty room above them like someone was dropping something or stamping on the floor. Another guest complained about a constant squeaking sound coming from above them, which sounded like an old rocking chair.
Mr. McDermet, [a retired Congregationalist Minister who bought the inn in 1989], saw the ghost of Mary Mason Clark on the third floor. He had his office in that south bedroom and he would often look up from his desk to see her sitting in a chair by the window. She told him she was not happy with the renovations they were doing on the house. The McDermets turned ten bedrooms into five two-room suites with private baths in all the rooms. This meant taking out some walls and putting in others.
When they were re-wallpapering in Room 5, they would find all the paper stripped off and they would put it back up, only to find it stripped again the next morning. On the third morning, they found the wallpaper sample book on the floor, laying open to a certain page. They bought that wallpaper and put it up. The paper stayed in place and is still there.
Mr. Knapp
There’s a newspaper cut out detailing a murder that took place in the inn. A Mr. Knapp was stabbed in the heart and died in one of the rooms. He was trying to get into a bed that was already occupied. (He had been visiting the tavern and was confused as to which room was his.) The man in the bed thought he was being robbed, took a saber out of his walking stick, and stabbed Mr. Knapp in the heart.
Several guests who are sensitive to the spirit world have said that something violent happened in Room 7, and there’s a real heavy presence in there, leading many to believe this is the room in which Mr. Knapp was murdered. Often times you can hear footsteps in the room when there’s nobody there, upon checking it looks as if someone is lying on the bed. Could it be Mr. Knapp still trying to retire for the night?
Fannie Mason Kurtz
The last Mason to own the house, she died in the dining room by the fireplace in 1951. Her spirit was felt by another guest who was a sensitive, who kept looking at the fireplace and then around the room then back at the fireplace. Finally, she shared with the owners that a lady had died next to the fireplace in a rocking chair. It turns out that Fannie Mason Kurtz did die there when she was 84, and she was dead for three days before anyone checked on her and found her body.
The Old Man
The ghost of an old gaunt man with white hair has been seen on the second floor. He’s known to appear in mirrors, disappearing when you turn around. His head is what’s most prominent, with the rest of his body often a column of fog. Often in room 8, in one instance the owner’s daughter witnessed the head of an old man with white hair floating across the room in the dead of night! Quite a sight!
This inn is full of history, and who knows how many other spirits are lurking here.
This is going to be an amazing night of ghost hunting but it’s not for the faint of heart.
You’ll be sleeping in the very rooms you’ve been investigating.
Maybe you’ll awake to find a floating head, or come face to face with the old lady in white!
Tickets are extremely limited!
Book Now to Avoid Disappointment
Event Details
Time: 8:00 PM – 2 AM
Location: The Mason House Inn, 21982 Hawk Dr, Keosauqua, IA 52565
Guests are strongly advised to bring extra warm clothing with them for colder nights.
Ample parking is available on the property.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
- Paranormal investigation class for the beginner, a separate workshop for returning guests.
- Full night of ghost hunting with the Haunted Rooms team,
- Full access to the property,
- Use of state of the art paranormal equipment,
- Free time to investigate for as long into the night as you want!
- Have the full experience and stay in one of the haunted hotel rooms of one of the MOST haunted places in Iowa!
- Full Breakfast included
- Snacks and drinks provided all night!
Are you brave enough to investigate and stay over at this unique and very active haunted location?
Book now to avoid disappointment!
What to Bring?
Please bring with you a form of photo ID, and a printed off booking confirmation email (or show this on your phone).
We will be providing you with paranormal equipment to use, however, we will need something of value per group to hold onto as collateral (phone, car keys, watch, etc.)
We will be providing snacks and drinks at intervals throughout the night.
And of course, bring your phone/camera with you, the more pictures we have the better chance we have of capturing something!
Other than that, just yourself and an open mind!
History
The Mason House Inn was originally built in 1846 and was previously called the Ashland House. Its owner was William Robinson. The purpose of Ashland House was to serve the steamboat travelers who were sailing from St. Louis to Fort Des Moines. In 1857, the Ashland House was bought by Lewis Mason and his wife, Nancy. They renamed it the Phoenix Hotel, however, the people who lived in the surrounding area called it Mason’s House and the name has stuck with it throughout the years. Lewis’ wife Nancy started the tradition of “a cookie jar in a room” and until now that tradition has been kept.
The Mason House has withstood 5 major floods throughout the years and it still stands to this day. The house was used as a hospital during the Civil War. In 1913, it was used as a sanitarium for tuberculosis patients. From 1920 to 1950, the house became a boarding house ran by Lewis Mason’s granddaughter. The house was sold to Herbert and Burretta Redhead and they turned it into a museum and bed and breakfast and listed it on the National Register of Historic Places. They ran the business for 33 years. In 1989, Bill and Sheral McDermott purchased the inn and did extensive refurbishing. The current owners, Joy and Chuck Hanson, bought the inn in 2001.
FAQ
What Should I Expect on a Ghost Hunt?
Become a paranormal investigator for the night like the TV stars of Most haunted, ghost adventures or TAPS Ghost hunters.
Use some of the specialized equipment and be guided by experienced paranormal investigators who will share their knowledge, techniques and experiences of hunting for ghosts or spirits.
Feel free to bring along any of your own equipment including but not limited to EVP recorders, flashlights, cameras or video cameras.
Bring extra clothing as in some parts old buildings may get cold but please refrain from wearing clothing that can cause distracting sounds. Many old buildings have a story to tell and we will supply them to you along with of course the ghost stories.
There will be breaks and light refreshments are provided.
We are not out to try and convince the world of the existence of an afterlife. That’s for you to decide.
We can be Sceptical and logical yet open to other beliefs and prayers of protection will be carried out.
We do not perform tricks and will not be running around with sheets on our heads!
You will be with like-minded people looking for the answer “is there really an afterlife”?
However much we try unfortunately we can’t guarantee that members of the spirit world will make their presence known but we can at least guarantee that you will experience a fun and interesting night.
Do I receive an actual ticket?
The event is ticketless. Your proof of booking is your booking confirmation email. You will also receive an email with important information prior to your event, usually the week of.
Is there any age limit of who can attend these events?
The age limit is 18 years and over.
Will there be a Medium at the event?
All events listed on Haunted Rooms are hosted by experienced Hosts and Professional Psychic/Clairvoyant Mediums. However sometimes a Medium(s) may not always be present – but as usual, you will be in very safe hands with our experienced Hosts who have a wealth of knowledge and are fully trained in all aspects of professional public ghost hunting events and experience nights.
Can I sleep at an event?
Unless it is otherwise stated, events don’t include sleepover.
Will I see a Ghost?
Unfortunately, activity will not just happen on command, however using the various experiments and experienced hosts on the events, everything will be done to offer the best chance of spiritual activity.
Location
Reviews
Rating
We investigated the USS William A. Irvin in Duluth MN. It was a great experience, everyone was super friendly and helped whenever they could! if you are debating on signing up. Just do it! we had alot of fun!
Investigated Mortuary Manor in Toledo with my daughter. The guides were extremely knowledgeable about the equipment and different techniques to attempt to communicate with spirits. The owner was very very nice and was actively trying to help in any way he could. We had a very small group of 5 so we had the run of the place. It was a lot of fun and I definitely recommend to anyone interested in the paranormal. We definitely had some activity during the night. The experience made me want to try out other locations if I can. There were a few graduation parties going on in the area the night I was there so, I’d like to go back and see what I can find when it’s a little more quiet in the beginning of the night but it was a great experience!
Bought this as a gift to my brother. I went in not expecting much but had a great time at Valerie Hill winery. We caught some pretty cool stuff and he had a great Estes session. Highly recommend.
Everything was well organized and smooth. There was no gimmick, it started off as a quiet night paranormal wise, maybe because there was a long game of soccer going on right outside. Nothing to be done about that. Mid-Orange Correctional facility is now also part sports complex. The guides demonstrate tools used for investigating and even though the night started quiet, they didn’t hype up every little sound. They debunked sounds and explained what to look for. By 1am my husband and I ran into a group that came with their own equipment and had returned to a spot they had previously had activity. They welcomed us to join them and my EMF meter flew to red pretty steadily. They brought out the dowsing rod and it pointed at me directly so I was asked if I would hold it. I have never really understood how people don’t move the rods themselves. When I held it I realized there is a sleeve on the handle. So you’re not touching the rod. The rod was very responsive and corresponded with the EMF consistently for a few minutes. Anyway, what I liked most is it seems like the community cares. Everyone in the group checked in on my comfort. It was my favorite part of the night.
My son and I had a truly unforgettable experience at the Rock Island Roadhouse. The team that ran this event were all very knowledgeable of the history of the location as well as all of the equipment that they use. There were I think around 50 people total that attended and they broke us out into 4 separate groups. The first 4 hours of the night that were spent in the group setting taking turns with each team member didn't have much activity going on, however, once we were able to explore on our own the last 2 hours, we had some AMAZING activity! We even picked up what sounded like two whispering words in response to our questions! I highly recommend this group!
Did the Battleship North Carolina on April 3rd. I've already booked again for August. The hosts (Both physical and spiritual) were amazing. Recorded several EVP's throughout the night. Some very strong responses with dousing rods. Always skeptical about them, but there were strong responses, especially when we started talking to them like the military members they were. At one point I asked if they wished they had women on Battleships, he replied with a strong "Yes" and my Ghost Box replied with the word "Seductive". He really liked one of the young ladies with us. Turns out she was 18 and he was 20 when he died. Can't wait to do this again!
Just did a tour with this group on the Battleship North Carolina. Absolutely wonderful experience!! My husband and I will definitely be booking again. The leaders are super nice, respectful, and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend!!
Just finished our VIP overnight at Hotel Metropolitan in Paducah! Ms. Venita and Julie were the absolute best! They both made sure we knew what we were doing with equipment, and gave us a fantastic guided tour and explained the history so well. Venita especially made an impression on my group. She is super friendly and definitely knows what she's doing. Can't wait to see her again! I wouldn't want anyone else!
My dad, my sister-in-law, and I stayed at The Metropolitan for a paranormal investigation, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and full of history — but what made our stay exceptional was the incredible staff, Julie and Venita. These two amazing women went above and beyond the entire time we were there. They walked us through all the investigation equipment, helped guide us throughout the night, and made us feel completely comfortable and right at home. Their hospitality was top-notch — from the snacks and drinks they provided to the delicious hot chocolate they made for us during our late-night exploring. Their kindness, patience, and passion for what they do turned our stay into something truly special. If you’re looking for a place filled with charm, comfort, and staff who genuinely care, The Metropolitan Hotel is the perfect choice. Our overnight stay exceeded every expectation. Highly recommend! I wouldn't want anyone else to tour with!! 👻✨🍫
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