Just three blocks away from the shores of Lake Michigan, the Pfister Hotel welcomes guests with a priceless Victorian art collection which can easily rival collections from other hotels in the world. Aside from its beauty, the hotel is also very popular for its ghostly residents.
Ghosts of The Pfister Hotel
The famed Pfister Hotel is one of the haunted locations in Wisconsin, and arguably one of the most haunted hotels in the country. It is a historical landmark in Milwaukee, which is the home of professional baseball and basketball teams whenever they are in town.
Major league baseball players have reported a wide range of paranormal activity when they stayed in the hotel. Some of the things they reported are electrical anomalies, object manipulations and apparitions.
There are a lot of ghost stories from ballplayers tied to the Pfister Hotel, but perhaps the best of the lot is from Michael Young, the former Rangers infielder. Here he is in an interview describing his experience:
“Listen, I’m not someone who spreads ghost stories, so if I’m telling you this, it happened,” Young said. “A couple of years ago, I was lying in bed after a night game, and I was out. My room was locked, but I heard these footsteps inside my room, stomping around. I’d heard all these stories about this hotel, so I was wide awake at that point. And then I heard it again, these footsteps on the floor, so I yelled out, ‘Hey! Make yourself at home. Hang out, have a seat, but do not wake me up, OK?’ After that, I didn’t hear a thing for the rest of the night. I just let him know he was welcome, that we could be pals, that he could marinate in there for as long as he needed to, just as long as he didn’t wake me up.”
Adrian Beltre, a former player for the L.A. Dodgers, said in Sports Illustrated that he heard knocking in the hallway and on his door. He went out to investigate but found no one. Later, he saw the air conditioning and the televisions switch on and off by themselves.
When he was sleeping, he was awakened by pounding noises from behind his headboard. He was so scared that he took a bat with him to bed for protection. He was only able to sleep for two hours during his three-night stay.
Carlos Gomez, a baseball player for the Minnesota Twins at the time, also experienced something paranormal a day before his big game. He heard disembodied voices then saw his iPod switch on by itself. The iPod then began vibrating wildly and almost fell to the floor. He put the iPod back on the table when it started doing the same thing again.
As well as the many reports of mischievous activity and electrical malfunctions, several guests have also reported seeing the apparition of an elderly gentleman, thought to be the spirit of none other than the hotel’s founder, Charles Pfister walking the halls.
See more haunted hotels in Wisconsin
History
The Pfister Hotel was built in 1893 $1 million as a “Grand Hotel of the West”. It’s been the premier accommodation downtown in Milwaukee ever since. To this day, it continues to serve guests from all over the world and sticks to its tradition of providing gracious style and impeccable service to visitors.
During a period of decline in the late 50’s early 60’s, the hotel was purchased by Ben Marcus, who was determined to bring the hotel back to its former glory. Several years of renovations took place and some significant additions were made, including a new 23-story guest room tower.
Over the years the Pfister has played host to many dignitaries, and the most famous musicians and actors of the time. The most historic hotel in Wisconsin, The Pfister is a member of the elite Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The hotel is also a perennial winner of the AAA Four Diamond Award.
About
The Pfister Hotel serves guests with superior accommodations. All of the hotel’s rooms and suites have magnificent furnishings and are all smoke-free. The hotel has 307 rooms which combine contemporary luxury and the charm of the Old World. With views of the Hotel Michigan offers relaxation and incredible views to guests.
There are 82 suites which have wet bars and sitting rooms. The Heritage suites have separate baths and showers, vanities, beautiful bathrooms, and California-sized beds. The King suites are located in the historical section of the hotel. The King suite has two rooms; a parlor and a bedroom with one king bed. There is also a pull-out sofa sleeper in the parlor room. The Tower King and Tower double rooms are deluxe rooms which have spectacular views of the city and Lake Michigan. The Pfister double room are deluxe rooms which are located in the section of the hotel which was renovated in 2008. The Pfister’s Governor suite is a three-room suite that includes a desk, a flat-screen television, make-up mirrors, hairdryers, and other amenities.
Mason Street Grill is the hotel’s martini lounge which is located on the 23rd floor. The grill serves high-quality wood-grilled steaks, excellent sandwiches, and delicious homemade desserts. The welcoming staff will make you feel right at home. The Blu Bar and Lounge is also located on the hotel’s 23rd floor and they serve the city’s best fondue. For dinner reservations, the Guest Service Department is ready to assist. Whatever your needs are, be it extra pillows or other special requests, there is room 24-hour room service.
Features
- Wireless Internet service
- Deluxe WELL spa toiletries
- Iron and ironing board
- Safes in every room
- Cordless phones
- LCD flat-panel televisions
- Featherbed toppers and blankets
- 24-hour movies
- Hairdryers
- Concierge
- Valet parking
Things to Do
Milwaukee is the city for sports fans. Visitors can go to Miller Park to catch a game of baseball of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Bradley Center is also a venue for various sports and entertainment events such as hockey and basketball. Milwaukee is also noted for its museums. Some of the best places to go if you want to catch a glimpse of the city’s history are the Discovery World Museum, Betty Brin Children’s Museum, and the Milwaukee Public Museum.
Milwaukee is also famed for its various year-round festivals. Most festivals happen during summer. The world’s largest music festival, the Summerfest Grounds, features 11 days of renowned entertainment on 12 different music stages. There is also the German Fest and the Irish Fest.
Room Tariffs
- Pfister Double rooms start at $259
- Pfister king suites start at $299
- Pfister double suites start at $299
- Tower double rooms start at $259
- Tower King rooms start at $259