St. Louis is a city with history, and that means some corners of the metro are home to the inexplicable. St. Louisans are no strangers to paranormal experiences and encounters. This Halloween, we’re looking at two places in the city that are home to some haunted history.
lemp mansion
When John Adam Lemp left Eschege, Germany, in 1838, his humble beginnings as a grocer turned into founding the first lager brewery in the United States. William J. Lemp succeeded his father as the head of the brewery, but his legacy would take a darker turn, helping create one of St. Louis’ greatest paranormal mysteries: Is the Lemp Mansion haunted?
The mansion was built in the early 1860s. William purchased it as a residence and auxiliary brewery office. The property would be the site of several tragedies related to the downfall of Lemp Brewery. Following the unexpected death of his son and heir apparent Frederick, William would take his own life in 1904. Unable to weather the impact of Prohibition, William Lemp Jr. would also choose to end his life in 1922, and later, his brother Charles died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the house.
With the mansion’s dark history, it’s not surprising that frightening occurrences have been reported. Lemp Mansion historian and paranormal guide Tim Trunnell notes that people have had a wide range of experiences. “Orbs in photographs are very common as are figures in the background or faces in mirrors,” he says. “People have reported hearing mysterious voices or encountering phantom animals, including dogs, birds and cats. Overnight guests have reported feeling someone sitting on the edge of their bed or looking over them while they sleep.”
Trunnell has his own share of ghost stories from his time at Lemp Mansion. He’s felt a hand on his shoulder while alone, witnessed drawers open and close and heard mysterious tapping. His wife has seen a dog that wasn’t there. His first paranormal experience, however, is the one that stuck with him the most. “I was doing photography in one of the rooms,” he recalls. “I was in the corner to get the correct angle, and directly behind me, I heard a man’s voice clearly say, ‘Get out.’ Knowing everything I do now, I believe it was William. I still shiver thinking about it.”
There are several ways to explore the paranormal at Lemp Mansion. The property regularly offers different ghost tours. Haunted History Tours with Betsy Burnett-Belanger offers insight into the property and Lemp family. Spirits with the Spirits is a guided tour with opportunities to make contact with equipment like dowsing rods, scrying charts and electronic devices. The Lemp Experience gives guests the chance to step into the shoes of a paranormalist and explore the mansion with basic ghost hunting tools. “Each tour has its own approach, so there is something for everyone,” Trunnell notes. “And if ghosts aren’t for you, we’ve got plenty of other events.”
For more information, visit lempmansion.com.
soulard
Not far from Lemp Mansion, Soulard is home to its own share of stories of spooks and spirits. Since 2025, the Historical Committee of the Soulard Restoration Group has hosted the “Spirits of Soulard” ghost tour, highlighting paranormal activity in the area. “When we started researching neighborhood history, the goal wasn’t to find ghost stories,” committee secretary Neil Putz explains. “However, with homes that date back 150 to 200 years, it’s impossible to find properties that have not been the site of death, whether natural causes or otherwise.”
The walking tour takes small groups to different homes and businesses throughout Soulard. Tours are led by Soulard residents dressed in Victorian-era clothing. At each stop, property owners are on hand to share the history of location as well as their own paranormal encounters. “Our tour is unique because guests aren’t just hearing ghost stories,” Putz notes. “They get to listen to first-hand accounts of unexplained occurrences while learning the historical context.” Proceeds for the annual tour benefit the Soulard Restorations Group’s preservation efforts in the neighborhood.
Tour stops have included homes that have witnessed multiple deaths before 1900 and businesses that have reported unexplained experiences over the years. “There’s a cafe and bar where patrons and staff have experienced phantom touches,” Putz says. “There also are regular sightings of a nurse. Historical research shows that the upstairs of the property was previously a medical facility and pharmacy.” A home featured on the tour has reports of spirit in its yard. Using historic newspapers, it was discovered that the alley beside the home was the site of murder in 1897, when a man was stabbed by his younger brother.
As a resident of Soulard, Putz has not had his own paranormal encounter. “I’m not sensitive to the supernatural—I don’t know if that’s a blessing or a curse,” he notes. “My wife is more in tune with the paranormal. She had several experiences in a home we previously lived in.”
While the Spirits of Soulard is a new tradition, Putz is excited to see it continue into the future. The plan is for the tour to be a unique experience each year, highlighting different parts of the neighborhood. The 2026 tour explored North Soulard, one of the oldest sections of the area. “Thinking ahead to next year, we’re considering Central Soulard, along Shenandoah Avenue,” Putz says. “Soulard is the first historical district in St. Louis. We’ve got plenty of history left to cover for years to come.”
For more information, visit soulard.org.
