Madison Capitol Square Spirits Ghost Walk
Madison's oldest streets — the Fess Hotel, the Majestic Theatre, and the haunted bars of Capitol Square.
"Do you think he can hear us? Do you think he can hear us?" That's the dialogue the business owner off the Capitol Square's East Main street could make out when he woke up with a start after bookkeeping on a late night in his downstairs office. Thinking that it was his employees he opened his door to find the lights off and all of his bartenders already gone home. That's when he remembered that his music venue used to be a funeral home and the weird experiences the people who renovated the basement told him about. He laughed it off as just a dream until he came back into the office, shut the door, and this time, completely awake, he heard the voices again…
And that is only the beginning of the stories you discover about Madison's King Street and Capitol Square, the oldest part of the city, on this tour.
Take a walking tour of Madison's historic King Street and get a unique perspective on the history of the city. Your expert storyteller will let you in on the ghost stories, urban legends, and paranormal activity that are sprinkled throughout Madison's past.
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What To Expect
The Madison Ghost Walk was originally developed by Mike Huberty who started the first ghost tour in Wisconsin's capital city in 2010. Our original research is the foundation of this haunted history tour where we interview the real experiencers, explore historical records, talk to local business owners to give you Madison ghost stories that no other tour can offer.
Check out one of your Madison guides telling a ghost story on WISC-TV
Tour Highlights
- ▸A psychic did a ghost hunt in the Great Dane Pub and Brewery sponsored by a local newspaper, and said she felt the spirit of an old man in the basement break room. She said he was kind and there was nothing to worry about. But that's not the one they call "The Spooky Room."
- ▸The Wisconsin State Capitol has experienced its share of tragedy. Do the ghosts of the workmen who perished in a tragic 1883 accident still walk the South Wing?
- ▸Joe, an actor who sadly ended his own life, was said to haunt the dressing room at the Majestic Theatre for years but he's not the strangest spirit that inhabits the building...
- ▸Madison's King Street is the oldest part of the city and its been entertaining the living people since the building of the Capitol in the 1850s. We invite you to learn of its secrets, scoundrels, and scares…
Check out our Madison tour founder talking about haunted history and Shark Tank on WISC-TV
Itinerary
Meet your guide at Across from the Great Dane Brewpub, Madison — At the corner of King Street and South Webster — 125 S. Webster in your GPS. Look for the office building with the arch..
- 1
Great Dane Brewpub
Meet the ghosts of The Fess Hotel, built in 1850 as "The Hotel for the Common Man" — is it now the brewery for the common ghost?
- 2
Majestic Theatre
Built in 1906, the Majestic Theatre is the oldest theater in Madison. A strange bodymorphing ghost haunts the balcony while another more playful spirit used to bother the cast of Rocky Horror Picture Show.
- 3
Gamma Ray Bar
Before it was a music venue, it was a funeral parlor. You know what that means…
- 4
Tempest Oyster Bar
Numerous employees have reported paranormal activity, but what is its strange connection to a UFO cult?
- 5
And much, much more...
Important Info
- ▸Street parking is usually available as well as after hours spots at the Old Courthouse. However, please because this is a popular destination, please leave ample time to find a spot.
- ▸The duration of our tours is 1.5-2 hours depending on the engagement of each group. Please allow for 2 hours since our guides take pride in what they do and can sometimes provide updates and extra juicy details when guests ask questions.
- ▸This tour runs in cold temperatures and light rain, so please dress accordingly and wear comfortable shoes.
- ▸Because this is a limited capacity tour, all sales are final. But we will reschedule you if you have an emergency, we love ghosts, not monsters!
- ▸Service animals are welcome, but no pets are allowed.
Meeting Point
Meet across the street from the Great Dane Brewpub, downtown Madison at the corner of King Street and South Webster (125 S. Webster in your GPS.) Look for the office building with the arch!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Also In Madison
Madison Lost Souls of State Street Ghost Walk
- The Orpheum Theatre ghost
- Inside the Madison Masons' temple
- Capitol & Grain Exchange spirits
Madison UW Campus Ghost Walks
- Science Hall's eerie legends
- The drummer who died onstage
- The grave beneath Bascom Hill
Do You Have The Courage To Join?
Explore haunted locations and hear chilling tales. Face your fears and uncover dark secrets — if you dare.
Book Your Madison Ghost Walk