Lemp Mansion – Haunted Mansion in St. Louis, Missouri

The Lemp Mansion stands as one of America’s most haunted locations. This Victorian mansion in south St. Louis witnessed unspeakable tragedy for decades.

Four members of the wealthy Lemp family died by suicide within these walls. The mansion now operates as a restaurant and inn for brave visitors.

Guests regularly report ghostly encounters with the tormented Lemp spirits. The family’s brewing fortune couldn’t save them from overwhelming darkness and despair.

Paranormal investigators consider this mansion among the most actively haunted sites in Missouri. The building’s tragic history seeps through every room and hallway.

Historical Background

Jacob Feickert constructed this impressive mansion in the 1860s as a private residence. The Lemp family purchased the estate in 1876 after achieving massive success in brewing.

William J. Lemp Sr. transformed the mansion into a showplace of wealth. His Lemp Brewery became the largest in St. Louis by the 1870s.

The family’s fortune rivaled the Anheuser-Busch empire during its peak years. The mansion featured luxurious amenities including a ballroom and underground caves for beer storage.

Tragedy struck first in 1904 when William Lemp Sr.’s favorite son Frederick died mysteriously. The heartbroken patriarch shot himself in the mansion in 1904 at age 68.

William Lemp Jr. took control but faced devastating setbacks during Prohibition. He ended his life in the mansion in 1922 in the same manner.

Elsa Lemp Wright died in 1920 under mysterious circumstances at age 38. Charles Lemp became the third brother to die by suicide in the mansion.

Charles shot himself in his second-floor bedroom in 1949 at age 77. Edwin Lemp was the only brother who died of natural causes away from the property.

The mansion fell into disrepair after the family’s demise and multiple tragedies. It operated briefly as a boarding house before Dick Pointer purchased it in 1975.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors report an overwhelming sense of sadness permeating the entire mansion. Cold spots appear suddenly in various rooms without any logical explanation.

Doors slam violently shut even when no windows are open nearby. Glasses and objects fly off tables and crash to the floor.

Piano music echoes through empty hallways when no one sits at the instrument. Footsteps march up and down the main staircase at all hours.

Shadow figures dart across doorways and disappear into solid walls. Disembodied voices whisper names and carry on phantom conversations throughout the building.

The smell of lavender perfume wafts through certain rooms with no source. Guests feel invisible hands touching their shoulders and tugging their clothing.

Electronic devices malfunction or drain completely within minutes of entering the mansion. Cameras capture mysterious orbs and strange mists in photographs.

Visitors experience sudden temperature drops of 20 degrees or more without warning. Some guests report feeling physically pushed or shoved by unseen forces.

Ghost Stories & Reports

William Lemp Sr. reportedly haunts the mansion’s lavender suite where he died. Guests sleeping in this room wake to a ghostly man standing over their beds.

The phantom patriarch appears wearing period clothing from the early 1900s. He vanishes when witnesses sit up or turn on the lights.

Staff members report hearing loud gunshots echoing through the lavender suite at night. These phantom sounds match the exact method of William Sr.’s death in 1904.

William Lemp Jr.’s spirit frequently appears in the office where he conducted business. Visitors see him sitting at the desk reviewing papers before fading away.

His ghost seems perpetually troubled and angry about the brewery’s downfall. Some witnesses report he glares at them with intense hostility before disappearing.

Charles Lemp’s bedroom on the second floor experiences the most violent paranormal activity. Objects fly off shelves and furniture moves across the floor on its own.

Guests hear a man sobbing desperately in this room late at night. The crying sounds utterly heartbroken and filled with inconsolable despair.

The mysterious Monkey Face Boy allegedly haunts the mansion’s attic spaces. This disfigured child was reportedly kept hidden from society by the ashamed family.

While historians debate whether this child actually existed, witnesses report seeing him. A small figure with unusual features peers out from dark corners and vanishes.

Zeke the Lemp family’s caretaker supposedly died in the mansion’s basement caves. His apparition still tends to nonexistent horses in the underground stable area.

Elsa Lemp’s ghost appears throughout the mansion wearing elegant Victorian-era gowns. She seems confused and lost, wandering the hallways searching for something unknown.

Her perfume announces her presence before she materializes in front of startled guests. Witnesses describe her as beautiful but incredibly sad and melancholy.

Most Haunted Spot

The lavender suite where William Lemp Sr. died generates the most paranormal reports. Guests who stay overnight in this room rarely make it until morning.

Most flee around 3 AM after experiencing overwhelming dread and terror. The room’s atmosphere becomes oppressively heavy and difficult to breathe.

Witnesses report seeing William Sr.’s full-bodied apparition multiple times per month. He appears solid and real before vanishing into thin air.

The phantom gunshot heard in this room sounds absolutely real and deafening. Several guests have called police thinking an actual shooting occurred.

Can You Visit?

The Lemp Mansion operates as a restaurant and bed-and-breakfast inn. The public can dine in the mansion’s historic rooms during regular business hours.

Overnight stays are available for guests brave enough to sleep there. Room rates vary but typically range from $125 to $200 per night.

The mansion offers paranormal dinner tours every Thursday and Friday evening. These guided experiences cost approximately $35 per person including dinner.

Special ghost hunting experiences are available for serious paranormal investigation teams. These overnight investigations must be booked in advance with specific requirements.

Photography is allowed and encouraged throughout the mansion’s public areas. The staff welcomes guests capturing evidence of paranormal activity.

Restaurant hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11 AM to closing time. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekend dinner service.

Best Time to Visit

Most paranormal activity occurs between midnight and 4 AM according to investigators. The 3 AM hour generates particularly intense supernatural experiences and encounters.

October through January produces the highest number of reported ghost sightings. The anniversary dates of the Lemp family deaths show increased paranormal activity.

Full moon nights generate more reports of shadow figures and apparitions. Electromagnetic field readings spike significantly during these lunar phases.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A couple staying in the lavender suite in 2015 reported terrifying experiences. They woke to all their belongings thrown across the room at 3 AM.

The wife felt invisible hands grab her ankles and pull her. They checked out immediately and refused to ever return to the mansion.

Restaurant staff member Jennifer reported seeing William Lemp Jr. in the office. She watched him sit at the desk for several seconds before vanishing.

Her detailed description matched historical photographs of the deceased brewery owner. She had never seen these photographs before her encounter.

Paranormal investigator Michael reached out to touch a shadow figure in 2018. His hand passed through the form which then dissipated into nothingness.

His equipment captured an EVP saying “Get out” seconds before experiencing equipment failure. Three cameras and two audio recorders stopped working simultaneously.

A wedding guest named Sarah photographed the ballroom during a 2019 reception. Her pictures clearly show a Victorian woman in the background watching festivities.

No one matching this description attended the wedding or worked at the venue. The figure appears solid and detailed but completely out of place.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Ghost Hunters featured the Lemp Mansion in a 2005 episode investigation. The TAPS team captured significant evidence including EVPs and temperature anomalies.

They recorded intelligent responses to questions asked in empty rooms. Equipment malfunctions plagued their investigation throughout the entire night.

Ghost Adventures filmed at the mansion in 2009 with dramatic results. Zak Bagans reported feeling physically attacked and pushed in Charles Lemp’s bedroom.

The crew captured a full-bodied shadow figure on their infrared cameras. This footage remains some of their most compelling evidence ever recorded.

Local paranormal teams conduct monthly investigations with the mansion’s permission. They consistently document elevated EMF readings and unexplained temperature fluctuations.

Spirit box sessions produce relevant responses to specific historical questions. Names of deceased Lemp family members come through with remarkable clarity.

Professional mediums visiting the mansion describe overwhelming emotional impressions of despair. They report making contact with multiple spirits who refuse to leave.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The mansion’s basement caves can be dangerous due to uneven surfaces. Visitors must watch their step and use provided flashlights in dark areas.

Some guests experience severe psychological distress from the mansion’s oppressive atmosphere. People with anxiety or heart conditions should consider this before visiting.

The property is private and trespassing outside of business hours is illegal. Police actively patrol the area and arrest unauthorized visitors on the grounds.

Guests must respect the operating restaurant and inn’s rules at all times. Disruptive behavior or property damage will result in immediate removal and possible charges.

Cursed or Haunted Objects

The mansion’s piano reportedly plays itself when the building stands completely empty. This instrument once belonged to the Lemp family’s music room.

Staff refuse to move or touch certain paintings hanging in the hallways. These portraits seem to follow visitors with their eyes as they pass.

A particular mirror on the second floor allegedly shows figures that aren’t there. Guests report seeing people standing behind them in reflections who aren’t physically present.

The attic contains furniture and personal belongings from the Lemp family era. Investigators believe these objects retain psychic impressions and energy from their tragic owners.