Summerwind Mansion Ruins – Haunted Mansion in Land O’ Lakes, Wisconsin

The remote forests of northern Wisconsin once housed one of America’s most haunted mansions. Summerwind Mansion stood as a decaying monument to terror until fire consumed it in 1988.

This lakeside estate earned its reputation through decades of unexplained phenomena and tragic circumstances. Visitors reported ghostly apparitions, phantom footsteps, and an overwhelming sense of dread throughout the building.

The mansion’s ruins still mark the location where countless witnesses experienced paranormal activity. Even in its destroyed state, the property continues to unsettle those who venture near.

Local residents maintain that something malevolent inhabited Summerwind long before its destruction. The land itself seems cursed, with tragedy following every family who called it home.

Historical Background

Robert Lamont constructed Summerwind Mansion in 1916 as a summer fishing lodge. The wealthy businessman chose a secluded spot on the western shore of West Bay Lake.

The original structure featured elegant architecture with multiple bedrooms and lakefront views. Lamont designed it as a peaceful retreat from his political career in Washington D.C.

Strange occurrences plagued the property from the beginning, though early incidents went largely undocumented. Lamont himself abandoned the mansion abruptly in the 1930s under mysterious circumstances.

According to historical accounts, Lamont fled after firing his pistol at a ghost in the kitchen. He claimed to have seen a shadowy figure emerge from the basement door.

The mansion sat vacant for decades, slowly deteriorating in Wisconsin’s harsh climate. Local teenagers avoided the property, spreading stories about the evil presence within its walls.

Arnold and Ginger Hinshaw purchased Summerwind in 1970, intending to renovate the crumbling structure. They planned to transform it into a year-round residence for their family.

The Hinshaw family’s six-month occupancy became the most documented period of paranormal activity. Their experiences would cement Summerwind’s reputation as one of America’s most haunted locations.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Summerwind Mansion exhibited virtually every known type of haunting phenomenon during its existence. The building seemed alive with supernatural energy, terrifying residents and visitors alike.

Windows and doors operated independently, opening and closing without human intervention or wind. Multiple witnesses watched as interior doors slammed shut with tremendous force throughout the day.

Phantom footsteps echoed through empty corridors at all hours of day and night. The sounds suggested someone pacing back and forth across the upper floors.

Shadow figures manifested in doorways and along the mansion’s lengthy hallways. These dark forms moved with apparent purpose, disappearing when observers approached.

Electrical systems malfunctioned constantly despite professional repairs and complete rewiring efforts. Lights flickered on and off, and appliances activated themselves without explanation.

Cold spots appeared randomly throughout the building, even during Wisconsin’s humid summer months. Temperatures could drop thirty degrees within a single room while adjacent spaces remained warm.

Objects moved on their own, with items disappearing and reappearing in different locations. The Hinshaw family reported finding personal belongings in rooms they rarely entered.

Musical sounds filled the mansion despite the absence of instruments or stereo equipment. Witnesses described hearing a ghostly orchestra playing turn-of-the-century melodies.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The Hinshaw family’s experiences form the core of Summerwind’s terrifying legacy. Arnold Hinshaw worked as a professional musician, approaching the renovation project with practical optimism.

Ginger Hinshaw encountered the first apparition within days of moving into the mansion. She witnessed a woman in old-fashioned clothing standing at the dining room window.

The ghostly woman wore a long white dress from the early 1900s era. Her face appeared sorrowful as she gazed out toward West Bay Lake.

Arnold experienced invisible forces while attempting repairs in various rooms throughout the mansion. He described feeling hands pushing against him while working alone.

The couple’s children refused to sleep in certain bedrooms after encountering shadow figures. Their daughter reported seeing a man in antique clothing standing at her bedside.

Arnold discovered a mysterious corpse inside the mansion’s walls during renovation work, according to family accounts. He claimed to have broken through a sealed closet space in one bedroom.

The body appeared to be that of a man, though its identity remained unknown. Arnold sealed the space back up without contacting authorities, a decision that haunted him.

Ginger began experiencing psychological deterioration after several months in the house. She heard voices commanding her to perform bizarre tasks throughout the property.

The entity seemed to focus particularly on Ginger, driving her toward mental breakdown. She eventually required hospitalization for treatment of acute psychological distress.

Arnold attempted to continue the renovation alone but abandoned the project after six months. The supernatural activity had become too intense to ignore or rationalize away.

Raymond Bober, Ginger’s father, purchased Summerwind in 1972 despite warnings from the Hinshaws. He believed the paranormal claims resulted from stress and imagination rather than genuine hauntings.

Bober brought his wife Marie to Summerwind, determined to prove the property harmless. They planned to convert the mansion into a restaurant and inn.

The Bobers experienced phenomena even more intense than what the Hinshaws described. Raymond claimed to communicate with the ghost of Thomas Jefferson through automatic writing.

Bober became obsessed with treasure he believed Jefferson had hidden beneath the mansion. He spent months digging in the basement, finding nothing but creating structural damage.

Marie Bober witnessed multiple apparitions including a woman in white and a threatening male figure. The male ghost appeared particularly aggressive, manifesting with hostile energy throughout the building.

Most Haunted Spot

The kitchen area generated the most consistent paranormal activity throughout Summerwind’s history. Robert Lamont experienced his ghost encounter in this exact location back in the 1930s.

The basement doorway adjacent to the kitchen served as a focal point for apparitions. Multiple witnesses reported seeing shadowy figures emerging from the basement stairs.

The master bedroom on the second floor produced overwhelming feelings of dread and despair. Ginger Hinshaw experienced her most severe psychological episodes within this particular room.

Windows throughout the house operated on their own, but the dining room windows behaved most dramatically. Witnesses watched them slide open and slam shut repeatedly during otherwise calm evenings.

Can You Visit?

Summerwind Mansion no longer exists in any visitable form following its destruction by fire. The property burned completely in June 1988, leaving only foundation ruins and chimney stones.

The land remains privately owned, and trespassing laws apply to the entire property. No official tours or public access exists for the Summerwind site.

Curious visitors occasionally venture to the general area to view the ruins from public roadways. Photography from public spaces is technically permitted, though little remains visible from legal vantage points.

Local authorities discourage visits to the actual property due to safety and legal concerns. The unstable ruins and remote location present genuine hazards beyond supernatural considerations.

Best Time to Visit

Historical accounts suggest paranormal activity at Summerwind occurred constantly regardless of season or time. The mansion’s hauntings showed no preference for particular months or atmospheric conditions.

Evening hours produced the most dramatic manifestations according to former residents and visitors. Overnight stays resulted in the most terrifying encounters with the mansion’s supernatural inhabitants.

Summer months offer the only practical access to the remote northern Wisconsin location. Winter conditions make the isolated property nearly impossible to reach safely.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Ginger Hinshaw published a detailed account of her family’s experiences in the book “The Carver Effect.” Her daughter Marie provided additional testimony supporting the paranormal claims made by family members.

Arnold Hinshaw gave multiple interviews describing the supernatural phenomena before his death. He maintained until the end that something genuinely evil resided within Summerwind’s walls.

Raymond Bober wrote extensively about his communications with Thomas Jefferson’s supposed spirit. His writings reveal a man descending into obsession fueled by supernatural manipulation.

Local residents reported seeing lights in Summerwind’s windows long after the property stood abandoned. These mysterious illuminations appeared despite the complete absence of electricity or human occupants.

Teenagers who ventured onto the property during its abandonment reported fleeing in terror. Multiple groups described overwhelming feelings of being watched and unwelcome on the grounds.

Local Legends & Myths

Some locals believe Summerwind was constructed on land sacred to Native American tribes. This theory suggests the mansion’s hauntings resulted from disturbing spiritually significant territory.

Another legend claims a murder occurred in the house during its early years. The victim supposedly remains trapped, unable to move beyond the location of their death.

Stories circulate about treasure buried somewhere on the property by early settlers. Raymond Bober’s obsessive digging lent credence to these tales despite lack of evidence.

Some witnesses claim the ghost of Robert Lamont himself haunts the ruins. They suggest his violent encounter with the supernatural bound him to the location.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Before its destruction, Summerwind attracted numerous paranormal investigators and psychics to the property. Multiple sensitives reported overwhelming negative energy throughout the building’s interior spaces.

Investigators documented unexplained electromagnetic field fluctuations in various rooms throughout the mansion. These readings suggested presence of energy sources inconsistent with natural electromagnetic activity.

Photography inside Summerwind frequently produced anomalies including orbs and shadow figures. Some images captured what appeared to be full-bodied apparitions in windows and doorways.

Audio recordings yielded numerous examples of electronic voice phenomena throughout the property. Disembodied voices spoke names and phrases when no living persons were present.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The Summerwind property remains under private ownership with strict no-trespassing enforcement. Vilas County authorities will prosecute individuals caught entering the land without permission.

The ruins themselves present serious physical dangers beyond legal and supernatural concerns. Unstable foundation stones, debris, and wilderness hazards make the site genuinely dangerous.

The remote location means emergency services would require significant time to respond to injuries. Cell phone reception in the area remains spotty at best.

Wildlife including bears inhabit the forests surrounding the former mansion site. Visitors risk dangerous animal encounters in addition to other hazards.

Winter conditions make the location completely inaccessible without specialized equipment and experience. Attempting to reach Summerwind during cold months could prove fatal.

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