It was way back in May 1823 when a steamship chugged up the mighty Mississippi River and moored, for the first time, at the Mdewakanton Sioux settlement of Red Wing. In the decades that followed, trade and tourism transformed the tribal land into a thriving town, and plans for the St. James Hotel were drawn up to give weary visitors a place to lay their heads. But when laborers were digging out the foundations, the discovery of skeletal remains in a burial ground was a stark reminder of the town’s Native American heritage.
Ever since then, St. James Hotel has been the epicenter of Red Wing’s paranormal mysteries. Tales are told of phantom floating heads emerging from the darkness, mysterious noises in the bowels of the basement, and the domineering presence of deceased owner, Clara Lillyblad.
Join us on this fully narrated 1.5-hour experience – Red Wing’s first haunted history walking tour! See the Itinerary section below for a sample of the stops.