Take A Peek Inside The 'Most Haunted House In The Midwest,' If You Dare
The McPike Mansion was built in 1869 for Henry Guest McPike, a business man and the one-time mayor of Alton. McPike was also a skilled horticulturist and during his time on the grounds, he perfected his own type of grape.
The house was built in the Italianate-Victorian style and has 16 rooms. When it was new, it had ornate molding, carved banisters, and boasted 11 marble fireplaces.
The McPike family lived in the house until 1936 and has sat vacant since the 1950's.
The house also features gnarled oak trees, a menacing wrought iron fence encircling the property, and its very own graveyard. Spooky.
Many people, including the current owners of the house, believe the house is haunted. Sharyn Luedke, one of the current owners, contends that she's seen several ghostly figures multiple times during he visits.
Sharyn says she was working in the garden when she saw the ghost of Paul Laichinger, a subsequent owner of the house after the McPikes, standing by a window in the house. He was wearing the exact same outfit as one he is wearing in a picture Sharyn has of him.
Sharyn says that, since then, she's had many run-ins with ghosts. She says she was hugged by the spirit of "Sarah," a former servant at the estate. Other people have seen figures or ghostly orbs in the house as well.
The wine cellar is said to be the most haunted location of the whole property. Footsteps and voices have been heard and the heavy metal door that leads to the cellar has been seen moving on its own. A strange, unexplainable mist has even be reported following guests as they move through the cellar.
The house has been featured on multiple shows about ghosts and haunted places and has been explored by many paranormal experts. The current owners of the house also give ghost tours to anyone fearless enough to visit!
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