Summerwind Mansion: Wisconsin’s Most Haunted Estate

Summerwind Mansion, located near Land O’ Lakes in northern Wisconsin, earned a reputation as one of the most haunted houses in America before its destruction by lightning in 1988. Multiple families abandoned the estate after experiencing terrifying phenomena, including apparitions, phantom sounds, and the alleged discovery of human remains.

The Construction

Robert Patterson Lamont, a prominent Washington, D.C. attorney who would later serve as Secretary of Commerce under President Hoover, built Summerwind in 1916 as a summer retreat. The mansion was an impressive structure overlooking West Bay Lake, with all the amenities expected of a wealthy man’s vacation home.

Lamont and his wife lived at Summerwind for several years. According to legend, the couple encountered an apparition in the basement kitchen during their residence. Lamont allegedly shot at the figure with a pistol. Bullet holes were reportedly visible in the door for decades. Whether the Lamonts left because of this encounter is uncertain.

The Hinshaw Era

The mansion’s haunted reputation solidified during the ownership of Arnold and Ginger Hinshaw, who moved in during the early 1970s. What they experienced over the next six months would make Summerwind famous.

The Hinshaws reported a wide range of phenomena. They heard voices whispering in empty rooms. Shadows moved through the halls. Appliances malfunctioned or operated on their own. Windows and doors opened and closed without cause. The house seemed alive with hostile presence.

Arnold Hinshaw suffered a mental breakdown during their time at Summerwind. He would sit at a piano playing the same tune for hours. He became convinced that demonic forces occupied the house. Ginger attempted suicide. The family fled, leaving most of their possessions behind.

The Discovery

One of the most disturbing claims from the Hinshaw period involved a discovery made during renovation attempts. While working in a space between walls, workers allegedly found a corpse or skeleton—what appeared to be human remains concealed within the house’s structure.

The discovery was never officially documented. When later investigators attempted to locate the remains or verify the story, they found nothing. Whether remains were actually found, were removed and covered up, or were never there at all remains unclear.

The Bober Attempt

Raymond Bober, Ginger Hinshaw’s father, learned of his daughter’s experiences and became convinced that Summerwind held secrets worth uncovering. He purchased the property in the 1980s with plans to convert it into a restaurant and inn.

Bober believed he was in psychic communication with an eighteenth-century French explorer named Jonathan Carver who had been granted the land by local Native Americans. Bober claimed Carver’s spirit was seeking a lost deed to the property hidden somewhere in the mansion.

Despite his psychic investigations, Bober never found the deed. His renovation plans failed repeatedly. Workers refused to remain on site. Equipment malfunctioned. The project was eventually abandoned.

The Destruction

Summerwind stood abandoned through much of the 1980s, decaying and becoming a destination for curiosity seekers. Vandals damaged the interior. The structure deteriorated from neglect and Wisconsin winters.

In 1988, lightning struck Summerwind, and the resulting fire destroyed most of the remaining structure. The grand mansion was reduced to ruins, then to overgrown foundations. Today, little remains but crumbling walls hidden in the Wisconsin forest.

Investigation

Paranormal investigators explored Summerwind during its final years. They reported unusual electromagnetic readings, cold spots, and strange sounds. Photographs sometimes showed unexplained anomalies.

The property’s isolation and deteriorated condition made thorough investigation difficult. By the time serious researchers became interested, the mansion was too dangerous to explore safely.

Skeptical Views

Critics have noted that much of Summerwind’s history relies on oral accounts and family stories rather than documented evidence. The human remains were never confirmed. Arnold Hinshaw’s mental breakdown might have had causes unrelated to supernatural activity.

The mansion’s remote location and decay created an atmosphere conducive to imagining hauntings. Visitors expecting to see ghosts often reported them. The legend may have fed on itself.

Legacy

Summerwind’s destruction has not ended its legend. The site remains of interest to paranormal enthusiasts who visit the ruins and sometimes report continued activity. The story has been featured in books and television programs about haunted places.

Whether Summerwind was genuinely haunted or merely accumulated legends through its dramatic history, it remains Wisconsin’s most famous haunted house—a grand mansion that consumed its owners and eventually itself.