Step right up and enter if you dare!
Pass through the circus tent flaps and enter a world of spirits, mysteries, and things that go bump in the night. This story showcases a peculiar part of the town of Baraboo. We will swirl around some ghost stories and tragedies as we learn of a town haunted by a historical circus!
Every true Circus lover knows the town of Baraboo in Wisconsin as it was the winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus for years…
While a circus always brings fun and bright memories, this city known as Circus City has a haunted history… For years, residents of the area reported seeing ghosts and apparitions in some of the historic locations in the area.
The town of Baraboo Wisconsin was also the site of a Kickapoo Village around the year 1665. Kickapoo people were a Native American and Indigenous Mexican tribe. They were (all·gone·kwee·uhn) Algonquian-speaking and the meaning behind the word Kikapoo is those who walk the earth.
Around 1838, a Kentuckian named Abe Wood established the community, and the area was originally known as the village of Adams. In 1852, the village was renamed Baraboo after the nearby river. By the 1860s the city had grown to a population of 2,000 and grocery stores, hotels and banks began to pop up.
By 1884, the Ringling Brothers Circus was established in Baraboo. The town became the circuses winter home. Several other circuses visited the city, over time, earning it the name Circus City.
By 1907 the Ringling brothers purchased Barnum & Bailey’s circus after Baileys death in 1906. The two circuses were ran separately until 1919, when the Ringling Brothers decided to merge the two.
Obviously at that time circuses were not large spectacles as we see today and travelled within their region at first by wagon and later by railroad. The railways made traveling throughout the country much easier. By the year 1914, the circus travelled with 1000 employees. 335 horses, and 26 elephants. It required 92 rail cars to transport everything and everyone. Admission in the year of 1924 was 50 cents for adults.
For quite some time everything went well, until a humid summer day in July of 1944. The ringling brothers, Barnum & Bailey held a special matinee performance in Hartford, Connecticut. There were nearly 9000 spectators, mostly children in a huge big top tent. Sometime during the performance, a fire broke out under the big top tent.
The fire killed 168 and injured 484. At least five bodies were left unclaimed. The Hartford Circus fire was the worst tragedy to happen to American Circuses. In current times you can still visit the Ringling brothers headquarters at 550 Water Street in
Baraboo, Wisconsin. Though many of these original buildings and mansions built by the Ringling brothers are said to be haunted. Many report seeing apparitions of children, horse trainers and various circus workers.In 1954, a former attorney for the Ringling Brothers incorporated The Circus World Museum with the intent of showcasing the Ringling Brothers Circus and circus history as a whole. Currently Circus World Museum is a National Historic Landmark and there are several paranormal stories that come from these grounds.
One story of paranormal events came from a tiger trainer in the 1970s. She was sleeping in her truck on the museum grounds and told staff that in the middle of the night, she woke to a thunder and lightning storm and when she looked outside of her truck, she saw what appeared to be a scene from the 1900s. Inside of a circus tent, there were women with long dresses and men in suits. Once the lightning struck again, the scene disappeared.
Others report seeing full 3-D apparitions in many of the other buildings.
Though the Ringling Brothers were well known within America, their first cousins, the Gollmar Brothers also operated a circus. With some assistance from the Moeller Wagon company owners, they operated from Baraboo as well.
The Gollmar Brothers Greatest of American Shows ran from 1891 to 1961. Charles Gollmar was one of the five Gollmar brothers. He was happily married to Alberta. The two married during the time that Charles was the circus manager. In 1929, Charles passed leaving Alberta a widow.
When Alberta was 62 she had lived in the home she and Charles made and often assisted and fed circus workers who were down on their luck. Some feel this may have led to her end. Mrs. Alberta Gollmar was found murdered in her kitchen. Fully clothed, but missing her shoes. She had been stabbed to death.
With the large tent fire and gruesome murder of Alberta, could these spirits be roaming the Circus World grounds?
Some wonder if the town Baraboo’s spirits have invaded Circus World… Some of the residents believe that the town of Baraboo is haunted. They describe hearing strange disembodied voices and footsteps in Downtown Baraboo Historic District and some report the historical homes containing strange apparitions.
While Baraboo is known for the Ringling Brothers and strange occurrences in the downtown area, there is also a strange stretch of Highway that is reported to have unexplained occurrences.
Along Highway 12 through Baraboo, drivers report seeing a man walking on the side of the highway. He’s described as wearing an old army jacket and jeans. Though they pass this individual, he somehow appears ahead of them several miles once again. It’s as if the man just continues to appear over and over like a scene from a movie repeating itself.
The story of the Highway 12 hitchhiker ends with him completely disappearing if you try to offer him a ride.
Heading into Baraboo, you might stop by the haunted bar. The Baraboo Inn is located on the south side of town. It was once a saloon and brothel. You may have seen it on the popular tv show Ghost Adventures. They have found actual proof of paranormal activity, including orbs, shadows and apparitions.
The bar has a sordid history known as a favorite dive bar for gangsters… Al Capone frequently visited the bar as a he had a vacation home in the near by town of Couderay, WI.
During prohibition the mob operated the bar offering illegal alcohol, a full brothel and gaming. After a large fire the bar was closed and left empty for 14 years. In 2002, it was purchased and renovated. During the renovations, the new owner B.C. Farr learned of the bar’s violent past.
It is believed that multiple people have died in the building over the years. Three of which were prostitutes. The two other deaths were former owners. After major renovations, the bar was transformed into a bar and grill. Many paranormal investigations have been conducted since as well as ghost tours, and psychic investigations.
By 2018, the owner decided to put the bar back on the real estate market… The current owners are none other than The Food Network. They have stated this location is one of the top ten haunted places in America. In some paranormal investigations, Al Capone has been heard on EVP and seen.
In some instances, it is said that the bar stools move on their own, spinning and tipping when no one is near them. At times whistling is heard, which has led paranormal teams to name the spirit, The Whistler.
One of the previous owners who has passed has been sensed by mediums in the women’s restroom, they claim they can smell her perfume there. Another spirit that lingers in the restroom is a cowboy named Jed, some mediums state he passed from a fall on the stairs.
Well… We have arrived at the end of our journey… Do spirits and supernatural forces reside in the town of Baraboo long after their days have ended? Is there energy left behind from the Native American tribes that inhabited the area long ago? The mysteries are endless in this seemingly ordinary town. I suppose an eerie experience awaits those brave enough to step through the circus curtains and into this mysterious haunted town.
