Haunted Wisconsin Dive Bar And Hotel Will Take You Back In Time

I love finding dive bars in Wisconsin. There's something special about these establishments, it's the history of the building and the locals who support the bar. If you never engaged in a conversation with a regular in a hole-in-the-walls pub I encourage you to try it. You never know who you will meet or how interesting their story may be. Humbird Hotel Bar, in Humbird, Wisconsin, might be the best place for paranormal fans who also like beer.

What make's an establishment a dive bar?

The characteristics and how it operates to determine if a location can be called a "dive bar." These watering holes are typically small and have an old bar top and check drinks. It doesn't need to be a dirty place. You'll know you're in a dive bar if there's dimmed lighting, vintage decor, and a lot of neon beer signage. If it's a real dive bar you can only pay with cash.

Another characteristic of a true dive bar is the old-fashioned potluck. It is here where you won't find food cooked up inside but you can probably BYOF. Or, if you're lucky, you might stumble upon a planned potluck inside the establishment.

How About A Dive Bar/Hotel Combo That Is Haunted?

I've been to a lot of dive bars and read about a ton but this place stands out amongst the group. This is a pretty significant revelation because until I discovered this bar in Humbird, Wisconsin I thought Plywood Palace (in Moquah) was the ultimate dive bar.

Even though the shack shown above screams "dive bar!", there's a spot on the other side of  Wisconsin that might rank a little higher. This spot isn't just a dive bar. This is spot is part of a hotel that dates back to the 1870s. It's called Humbird Hotel Bar and it's about 90 minutes northeast of Wisconsin Dells.

Humbird Hotel Bar - Humbird, Wisconsin

The little town of Humbird is t-i-n-y, according to the 2010 census there were 226 residents. Like a lot of small towns, there's more than one bar. Big Street Bar is the other spot in town but for the sake of this article, the focus will be on Humbird Hotel Bar.

I almost forgot about another commonality shared by dive bars, they usually open at a specific time and close whenever. If a dive bar is closing before "bar time" it's usually after the last regular in the place calls it a night.

The reason Humbird Hotel Bar stands out among dive bars in Wisconsin is what you don't see, per se. If you look around you'll see some slot machines, plenty of beers being drunk, and lots of liquor on shelves behind the bar. What you don't see is what's waiting above.

From the outside, you'll notice rooms about the bar. These aren't apartments these are rooms that can be rented for an overnight stay. A one-night stay will cost you $69, which isn't bad. At first glance, the rooms look charming but there's more happening than what appears.

(Also, there isn't coffee or drinking water in the rooms.)

Everything about these rooms makes you feel like you've traveled back in time, according to one review.

We walked up this beautiful wooden staircase and the artwork on the walls and the chandeliers gives the impression of being in an old western movie which plays into the haunted nature of the hotel.

Maybe it's just me but whenever I see really old decor or furniture my mind immediately goes to a morbid place., this is especially true for homes and hotels. When I spot something old like this painting I immediately assume someone died on the property. I assume there is paranormal activity circling around the room.

It's a ridiculous assumption I'll admit but, breaking news, it is the exact case for these rooms. "Oh, you're going to chase people from staying here." Nope, because the owners mention this on the Airbnb account. Paranormal activity is listed as if it's an amenity.

The building has been deemed haunted by the SIM team [Supernatural Investigators of Minnesota] from MN and they have actually been here four times.

Again, not at all surprised by the fact that is haunted. The best alone looks like it's from Abraham Lincoln's era. I bet that frame itself weighs a couple of hundred pounds. It might be worth mentioning that not every guest has reported ghostly encounters during their stay. However, don't rule out some sort of post-life interaction.

This place I believe is truly haunted. I had a few paranormal moments while I was alone upstairs. Definitely worth staying.

Currently, Humbird Hotel Bar & Grill is temporarily closed due to electrical problems but if you want to read up on an overnight stay you check out their Airbnb. You can find info about the bar itself here.