The Karsten Hotel in Kewaunee is for sale and has been on the market for a couple of weeks. The building not only dates back to 1912, it’s also known to be haunted.
Current owner David Watters says he’s received a lot of interest from potential buyers, but this weekend the hotel is drawing a special interest from the Chicago Paranormal Investigators.
Lead investigator David Olson knows exactly what to look for in the halls of The Karsten Hotel. He’s investigated the place for spirits a few times before and can’t stay away from the mysterious stories about the hotel. People report hearing strange voices and seeing figures. Room 310 is known to be the most haunted room of them all.
“From the very first time I was here I’ve always captured stuff you know unexplained voids to light anomalies,” said Olson.
Friday night his team spent hours setting up for their main investigation on Saturday. A network of cameras, cords and other instruments were set up to get ready for the big night. Olson’s team is trying to uncover more of what they saw last March during a visit to the hotel. They captured on video one of the team’s tripods being knocked across a hallway and two orbs of light floating in a hallway.
Like with past owners, the haunted aspect of The Karsten Hotel will surely stay with whoever buys the place. It was originally built in the 1800’s. Then after a fire, it was rebuilt in 1912 and has gone through several name changes and owners.
In 2013 David Watters bought the property. He says he made the necessary repairs, boosted business and brought back the original Karsten name to the hotel. Renovations and repairs later, he’s ready to sell it to someone who will build on the hotel’s history.
“We got a turnkey opportunity here for the right person that really wants to make this their passion and it think somebody has really got to be passionate about an opportunity like this and pour themselves into it,” said Watters. He is looking for offers for more than $500,000 and if there is no final offer, there will be an auction for the property on Feb. 28.
For this weekend, David Olson and his team will take over the halls and rooms, not to provoke the unknown, but to observe and discover what’s really roaming in the air.
“I don’t know how to explain it but here’s something about this place inside. It’s in my blood and I love coming here,” said Olson.
