Bodega a la Noche by digital<>analog, on Flickr
Stories
It is said that a former owner of the pool room that occupied this building in the 1890’s hung himself here in 1901 and his ghost has haunted the place ever since. Owners and employees tell stories of appearances, noises, slamming doors, and objects moving around. A customer claimed to sense a disturbing cold spot that moved through her body as she was touring the basement, a supposed focal point of paranormal activity.
Information
Address: 122 South 4th Street, La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: (608) 782-0677
Website: Bodega Brew Pub
Tours
Please contact us if you know of any haunted tours or events that include
Sources
- Prairie Ghosts
- Haunted Places: The National Directory: Ghostly Abodes, Sacred Sites, UFO Landings and Other Supernatural Locations
- Unexplained Research Discussion Forum
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In 1978 I was a freshman at the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse. I needed a part-time job and easily found one at the Bodega. My room mates told me there were always openings there. When I started there, I worked at the ice cream counter making malts, milkshakes, sundaes, etc. Right next to the soda counter there was a fry grill. I started helping the cook whenever I could. I had a couple friends who worked at The Bodega as waitresses. At one point, the cook asked me to go downstairs and get a few food supplies. As soon as I opened the door, a great chill hit me. I didn’t think much of it, because basements are chilly. As I descended the old wooden stairs, an uneasy feeling came over me. I walked to the old wooden shelves where the supplies I needed were kept. At that point, a bare light bulb hanging from the ceiling behind me started swing back and forth and turning on and off. I turned around and saw a “shadowy being” slowly walking towards me and I heard a very faint growling sound. Then I heard what sounded like something heavy being dragged across the floor. I started shaking uncontrollably and ran as fast as I could back up the stairs. I was almost crying when I got to the top. I never got the supplies I was supposed to get, I was too scared. My waitress friends were standing at the soda counter and saw me running and asked me what was wrong. I told them what happened and that I would never go to the basement again, even if my boss told me I would lose my job for disobeying an order. They told me that I was sent downstairs to get supplies because other employees tried to avoid the basement as much as they could. Everyone else who worked there knew The Bodega was haunted. I agree, The Bodega is haunted.
Hi Kate!
Not sure if you’ll ever see this, but I’m working on a documentary regarding the “Ghost of Bodega” and I’d like to use you as a reference. Would you be up for an interview say early 2020? -Tyler