Haunted Door County

Haunted America

by Gayle Soucek

Bucolic Door County has a rich haunted history of spooky shipwrecks, bizarre tales and ghost stories.

Because Door County received its name from ""Death's Door,"" the perilous strait with more freshwater shipwrecks than anywhere else in the world, it should be no surprise that the idyllic county has plenty of ghostly history. In the company of storyteller Gayle Soucek, meet lighthouse keepers whose sense of duty extends beyond the grave. Catch a glimpse of the phantom ship Le Griffon, never seen for more than a moment since it sailed through a crack in the ice in 1679. And it is not just the waters of Door County that carry the freight of haunted tales--Country Road T has its share of spooks, bizarre beasts have caused disturbances in the woods and there are whispered rumors that infamous gangster Al Capone added to the county's stock of ghosts through a handful of brutal murders, including an ex-girlfriend and two unacknowledged children.

Genres: Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2012

Reviews

[Zosi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jude Walko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows the trend of “haunted” places across America. I being a fan of such places am just the kind of person in this demographic.

That being said, though, this market is over saturated with hearse rides, cemetery tours, and stories like these that are grasping a bit for straws to be sellable in a growing market for horror, paranormal and the billions of dollar’s gothic Halloween aesthetic.

However what this book does accomplish is to paint a picturesque portrait of a quaint and historic part of the northern peninsulas and bays of Wisconsin and the UP of West Michigan.

I feel like this book would have done better as a historical reference rather than chasing ghost tales and far-reaching campfire stories, but like the towns themselves it has a lot of charm.

Definitely give it a read, but don’t expect any frightening tales that will keep you up at night. It might however make you jump in your car and visit the beautiful beachside towns full of pubs, the catch of the day and friendly, courteous people.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect book for a fall evening when the wind makes those scary noises through the trees, especially if you’re fortunate enough to be sitting in Door County while reading it! Soucek’s writing style is quite personable, and you feel like you’re listening to a friend as she tells the stories of paranormal places and sightings in our midst. Some of the stories you’ve heard before, but with Soucek’s research and knack for storytelling they’re even scarier and more believable than the last time you heard the tale. She tells of the haunted lighthouses and ghost ships and then moves onto those events that are legendary to DC. The chills will run both up and down your spine as she tells the back story and if you’re still left wondering – read the story again; you just might finish the book a believer.

[Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short stories about various haunted places in Door County Wisconsin. I found the background stories more interesting than the ghost stories.

[amaya the cactus · Rating 4 out of 5]

3¾ stars

last October, my husband and i spent a holiday in Door County, WI, and part of the fun was going on a 'haunted' tour in an old-fashioned trolley car to celebrate Halloween. the tour was fantastic, and i got this book from my husband as a way to commemorate it. it somehow got lost in the shuffle shortly after i started reading it. fortunately, i just found my book and was able to finish it.

i loved the history lessons and learnt a lot about the area from this book. it was well written and pretty comprehensive. the author is clearly familiar with and appreciative of the area, and this shone through the pages; you know you're reading the words of someone who enjoyed writing them.

to be clear, im not a believer in the metaphysical or supernatural or divine. this was still a fun collection to read: it is a special book about a special place; and tbh, we all love a good ghost story from time to time, whether we believe them or not. ; )

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book features some ghost stories and brief history lessons from Door County, Wisconsin. I love these Haunted America books for the simple fact that they are quick reads. I read this one in the pick up line at school, like I have all of the others. It passes the time without getting me annoyed that I have to stop reading because I am heavily invested in the book. Each chapter is just a few pages long, so it works out quite well. This one is available to read for free with the Kindle Unlimited subscription. It was an alright read, and I especially liked reading the stories about the lighthouses and shipwrecks. I love to read about shipwrecks.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book since I live near Green Bay, WI and we go to Door County all the time. The places the author mentioned I knew well and next time I go there I will think of the stories. I thought some of the stories were a little long winded and I lost a little bit of interest, but kept reading just because of how much of a tie I have to Door County and am very interested in the paranormal. Had I not been from this area, I would have quit reading.

[Sara Chapman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Door County and I love history. I chose to read this book for the Halloween season, hoping for a spook! Maybe it was my misunderstanding that this book would deliver that. The haunts are at the end of each drawn out tale and have minimal detail. I was disappointed to find these shorts are more history based versus spooky.

[Angela Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Door County I never knew!

My family is from Door County (Jacksonport to be exact) and as I now live in GA, I really enjoyed reading these stories and learning a bit about more the Door County that I love.

[Katie F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and fun

I really enjoyed learning about the history of Door County. It is a beautiful area and it was great to learn more about it. I love folk lore, and this book didn't disappoint. I hope to get to some of the locations one day.

[Jessica Hangartner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the history along with the supernatural encounters. The last little bit of the book (focusing on animals, ufos, and cryptids) was so rushed and short compared to the rest, it didn't feel like it was written by the same person.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy the history behind these stories. Was interesting.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was more of a history of Door County book. More pages were devoted to back stories than the strange and paranormal. Still was a quick and interesting read.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. A lot of information on the history, but thought there'd be more on the hauntings. It was still interesting though.

[Kelly Derlein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short stories building on the history of Door County and dabbling in the paranormal experiences of the area.

[John Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good local history book.

[Lauren Vilendrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun little book with a lot of Door County history hidden inside! Some very intriguing spooky stories perfect to read on a trip to the peninsula! 👻

[Darci · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories are 'mild' which makes them more believable in a way. Mostly I enjoyed the history that was blended into each of the stories. It gave a picture of what it was like to live in this rather remote location in the early days. We've visited the area on vacation a few times, and took the trolley "Ghost Tour", so the book brought back some good memories of our visits.

[Haley Besaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5, who doesn’t love a good scary ghost story, also while learning about door county’s vast history. Perfect stories to read around a fire. Would read this again and highly recommend if you frequently visit the area. Don’t read unless you believe in ghosts!

[Brooke Dollevoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great history of door county and information on haunted areas and sightings!