Children in the hallway Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
WCCO reported in 2021 that owner Kelley Freese said guests often complain of kids playing in the halls all night, only to be told no children were staying there; a staff member said she spoke with a woman resembling Palmer's daughter Hazel, who then vanished. Source: WCCO, 2021.
Facts below are drawn from the linked sources.
Real history
Ralph and Christena Palmer built the hotel in 1901 on the site of the Sauk Centre House, which burned on June 26, 1900; a matching rear addition followed in 1916. It catered to traveling salesmen and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 (Wikipedia).
Ghost stories
These are reported legends, not verified events. The creepiness score (1–5) is Spook Atlas's own editorial rating, not a measurement.
The basement Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
Author Natalie Fowler told WCCO in the same story that she had seen a dark shadow pacing across a basement doorway, a hallway some researchers call the most haunted part of the hotel. Source: WCCO, 2021.
Author Natalie Fowler told WCCO in the same story that she had seen a dark shadow pacing across a basement doorway, a hallway some researchers call the most haunted part of the hotel. Source: WCCO, 2021.
Then and now
Public access
Open to the public The hotel lists restaurant hours, historical tours and phone-only reservations on its own site (Palmer House Hotel). Last checked: Nov 1, 2026.
Explore more
- More places in Sauk Centre and Minnesota
- More haunted & abandoned hotels
- Nearby: Old Crow Wing (Brainerd, MN), Fergus Falls State Hospital (Fergus Falls, MN), Fort Ridgely (Fairfax, MN), Forepaugh's (St. Paul, MN)
⚠️ Please read: This information may be outdated and conditions change. Verify access with the owner or operator before you go. Spook Atlas does not encourage trespassing. Entering private, closed or condemned property can be illegal and dangerous. Report a correction.
Reader experiences
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