Retlaw Plaza Hotel

The Retlaw Plaza Hotel stands as a distinctive architectural landmark in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, positioned prominently in the city's downtown district. The hotel was constructed in the early twentieth century during a period of significant commercial expansion and prosperity in Fond du Lac, reflecting the aspirations and architectural preferences of that era. The building features ornate detailing and a layout designed to accommodate the social and commercial needs of the traveling public during the height of American hotel culture. The structure underwent various renovations and updates throughout the twentieth century, with management and ownership transitioning multiple times as the hospitality industry evolved and contemporary expectations for hotel amenities changed. The Retlaw name itself derives from a reversal of the surname of an original proprietor, a naming convention that would have been notable and memorable during the era of the hotel's founding.

The hotel's paranormal reputation centers significantly on the legend of Room 717, which has become known as the location's most intensely haunted space. According to accounts, a young woman fell or was pushed from Room 717 to her death on the street below, an incident that occurred sometime during the mid-twentieth century. The circumstances surrounding her death remain subject to various interpretations and theories, with some accounts suggesting suicide while others hint at foul play or accident. Additionally, the spirit of Walter Schroeder, reportedly a former owner or manager of significant historical importance to the property, is believed to haunt the hotel. A redheaded woman dressed in a white bathrobe has been described in reports from various areas of the building, her identity and circumstances unknown but apparently associated with the paranormal phenomena.

Paranormal activity at the Retlaw manifests across multiple forms and affects numerous areas of the structure. Loud, forceful banging on doors occurs frequently, often concentrated on upper floors but reported throughout the building. Guests and staff have consistently reported sudden drops in temperature creating uncomfortably cold zones despite normal heating conditions. Doors have been observed closing and locking automatically, trapping occupants in rooms or isolating areas of the building. Electrical phenomena include lights turning on and off without physical intervention, creating an unsettling pattern of illumination throughout the hotel. Scratching sounds emanating from walls and structural elements have been documented, suggesting possible intelligent manipulation of the building's infrastructure. Most disturbing, several guests have reported what they interpret as physical assaults by unseen entities, experiencing scratching, pushing, or impacts without visible cause. Disembodied male voices speaking in deep tones have been captured and documented, along with plaintive cries for help heard echoing through corridors and rooms. Phantom footsteps traverse hallways and upper floors regularly, while mysterious humming sounds have been reported emanating from various locations, suggesting possible musical or vocal phenomena from the spiritual realm.

The extensive and diverse nature of paranormal phenomena at the Retlaw Plaza Hotel has made it one of Wisconsin's most documented haunted locations. Paranormal investigation teams have spent considerable time and resources studying the location, capturing evidence of various phenomena and documenting accounts from dozens of guests and employees. The consistency of reported phenomena across multiple decades, combined with the specificity of witness accounts, suggests complex and multi-faceted paranormal activity rather than isolated incidents. The combination of apparent tragic death, unresolved circumstances, and strong emotional imprints appears to have created conditions highly conducive to ongoing paranormal manifestation.

Today, the Retlaw Plaza Hotel continues operating as a functional hotel, attracting guests both for conventional business travel and for paranormal investigation purposes. The property has become a significant destination for paranormal enthusiasts and investigators seeking firsthand experience of authentic haunting phenomena. Room 717 and the upper floors remain particularly popular with visitors specifically seeking paranormal encounters. The hotel represents a convergence of genuine hospitality function and documented supernatural activity, creating a unique environment where guests may expect both comfortable accommodations and potentially dramatic encounters with phenomena that defy conventional explanation.