Last night I finally had the chance to go on Punderson Manor’s Haunted History Tour. The tour is given by former park manager and local historian Nick Fischbach.
If you choose to eat at the manor before the tour, make sure to come early enough to order your meal and enjoy it, the tour will begin promptly at 8:30pm. (We recommended seating for dinner around 6:00pm to be safe – it may depend on how busy the dining room is, if you finish dinner early, you can always take a walk on the new boardwalk before the tour begins.)
Your night will begin in the entrance (just outside the gift shop by the curved staircase) of the Tudor style manor for introductions and a briefing about what you will learn. The tour will take you throughout the manor, inside and out (weather permitting).
Although the ghosts are the focus of the tour, you will also learn about the history of the area. This includes a history of the property from the Native American tribes that once lived where the campground is now, to the highs and lows of the property owners from the Pundersons, to the Cleveland family and their acquaintances. You may also be surprised to have some rumors put to rest about the manor and its former residents.
Although we aren’t going to give away any surprises here, the tour will definitely give you some exclusive details and access you won’t get elsewhere.
Cameras are welcome on the tour, and you can take as many pictures as you like. You will hear ghost stories that have been shared over the years by park guests and employees with historical details to back them up for those who may be “non-believers”.
The Haunted History Tours are scheduled on Thursday evenings, beginning promptly at 8:30pm. The tour is approximately one hour and thirty minutes long, but this may vary depending on the group size. We recommend dressing comfortably for walking throughout the manor and outside, and if you happen to feel a cold chill blow past you, don’t worry; it is probably just a ghost passing by.