Ghosts of St. Louis, Missouri: The Haunted Lemp Mansion Restaurant & Inn

The average person would never consider dining in a room where a suicide had once occurred, but considering the history of the Lemp Mansion it would be difficult not to feast on a leisurely meal where someone had not once taken their own life. The Italianate style mansion was built by Jacob Feickert, the son-in-law of William J. Lemp Sr. in 1868 in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri for the purpose of an elaborate residence for his family, but more so he thought it would be perfect for and auxiliary brewery office due to the estates grand size.

The thirty-three room Victorian showplace boasted walk-in vaults, each measuring 13 feet high, 15 feet wide, and 25 feet deep that the family used for expensive paintings, jewelry, and other rare items for protection from onlookers that kept a watchful eye on the mansion, waiting for an opportunity to enter the Lemp home when they were away frolicking on one of their many far away rendezvous.

The mansion was only a short distance from the brewery complex, and William kept a close eye on his show place. Money from his breweries success had allowed for him to update, remodel and turn his home into a modern day dream of the times which naturally caused jealousy from the town's citizens. The family often fell prey to criticism as so many deaths had taken place behind the mansions grand walls.

The Lemp plant produced beer that was sold in the pub that was attached to the brewery. It is believed that during this period, Lemp introduced St. Louis to the first lager beer. Business prospered, and the company rapidly expanded due to a high demand for his beer. Plans for new buildings soon evolved, and renovations of the current ones, continued on a daily basis at the Lemp brewery, and by the middle of the 1890's, the Lemp brewery was known all over America.

The Lemp Mansion was an impressive structure for it's time, and the underground portion of the beautiful Italianate estate had just as many secrets as did the living quarters. A tunnel ran between the house and the brewery that allowed for traveling along a quarried shaft, making it possible for the Lemp's to journey beneath the street, all the way in privacy to their brewery.

Money was no object as the brewery afforded them a lifestyle fitting of a king, so it came as no surprise to anyone when the Lemp family built an auditorium, ballroom, and swimming pool that could also be reached from another tunnel that led out from the basement of the mansion. The swimming pool was heated year round using hot water piped-in from the boiler house at the brewery, located only a short distance away.

Death within the mansion was no strange occurrence, only the manner in which it arrived was odd. Suicide appeared to be the choice of the Lemp family as Elsa Lemp took her own life in one of the mansion's stately guest bedrooms, and later William Lemp followed her same path by shooting himself in the heart with a .38 caliber revolver after suffering from headaches, ill health, and eventually, complete madness.

Financial backing from the brewery, and power was sound for the Lemp family well into the 1920's, but then Prohibition threatened them with total devastation and financial ruins. William Lemp was forced to liquidate the assets of the plant and auction off the buildings. He sold the famous Lemp "Falstaff" logo to brewer Joseph Griesedieck for the sum of $25,000 and in 1922, he saw the brewery sold off to the International Shoe Co. for just $588,000, a small fraction of its estimated worth of $7 million in the years before Prohibition.

Bellefontaine Cemetery is now home to the entire Lemp clan as the family line died out with Edwin Lemp in 1970, and even though their remains may be at peace, their sprits are not, and it is believed that they are still hanging around the mansion in search of their fortune.

The death of the remaining Lemp's put the mansion into the hands of greedy landlords that found the potential for making it a gold mine by turning it into a boarding house that would draw in high rents. Due to complaints from tenants concerning unusual noises, phantom footsteps and ghostly spirits bugging them throughout the night, the mansion quickly fell on hard times and began to deteriorate, along with the nearby neighborhood.

Without tenants to occupy the rooms, the mansion soon declined to the point of needing major restoration. It sat vacant until Dick Pointer purchased the Lemp Mansion in 1975 and immediately began repairs on the estate bringing it back to its original glory. They worked for several years on the mansion, and eventually opened it up for business.

The Lemp Mansion Restaurant & Inn commands attention as no detail has been left untouched. The rooms are beautifully decorated in period style furnishings, and the restaurant specializes in entrees from Beef Wellington to Prime Rib-Baroness. A unique touch has been well planned out for visitors who enjoy mystery and intrigue from the other side with a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre that features public or private showings.

Since the first day of the restaurants grand opening, staff members have experienced run-ins with the other side. Glasses have been seen to lift off the bar and fly through the air; sounds are often heard that do not have explanation and many staff members, as well as guests have reported seeing apparitions who appear and vanish at will.

Most of the guests who have dined or stayed overnight at the Lemp Mansion have reported strange incidents of doors that lock and unlock on their own. The piano in the bar has been known to play by itself, footsteps are heard in the hallway at all hours, and voices and sounds come from nowhere. The most famous spirit, who is by no means shy, has been witnessed wearing lavender garb, thought to be the spirit of Lillian Lemp, she likes to make herself be known by appearing in the dining room during large dinner crowds.

The mansion is a ghost hunter magnet that easily draws in experts of the paranormal from all over the country. In fact LIFE magazine listed the Lemp Mansion in St. Louis, Missouri as "one of the ten most haunted mansions in America, and rightfully so. The mansions reputation of being haunted still stands up to the test, and haunted tours are conducted by Betsy Belanger on Monday evenings. The address of the Lemp Mansion is: 3322 DeMenil Place, St. Louis, Missouri.

The Lemp Mansion Bed & Breakfast Suites and Pricing

Sunday - Thursday $105 - $145
Friday & Saturday $145 - $195
Holidays $170 - $245
For reservations, call: 314-664-8024

Popular by demand, The Lavender Suite is takes its name from Lillian Handlan Lemp, known in St. Louis society as "the Lavender Lady". The room is host to Italian marble, ornate mantles, brass chandeliers and hand painted wall detailing.

The William Lemp Suite is suitable for any gentleman that wishes to be treated like royalty. The period furnishings feature a walnut bed that is perfect for a restful night of sleep while under the watchful eyes of the legendary Lemp family spirits.

The Elsa Lemp Suite offers guests a panoramic view of the St. Louis skyline and Mississippi River.

The Lemp Mansion Restaurant

The lunch and dinner prices range from $4.95 to $22.95.

Sundays are a favorite as the Inn features an "All You Can Eat, All Day" Gala with offerings that include chicken, ham, and roast beef to stewed cinnamon apples and flaky dinner rolls that melt in your mouth.

The lunch and dinner menu includes an extensive array of food from Italian to Mexican entrees with plenty of appetizers to hold you over until the main course arrives.

Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre

Public Murder Mystery dinners are held every Friday and Saturday night and are $48.95 per person. The dinner menu includes soup, salad, and a dinner entrée of your choice, coffee, and dessert.

Private Murder Mystery dinners are available to guests any day that they choose, and at the time of their choice. The private room fee ranges between $100.00 to $1,000.00.