October 30, 2025, 2:15 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Would you like to live in a haunted house where paranormal things happen? No ghost story, no horror film: For Kyle Wheeler and Aleha Jane, this is reality. The young couple bought the legendary Bissell Mansion in St. Louis and was recently even a finalist in a TV show that crowns America’s scariest house. What the ghost house is really about–TRAVELBOOK explains the background and spoke with homeowner Kyle Wheeler.
As the newspaper St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes, war veteran Captain Lewis Bissell built the Bissell Mansion in 1823 in the College Hill district–the oldest house in St. Louis to this day. The owners changed several times. Mysterious occurrences and legends have circulated about the property ever since–from a series of deaths to eerie figures behind windows and creepy noises in the hallways.
“God Wanted Us to Buy This House”
“God wanted us to buy this house and removed every obstacle to make it happen,” Kyle Wheeler reports when asked by TRAVELBOOK.
For 40 years, the property was a popular murder mystery dinner theater where guests could solve fictional murders while dining. “When my wife and I got together in 2019, we really wanted to attend a show there, but it was sold out. We were only in town for one night, so we at least drove by to see the building from the outside–and we fell in love immediately.”
He was particularly fascinated by the Greek-inspired architecture and the German brick construction: “When it came on the market in 2022, we knew we had to buy it.” The couple purchased the property last October for $205,000–without ever having seen it from the inside.
Footsteps, Ghosts, and Opening Doors
To this day, the house seems to retain its creepiness: In June, owner Kyle Wheeler found a human skeleton under the old porch. The police then cordoned off the area until the origin of the bones is clarified.
“I constantly hear footsteps on the upper floor, lights turn on by themselves, and doors with complicated locks suddenly open,” says Wheeler. “I can explain why the light flickers–but not why doors unlock themselves or heavy boots walk down the hallway.”
Construction workers also reported seeing an older man in black clothing staring at them from the upper window. “I myself have never seen anything supernatural, but my wife is convinced the place is haunted,” Wheeler says.
TRAVELBOOK also presents Wheeler with the photo seen here–and even he reacts puzzled: “This picture is really creepy–I have no idea what that is!”
A House With Many Deaths
The Bissell Mansion is a house marked by misfortune. The newspaper “St. Louis Republic” reported in 1857 on the death of a slave of the house named Aunt Till, who allegedly lived to be an incredible 130 years old.
In 1882, the Bissells sold the house to the Kraft family–who were then struck by a real tragedy. “To this day, we know of 13 people who actually died here,” Wheeler confirms. “We also know the circumstances of some deaths. Three children died within eleven days in 1886 from diphtheria–a severe lung infection.”
In 1953, the property was supposed to be demolished, but the Landmarks Association of St. Louis intervened to save it from demolition. It was then briefly converted into a restaurant before becoming the popular murder mystery dinner theater.
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“The House Is Too Creepy to Raise Kids Here”
Today, the couple owns a house with eleven bedrooms, 13 fireplaces, and a huge basement–but also a significant need for renovation. The plaster is crumbling, the wallpaper is old, and the lighting is dim.
“Over time, we realize the house is too creepy to raise kids here,” Wheeler says. “But we want to renovate it, reopen the dinner theater, and allow guests to stay here.”
Haunted House Featured in TV Show
The Bissell Mansion was recently even a finalist in the HGTV show “Scariest House in America.” This show features houses full of hauntings, horror, and fear. However, the $150,000 prize for renovations was won by another haunted house in the U.S. Nonetheless, the Wheelers are proud that their old property received so much attention from the TV show. Whether they will be able to manage the restoration and reopening as a murder mystery dinner theater without the high prize money remains to be seen. The couple expects it will take two years to complete.