Despite its popularity, most visitors will never know this Minnesota park's dark secret. That's right. Thousands of people visit Duluth's Enger Park and its iconic tower every year, but relatively few know that a tragic death occurred here - or that the victim's ghost still haunts it.
Enger Park, in Duluth's West End neighborhood, was first developed in the 1920s.
It was named for furniture dealer Bert Enger, who donated much of the land to the city for use as a park.
Visitors avoid the park's dangerous, precipitous cliffs that, nevertheless, yield stunning views.
Once called Grand Mountain, the park's location affords visitors sweeping vistas across Duluth's harbor to Lake Superior and beyond. A spur trail segment of the Superior Hiking Trail leads to the park, so SHT hikers can also enjoy the views.
Dark copses of trees cast shadows across much of the park.
Visitors to the park's wooded areas enjoy the fabulous fall foliage and plenty of shade on sunny summer days.
Enger Tower, the park's most popular attraction, draws thousands of unsuspecting visitors every year.
When the tower is open, visitors climb its five levels. Their efforts are rewarded with 360-degree panoramas across the city, along with its hills and harbor, over to the lake and the St. Louis River valley.
When the sun goes down, though, this Minnesota park's dark secret emerges.
In 1948, a man lept to his death from Enger Tower's top level.
Although his body was found hours later, authorities could not identify the man. His name remains unknown to this day.
According to legend, the man's ghost haunts the park and is often seen in the fifth-floor windows of Enger Tower.
When witnesses climb up to investigate, however, the man has vanished - and there is only one way into or out of the tower.
If you're careful near the edges of the park's cliffs, you'll probably be fine if you visit - but beware of the ghost. Have you ever seen the Enger Park ghost? What other popular natural areas in Minnesota hold a dark or terrifying secret?
Folks who enjoy creepy places will also love Duluth's haunted iron ore ship, the William A. Irvin. Be sure to pay it a visit when you're in town!
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