Witch Road

Witch Road (Callan Road on the map) in Fond du Lac County is one of the region’s most whispered-about backroads: a quiet gravel loop off Highway KK where isolation, folklore, and local memory collide. Known simply as “Witch Road,” this stretch of countryside has long been tied to stories of a reclusive woman said to haunt the woods. Though the original farmhouse is gone, its legacy lingers in the imagination. Some claim a gnarled tree along the road twists into the unmistakable silhouette of a witch, watching from the tree line. Others describe fleeting glimpses of the spirit of a young girl flitting between the trees as if still trying to escape something unseen.

The legend appears to be rooted in real history. In 1893, John and Cleora Thorndike purchased a farm along Callan Road. After their deaths, their twin daughters, Grace and Gertrude, lived out their lives there in near-total seclusion. Grace died in 1971, leaving Gertrude alone on the property until her death in 1987. Their withdrawn lifestyle fueled speculation among locals for decades, eventually evolving into darker folklore. After the home was abandoned, it fell into ruin and was ultimately destroyed by fire, an event that only deepened the mystery and gave rise to the enduring “witch” legend.

Today, Callan Road remains one of Wisconsin’s most haunted roads, a place where curiosity draws visitors, especially after dark. Reports of unexplained lights drifting through the trees, sudden cold spots, and distant, untraceable sounds persist. Whether shaped by imagination or something more, Witch Road stands as a chilling example of how isolation, rumor, and real lives can blur into something far more haunting.

Reported Paranormal Activity

• Apparitions of a young girl appearing among the trees
• Gnarled tree resembling a witch-like figure
• Glowing orbs and unexplained lights moving through the woods
• Sudden cold spots along the road
• Disembodied voices, whispers, and other unexplained sounds
• An intense feeling of being watched or followed
• Occasional reports of unexplained vehicle or headlight disturbances
• Shadow figures seen near the former farmhouse site