About

The Last Turn Saloon is one of Brainerd’s oldest and most iconic businesses, dating back to the early pioneer and railroad days of the city that grew from the banks of the Mississippi River. Its current location on South Eighth Street is not the original — the first Last Turn was located at the corner of Fourth Street South and Front Street. The original saloon was the site of one of Brainerd’s darkest moments, as was recently recounted in the pages of the Dispatch by contributor Jeremy Jackson. A public lynching of two brothers of mixed Native American and European heritage accused of murdering a white woman named Ellen McArthur took place outside. That was July 1872. The brothers pleaded not guilty, were never tried and no verdict was ever brought in the case.  With a morbid history like that, it would be understandable if a creepy feeling persisted with the place. But it’s actually the second location on Eighth Street that appears to be haunted by any number of apparitions. At least, that’s what many former employees would swear by. The DispatchCast speaks with one of those employees to hear the haunted tales of the Last Turn Saloon. Host/Producer: Chelsey Perkins Guests: Jennifer Karas, Ed Mattson