US Ghost Adventures to restore Atchison's McInteer Villa

By AI, Created 4:11 PM UTC, June 02, 2026, /AGP/ – US Ghost Adventures has bought the 1890 McInteer Villa in Atchison, Kansas, and plans to restore it as a historic landmark, museum and luxury bed and breakfast. The company will open daily tours and overnight stays while preserving the property’s haunted-tourism appeal.

Why it matters: - The purchase puts one of western Kansas’ most prominent historic homes under private ownership focused on restoration and public access. - US Ghost Adventures plans to keep McInteer Villa open to tourists while investing in preservation, which could broaden the site’s audience beyond paranormal visitors. - The company’s move adds another high-profile property to a portfolio built around historic homes with strong tourism appeal.

What happened: - US Ghost Adventures bought McInteer Villa, the 1890 Queen Anne brick mansion in Atchison, Kansas. - The company plans to restore the 136-year-old home and operate it as a historic landmark, museum and luxury bed and breakfast. - Daily historical tours will be offered at the property. - Second-floor bedrooms will be available soon for overnight stays. - US Ghost Adventures joined the Atchison Historical Society as lifetime members.

The details: - McInteer Villa was built in 1889 and 1890 for John McInteer, an Irish immigrant, Civil War veteran and Atchison businessman. - The three-story brick mansion sits at 13th and Kansas Avenue. - The home is widely considered one of the most architecturally ambitious residences built west of the Mississippi during its era. - The Queen Anne design includes a turret, wraparound porch, decorative brickwork, intricate woodwork, stained-glass detailing and a grand interior staircase. - The mansion remains substantially intact more than 135 years after construction. - US Ghost Adventures said the purchase makes McInteer Villa its fifth historic property, alongside the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts; the Villisca Axe Murder House in Villisca, Iowa; the Jennie Wade Birthplace in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; and the Brickhouse Inn in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. - Lance Zaal, president of US Ghost Adventures, said the company is investing a substantial amount to restore the front door entrance and porch. - Zaal said the company will reveal new historical information it says has not been disclosed before. - The company has already invested $25,000 in immediate structural needs. - Additional long-term preservation spending is planned. - The original 1890s front door, which has been sealed and unused for more than 50 years, and the porch will be rebuilt over the next year. - Restoration will bring back the home’s primary entrance. - Period-appropriate furnishings, window coverings and wallpaper will be reintroduced throughout the villa. - Historical artifacts, including an 1890s horse saddle and other period pieces, will be displayed in the home. - First- and second-floor bedrooms with Victorian beds will be used for overnight rentals as a luxury bed and breakfast. - Historical tours will run seven days a week and can be scheduled on McInteerVilla.com. - The company said the property will continue to welcome hobbyists interested in hauntings. - Existing programming will remain in place during the transition.

Between the lines: - US Ghost Adventures is positioning the mansion as both a preservation project and a tourism business. - The company is leaning into the home’s haunted reputation, but also trying to expand the story beyond paranormal activity to architecture, family history and Kansas history. - Research led by Zaal has uncovered new details, including McInteer’s Civil War service and a violent 1900 home invasion. - Those findings will be incorporated into a new house tour. - Stephanie O’Reilly, who bought the mansion in 2018 and first opened it to paranormal groups, said the sale protects the Villa’s future. - Atchison has built a haunted tourism economy around landmarks like McInteer Villa, and the property remains one of the town’s biggest draws.

What’s next: - US Ghost Adventures will continue research on the house and the McInteer family. - The company plans to release additional historical discoveries as work continues. - Restoration of the front door entrance and porch is expected over the next year. - Additional event announcements and preservation updates are expected in the coming months. - The company plans to keep the Villa’s current programming in place during the ownership change.