An unexpected underground world pulses just below downtown St. Paul—these old sandstone tunnels have hosted mushroom farms, mobsters, speakeasies, and now live swing nights and immersive history tours. Step in for a mix of chilling stories, architectural oddity, and authentic Minnesota lore.
Carved from rich St. Peters sandstone in the mid‑1800s as mining tunnels, the caves found new life around 1899 as America’s first underground mushroom farm. In 1933, they transformed into the legendary Castle Royal nightclub where prohibition-era gangsters mingled with high society. Today, that shadowy legacy fuels themed walking tours, swing dance events, ghost hunts, and murder‑mystery dinners within the atmospheric chambers.
Key Highlights
Walking through these tunnels, you’ll feel transported to another era. The Historic Cave Tour leads you through gently illuminated chambers that once doubled as a mushroom grow‑house and later a swanky nightclub. Interpretive storytelling reveals tales of crime, cover‑ups, and the city’s hush‑hush policing agreements.
On Swing Nights, the largest chamber opens into a 1,600 sq ft hardwood dance floor beneath a vaulted sandstone ceiling. Live big‑band music recreates 1940s-era glamour while dancers spin under vintage lighting—it’s immersive flashback energy.
For those craving spookier thrills, the Lost Souls Tour delves into ghost lore: bullet-pocked fireplaces, hidden rooms, and unexplained footsteps after dark. The approach leans toward intrigue and reflection rather than horror theatrics.
Group events like murder‑mystery dinners, corporate gatherings, or wedding receptions embrace the ambiance with vintage décor, brick walls, stucco ceilings, and the original 1930s bar and stage. It feels quirky and atmospheric in all the right ways.
Atmosphere & Décor
The caves are noticeably cooler than the outside air, lending an uncanny yet inviting feel. Walls of sandstone, arched ceilings, and mood lighting evoke both speakeasy secrecy and vintage elegance.
Rooms originally built for mushroom cultivation now serve as lounge spaces with well-worn tile, a historic fifty-foot bar, and classic club tables. The décor evokes 1930s high society with leather seating and period knick-knacks, signs of aging included as part of the charm.
Restored event spaces feel cozy yet expansive—tours reveal different nooks and hallways once used for card games, dining, dancing, and storage. The blend of roughly carved stone and vintage fixtures creates a consistent sense of hidden history.
Other Considerations
So how’s the cost? Standard walking tours start around $8–10 and last roughly an hour—an excellent value given the unique venue and storytelling. Specialty experiences like swing nights and immersive tours cost more, but they include music or theatrical themes and are widely considered worth it.
How crowded does it get? Weekend and evening events fill up—particularly swing nights. Weekday tours are often quieter. Most groups appreciate the guided pace and limited wait time through cozy corridors.
Parking & accessibility: The caves sit just off the Mississippi River near downtown, with a small on-site lot and nearby city parking. The main entrance has a ramp for accessibility, though tour paths include uneven flooring and gentle stairs.
Hidden gems? A bullet-riddled stone fireplace—rumored evidence of mob-era showdowns—still remains in a quiet room. Guides also encourage everyone to try dancing during swing nights, with beginner lessons kicking off each event in a fun, inclusive atmosphere.
Wabasha Street Caves
📍 215 Wabasha Street South, Saint Paul, MN 55107
