Ed Gein Roadtrip

Ed Gein Roadtrip – Plainfield, WI

On May 24th, 2006 we finally made our pilgrimage to Plainfield to experience the legend of Ed Gein for ourselves. Aside from a few uncomfortable glances from the local inhabitants, being momentarily followed by a creepy old towtruck, and unknowingly leaving with some souvenir ticks, it was an enlightening trip. When you are there it all makes sense.

Directions to Ed Gein’s Property and the Plainfield Cemetery (map)

I-35 exit 136. West on Hwy 73 a little over a mile, then left (south) on Hwy KK. After two miles, turn right (west) on Archer Ave. The former Gein property is one mile west, at the corner of Archer and 2nd Aves. NO TRESPASSING signs are on almost every tree on the property that lines Archer. The driveway is overgrown and blocked by a chain with a wooden sign that reads “Fischer.”

Most of the Gein property was carved up and sold off, but the land the farmhouse sat on is currently owned by the grandson of the man who bought it when it was auctioned off in 1958.

Fischer put the property up for sale in April of 2006, but there has been no recent news of it’s sale.

The Plainfield Cemetery is just outside of town on 5th Ave. (map)

The street sign in front of the Gein property at the corner of Archer and 2nd Ave. on the outskirts of Plainfield

The old Gein property

The shed, which is the only building still standing from when Ed Gein lived here

The area behind where the Gein farmhouse once stood

Was this Eddie's can?

Welcome to Plainfield

The Plainfield Cemetary

The Gein family plot, including the empty space where Ed Gein's headstone once stood

Eddie's older brother Henry Gein's headstone

The headstone of Eddie's father George Gein

The grave of Augusta Gein

The Plainfield Cemetary rules. Notice it doesn't mention you can't dig up bodies...

The Worden family, owners of Worden's Hardware Store

The grave of Bernice Worden, Ed Gein's last victim

The grave of Eleanor Adams, who Ed Gein had dug up shortly after her burial

This used to be Worden's. After all these years it is still a hardware store.

The Wautoma County Historical Museum, the final resting place of Ed Gein's headstone after it was stolen.

I still don’t know the exact location of the tavern owned by Mary Hogan, where, one night after bar close in 1951 Ed Gein shot her and dragged her out to his truck. If anyone has any idea where this is, please contact us.

50 Comments

1. Derek

   June 4, 2013 at 1:02 pm

   Anybody who “admires” Gein and what he did should be locked away for life. SICK IDIOTS!!!!

   Reply
2. Hailey

   April 15, 2013 at 9:44 am

   You ruined the photos by using that crappy filter over them :\

   Reply
3. Gary Lee

   March 24, 2013 at 12:38 am

   Every serial killer is after the same thing. Power and Control. Ed had a power reassurance psychopathy. He certainly qualifies as a sexual sadist. All of the things that he did were fantasized about, most likely for years. It was the death of his mother that triggered his courage to actually try to fulfill them. The problem with that is that the fantasies are never as good in reality as they are in the mind. So the person just keeps on trying to achieve that mythical place of achievement that they never will find.
   Ed started out with dead bodies. That was because he had yet to slip far enough away from his sense of consequence to actually obtain a live victim. As he began to get more and more jaded, he finally lost all sense of propriety and began to take his victims live.
   His dissociation with reality just kept getting deeper the more he catered to the fantasy and the sadism that he treasured. The accumulation of skulls, and skins, etc were more a trophy than an abhorrent desire to surround himself with and consume dead humans. To Ed the consumption of the person, and the gathering of the skulls and skins, and personal effects kept the murders alive for him. He could sit at home and be surrounded by them and as Reilly Walter says, “The murder isn’t over until the murderer says it’s over.”. He could relive each of the killings and thus relive the matricidal fantasy that he nursed most likely from puberty. These killings were all about getting even with mom, and proving to himself, and in a way her, that he was a man, and she could no longer control him. Power and Control.

   Reply
   • Barry

     June 10, 2013 at 9:40 pm

     You are way off. Ed Gein was sick but not in the same way that Theodore Bundy was. Gein was not motivated by sex of any kind where as Bundy was. The only evidence that any of his crimes were sexually motivated is when he was asked if he ever had sexual contact with the victims his response was that the bodies smelled to bad for sex. Even though genitalia was found in his home they weren’t used for any kind of sexual gratification. The getting even with mom thing shows you have know clue about this case. Ed wanted to bring his mother back to life. Almost all evidence in this case was also destroyed after the his conviction. Even the bodies he dug up and mutilated were destroyed rather then placed back in their original graves. Pretty sad tale of mental illness is what it comes down to. One thing that is rarely mentioned is Geins belief that he had conversations with god about bringing his own mother back from the dead. It should be mentioned that when his first victim disappeared he told people in town that she was in his woodshed but wasn’t taken seriously. Which tells me that the people of that town back then weren’t real clever cause what person in their right mind would say that crap knowing the penalty. There are claims that it was his way of attempting to get caught because he couldn’t stop himself. He had been confronted a few times about lurking in the cemeteries at odd hours. He also refused to answer the authorities questions until he was given a slice of apple pie with a slice of cheddar cheese. Truly a strange case that will continue capturing the minds of people for years.

     Reply
4. Donald

   January 5, 2013 at 1:01 am

   Clint, are you related to Steve Lewallen in Rapids?

   Reply
5. donald

   January 5, 2013 at 12:58 am

   put it this way- i grew up about 10 minutes away and one of my buddies from Plainfield said that somebody walked into a bar asking about Ed’s grave and Bernice Worden’s son was there and clocked the guy lol. They get sick of it and hate people nosing around asking about it so be careful if you go there.

   Reply
6. brian hreha

   October 9, 2012 at 11:58 am

   great photos. i always wanted to see the area were he lived and some of the head stones at the grave site. i was always was interested in ed gein. i am always finding information on him or just looking up facts. hope i can talk to ya on ed gein.

   Reply
7. Drayton Sawyer

   August 2, 2012 at 6:18 pm

   I HAVE AN ED GEIN HEADSTONE IN MY BACK YARD ALSO LEATHERFACE AND JIM SIEDOW AND DENNIS HOPPER I’M MAKING A LEGENDS CEMETERY IN MY BACK YARD…

   Reply
   • sarah

     October 16, 2012 at 10:28 am

     sweet!!!

     Reply
8. Vertigo Mindwarp

   July 30, 2012 at 11:03 pm

   I am fascinated by the story of Ed, I know- to a lot of people he was evil, but his life was certainly historical.
   Watching the old footage of him being taken away makes me feel sorry for the man, he looks like he really didn’t fully know what he was doing.
   Unless he was a good actor?

   When anyone visits the graves, does anyone do ‘rubbings’ anymore? (place a piece of paper on the headstone and rub a crayon across the paper to make an image of the name)
   Seems like a harmless way to bring back something without disturbing anything at the graves.

   I am curious, how do the locals act towards tourists?

   Reply
   • rob

     March 13, 2013 at 2:37 pm

     Tourists dont come around much anymore.. my grandma used to live by him and get “deer” meat. Sick shit. Every once in a while you got people looking for him

     Reply
9. clint lewallen

   July 30, 2012 at 12:13 pm

   i used to live in the wautoma jail theres a aprtment on the top floor when my dad was a cop for wautoma my mom used to feed the prisners even Ed Gein him self and i do have a photo of the bar where Ed killed Mary Hogan

   Reply
   • Vertigo Mindwarp

     August 3, 2012 at 11:56 pm

     Clint, please update me about your trip, would love to see photos!

     Reply
   • ERIC

     September 4, 2012 at 9:27 am

     do you have the photo of mary hogans tavern on the site?

     Reply
   • brian

     October 26, 2012 at 11:55 am

     i would love to see those pictures.

     Reply
10. Ed Gein, Jr.

    June 15, 2012 at 11:47 pm

    With the bad spelling, this site looks like it was done by a third grade dropout.

    Reply
11. john

    April 3, 2012 at 8:09 pm

    some of these posts are very wrong.

    Reply
12. dave

    February 19, 2012 at 1:07 am

    I am fascinated by Mr Gein. A lot of people pay more attention to dahmer. my interest is sorta in a criminal psych sorta way. I would have loved to sit down and discuss with gein his activities. I think he is way more interesting than dahmer. I would love to sit down and read his psych reports, or even the criminal reports. one of these days I will make the road trip up there.

    Reply
    • john

      April 3, 2012 at 7:56 pm

      you are not missing alot. i have lived the plainfield experience.

      Reply
13. Brett Gaddes

    November 9, 2011 at 6:09 pm

    Ed Gein lives long in our memories! Too bad Dahmer’s brother David didn’t pick-up and finish the job that Jeffrey started! The son of Dahmer to strike fear into the hearts of living pissants! Ed Gein death ride for lyf! Nobody cares about those old bag victims we want more anarchy from the likes of Gein & Dahmer! Word.

    Reply
    • tierra

      December 7, 2011 at 12:17 pm

      whatever u crazy loser. im happy he is dead;(

      Reply
    • leo

      February 2, 2012 at 7:06 pm

      shut the fuck up.. its people like you who make this world crazy like it is… if dahmers brother were to kill people he should kill you… bye bye.. have a nice day!!!!!!!!

      Reply
    • s.

      April 13, 2012 at 1:14 am

      Why don’t you emulate Mr. Gein and go stick a bunch of huge needles in your body orifices?

      Reply
      • swiinzinski

        May 22, 2012 at 3:37 pm

        Albert Fish was the one who stuck needles in his orifices, not Ed Gein.

        Reply
14. Bubs69

    July 11, 2011 at 7:46 am

    In some kind of twisted sense Ed Gein along with other Serial Killers have fascinated me because I study them to try and find out what makes them tick. However Gein is one of those special cases that no matter how hard you try NOBODY can really get inside the mind of this poor man. Lonelyness and iscolation are without fail the prime factors that warped this man’s mind along with the nutcase holy roller mother. I often if she was hellbent about sex, did she conceive by imaculate conception?? Poor Eddie never had a chance. I am not trying to glorify him but in alot of ways he is not totally at fault of his crimes when you look at the big picture.

    Reply
    • Nicole

      August 8, 2011 at 6:07 pm

      You don’t want to get in his mind because if you do you will never get out. Heck you might become all messed up just like him.

      Reply
15. spongebob and patrick

    October 14, 2010 at 6:42 pm

    doooooooode. this dude is awesome. he reminds me of squidward.(: yeah buddy.

    Reply
    • Emily Harrison

      May 19, 2011 at 4:53 pm

      dude the last thing that this is is awesome…real mature to say that this reminds you of flipping squidward btw…this is horrifying and terrible.

      Reply
16. tiffany and ali

    October 14, 2010 at 6:41 pm

    THIS IS SO SCARY!

    Reply
17. Jason

    October 11, 2010 at 2:09 am

    I grew up in Plainfield. I went to high school there. Gein is a subject that isn’t talked about there. Of course, you here a few things, but you just don’t bring it up. I finally went to his grave, took some pics, and listened to stories from the groundskeeper. I know the name of the person who currently possesses the headstone (in his basement), however, I’m not releasing that info. I don’t want people breaking into the man’s home. He said, most likely it will be buried in an undisclosed location so people won’t dig it up, and marked in the book, in case someone from family wants it in the future. Also, he is not buried where most people think. He is on the east side of the headstones, not the side with the names. So all the people who dig up the dirt from the grave to sell on ebay, are usually digging in the wrong spot. All I know is that the groundskeeper is tired of filling in holes, which he said is almost always on the wrong side.

    Reply
    • heidi

      January 4, 2011 at 8:44 pm

      wat a lot of shit u talk man

      Reply
    • john

      April 3, 2012 at 8:03 pm

      the headstone is not in a basement at someones house. i know it for a fact. i cannot say how i know i just know. there was one man that knew where ed was burried and he passed almost a year ago now. he was the single solitart man present when the grave was dug and when it was filled in. btw graves go north to south not east to west. ed is NOT burried near his mom where his headstone was at. if you want to sound like an authority go to class buddy. some fuckin people.

      Reply
18. cadaver steve

    May 4, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    i’ve been to plainfield cemetery several times and took photos with me and fellow ghoul. the first time is better than losing your virginity, maybe because when i went, there was a fresh grave ready for the planting, i got directions to it from a pedophile in a park, found a missing child poster a row back from eddie’s, and got followed into the cemetery and watched by some mysterious truck that left and returned several times to make sure my droog and i weren’t donning homemade girl suits or something. it was awesome, particularly when i lied on top of eddie’s grave, i never quite felt that kind of rush or electrical charge since.
    i always wanted to stomp around where his house use to be and thanks to your site, i have directions. i will definitely check it out this summer with maniacal glee.

    Reply
19. huey

    January 12, 2010 at 2:20 am

    I have the second headstone of ed geins, but need a picture of it while it was on his grave, please email me a [email protected]

    Reply
    • john

      April 3, 2012 at 8:04 pm

      hey asshole there never was a second headstone put on. tell another lie bitch.

      Reply
20. Rosheen

    December 16, 2009 at 5:30 pm

    I have just come across this website when i was reasearching ED GEIN, and think that it is wrong to show images of people sat on his mothers grave!!!!!! I belive Ed was an extremely disturbed man and his actions were appauling< however i do not belive in people sitting on his mothers grave with a smile on their face!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
21. Lake

    December 4, 2009 at 11:20 pm

    I have pictures of a violin in my photo collection on YouTube, a violin and also what may be a cello. I don’t know what happened to it after the house fire, but it is there when people were taking pictures inside of the house. The violin is at about 1:27 and the cello? is at 2:08

    Reply
22. johnplfd

    November 17, 2009 at 1:03 am

    well i read and re read and found zero on a vionil. i even made some calls and still nothing. it could have existed. it still may. but one thing to keep in mind ed had the education of an 8th grader. what are the chances? it may have been laying around among the skulld skin and various body parts. it may have been in his mothers room too. i have nothing concrete. sorry. any other questions just ask.

    Reply
    • machias

      January 24, 2011 at 3:57 am

      The violin is clearly seen in this picture from Time of Gein’s bedroom

      http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/39992/inside-a-serial-killers-house#index/15

      Reply
23. johnplfd

    November 11, 2009 at 3:19 am

    chuk. i believe the violin angle is a bit of hype. if it was mentioned in his book (one which i have refused to read) i dont doubt it existed. but a few things come to mind. eds death car is something highly saught after. its been made a fairly big deal of. why not the violin? i have studied for 13 years now and never read or heard word one about it in any circle any where. and i am in the heart of ed gein country. i went through some old papers and pictures that were redily available to me and saw nothing. i have two more sources i will check and let you know what i find. im almost sure i will come up empty though.

    Reply
24. Chuk

    November 9, 2009 at 4:25 pm

    I believe the violin was mentioned in the Harold Schechter book “Deviant.” Of course that doesn’t make it accurate, but if it is…I want it.

    Reply
25. johnplfd

    November 9, 2009 at 1:44 am

    chuk i have seen hours of gein footage. i have seen pictures and visited many of his old stomping grounds. i have went so far as to talk to the auction house that did his auction in 58. yes they are still around. now having said that i have never seen mention of a violin. a truck yes. and the famous ghoul car. its whereabouts seem to have eluded the best. but no violin. it seems that it would be a legend maybe. i could be wrong. i know people who may know though. if interested please email me. im down for whatever.

    j

    Reply
    • Alisha

      November 9, 2010 at 5:50 am

      Hi,
      I seen your post about Ed Gein, can you tell me a bit about the person who auctioned his stuff off after he wen to0 prison? what did the person say, what kinda stories did he tell you, if any?
      again email me back at my personal email above.
      Alisha
      wbs

      Reply
      • john

        April 3, 2012 at 8:08 pm

        his auction was before he went to prison

        Reply
26. Chuk

    November 4, 2009 at 9:31 am

    I just want the Gein family violin to use in a recording. I’ve heard it was sold at the auction, but obviously isn’t of enough interest for anyone to have tracked it from there.

    Reply
27. johnplfd

    November 4, 2009 at 9:12 am

    i live in plainfield. i moved here for the gein experience. i have talked to most of the town about it under the cover of not wanting certin people to find out about my inquiries. it is not a subject to be brought up in some circles. my circle is just fine though. i started my “obsession” in college and now 15 years later i have seen the property which was closed on may 8th i believe of 2008, and is now owned by a husband and wife in brookfield. i have read books seen documenteries watched movies and comtacted the auction house that did the auction march 28 1958. im all about ed. i have 3 things i want to do before i die that deal with ed. first on my list is to see his headstone. anyone that wants to talk about ed, im available to anytime. [email protected]. email me anytime you want to ill ALWAYS respond.

    Reply
    • Alisha

      November 9, 2010 at 5:59 am

      John,

      Email me anytime I am fasinated by Ed Gein!..

      Alisha

      Reply
      • john

        April 3, 2012 at 8:08 pm

        you have my email address please feel free.

        Reply
    • Sam_Murders

      September 10, 2011 at 3:16 am

      Dude. Anytime you want to chat about him, I’d be glad to. I’ve got the book the judge who convicted him wrote and talked to the Curator at the museum in Wautoma, who informed me and my friend that the headstone is with one of his family members, not in the museum, and could possibly be in an unknown cemetery. His property was cleared out when I went and all that stands is the shed. What really pisses me off is now people are taking to chipping at his mothers headstone. I don’t care who the person was, THAT is disrespectful. Serial killers are a passion of mine and I love studying them. So, hit me up on here or my email, [email protected]

      Reply
28. Josh Long

    October 6, 2009 at 6:16 pm

    Nice photos! I LOVE THIS SITE!!! haha, its a trip! I wish I woulda known about it sooner. I’ve been browsing it for an hour and I dont think i’ve gone thru half of it yet. Good work, what exactly is Wisconsin Sickness if you dont mind me asking, im assuming you’re affiliated with a band (same name?), anyways, great shit! Im also a fan on your facebook (gag). Keep up the good work
    -the “Ed Gein Roadtrip” youtube guy, Josh

    Reply