You know, it might not be Halloween all year round like we might wish it was, but that’s not to say you can’t love getting a little freaked out all the time, right? Michigan is home to plenty of frightening places that are often said to be haunted. Whether you’ve heard of these creepy sites or not, one thing is for sure: your skin is about to crawl.

1. The Felt Mansion (Holland)
Norm Hoekstra/Flickr
This elegant home on the west side of the state is a popular venue for weddings and other special events, but its lovely architecture is often overshadowed by a spooky legend. Rumor has it that the forest surrounding the mansion is home to a group of strange, round-headed creatures called "Melonheads," who emerge at night and frighten nosy Michiganders with their bizarre behavior.

Address: 6597 138th Avenue, Holland, Michigan, 49423
2. The Masonic Temple (Detroit)
Jess/Flickr
This eerie Detroit building has been a fixture in the city since it was built in 1912. Since then, it’s been host to plenty of ghost stories. One popular story holds that George Mason, the temple’s founder, has haunted the premises since his death inside the building in 1948.

Address: 500 Temple Street, Detroit, Michigan, 48201
3. The Terrace Inn (Petoskey)
Terrace Inn Management/TripAdvisor
Check in to this historic hotel for a genuinely frightening experience. At least three apparitions have been reported in this historic inn, including a woman who wanders the halls dressed in all white. Reports of footsteps have also been noted around the hotel; talk about spooky.

Address: 1549 Glendale Avenue, Petoskey, Michigan, 49770
4. Seul Choix Point Lighthouse (Gulliver)
Mark/Flickr
Venture to Schoolcraft County for a visit to this lighthouse, which has stood since 1892. Visitors report noticing a strong odor of cigar smoke, which is often attributed to the frequent smoking of former lighthouse keeper Captain Joseph Townsend. Townsend’s body was actually stored in the basement of the keeper’s house as the cold, frozen-over land thawed enough for burial.

Address: 3183 County Highway 431, Gulliver, Michigan, 49840
5. The Grave of Little Mary at Hillcrest Memorial Park (Jackson)
jaydro/Flickr
Legend has it that a young girl named Mary was mistakenly buried alive in Jackson's Hillcrest Memorial Park during the summer of 1892. To this day, ghost hunters report hearing the sound of young Mary screaming and scratching frantically from the inside of her coffin. Uhh, yikes.

Address: 1425 North Elm Avenue, Jackson, Michigan, 49202
6. USS Edson (Bay City)
Mike Fritcher/Flickr
This Vietnam-era ship has been the subject of countless paranormal investigations. Its involvement in conflicts across the world, some say, have left it haunted by the ghosts of soldiers, civilians, and unknown entities. For more information on the ship, click here.
7. Bone Heads BBQ (Willis)
wearybones/TripAdvisor
The building that houses this eatery is believed to have been built around 1865, and its long history has left plenty of time for ghosts to move in. Employees and patrons have reported everything from unexplained swinging lamps to flickering lights throughout the restaurant.

Address: 10256 Willis Road, Willis, Michigan, 48191
8. The Paulding Light (Watersmeet Township)
Flivver 99/Wikimedia
This eerie light has been known to appear in a small valley just off of US 45. On clear nights, paranormal enthusiasts gather to bravely await the appearance of this frightening phenomenon. For further spooky details, click here.
9. 
Elmwood Cemetery (Detroit)
Rain0975/Flickr
Take a walk through this scenic Detroit cemetery, which stands as one of Michigan’s oldest. The landscape and design are simply gorgeous, but that doesn’t keep the spirits at bay; with hundreds of Civil War veterans and other notable graves onsite, Elmwood is home to its fair share of ghost sightings.

Address: 1200 Elmwood Street, Detroit, Michigan, 48207

Did these Michigan ghost stories spook or surprise you? Are we forgetting any other haunted spots in Michigan? Tell us your stories in the comments.

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Haunted Places in Michigan

Tori Jane | May 02, 2021

Where are some interesting abandoned places in Michigan?

Lucky for those of us who love urbex (urban exploration or, in other words, exploring abandoned places), Michigan is a great state for it. There are plenty of interesting, unusual, and sometimes straight-up spooky abandoned places peppered all over the state. Some of our favorites include the always-eerie Sugar Loaf Ski Lodge, in Cedar, which was abandoned in 2000 and is always worth a gander. Of course, you can only view this one from the outside; to enter is considered trespassing. However, it’s an interesting look at what life once was a little over two decades ago now (seriously, 2000 was more than 20 years ago). Plenty of buildings in Detroit have been retaken by nature, and they’re always a sight to see. For example, there’s the old Pontiac Silverdome, as well as Southwestern High School. These places always seem to offer a glimpse into the past. 

Are there any Michigan ghost stories? 

Of course. Michigan is a state filled to the brim with creepy stories, urban legends, and, of course, the occasional ghost story. For example, the old orphanage in Marquette is at the center of many a local legend, including whispers that, if you pass it at night, you’ll still hear the crying of children inside - even though it’s been shuttered and locked since the 1960s. There’s also the famous Paulding Light, which is a strange and unexplained light that appears along Highway 45 nearby the town of Paulding. Many theories about what it could be have resonated throughout the years, but today, it still remains unexplained. Craving a little more haunted Michigan spookiness? Check this article out for 10 haunted places in Michigan you’ve got to see to believe. 

What are some of the most creepy places in Michigan?

Mackinac Island is thought to be one of the most haunted places in the state. It’s the single most often sought-after place in the entire mitten for ghost hunters to gather and see what they can find. We’re home to a few super-creepy haunted lighthouses, too, like Seul Choix Point Lighthouse and the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse. There is also the world-famous (or should we say infamous) Traverse City State Hospital, which was built in the 1800s and housed severely mentally ill folks for decades. They say there’s a portal to hell on the grounds, too, and only the brave go looking for it. 

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Featured Addresses
6597 138th Ave, Holland, MI 49423, USA
500 Temple St, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
1549 Glendale Ave, Petoskey, MI 49770, USA
3183 Co Hwy 431, Gulliver, MI 49840, USA
1425 N Elm Ave, Jackson, MI 49202, USA
U.S.S. Edson - Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, 1680 Martin Street *You will not find us through GPS, Bay City, MI 48706, USA
10256 Willis Rd, Willis, MI 48191, USA
Watersmeet Township, MI, USA
Elmwood St, Detroit, MI, USA