Michigan is rich with scary legends. From Mackinac Island to Old City Orphanage, its dark past remains present and active.
The War of 1812 took a tremendous toll on American soldiers fighting at River Raisin Battlefield, leaving many spirits haunting its grounds today.
1. The Landmark Inn
Michigan is home to many haunted places that can be experienced visually, aurally and physically. Some may only exist as myth or legend; other instances could be quite real.
Landmark Inn in Marquette has long been known for more than just guests checking in; reports indicate a young girl ghost may frequently be seen walking through its halls and playing tricks on people staying there. She is even said to play tricks in rooms!
This historic hotel first opened as the Northland Inn in 1930. Soon thereafter, it quickly became popular with celebrities, such as Amelia Earhart who stayed in Room 502 in 1932 and other notable guests including Bill Cosby, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Maya Angelou – among many others.
Hotel guests often report paranormal activity at this venue, including ghost sightings in the library and an apparition of a spinster librarian.
2. Mackinac Island
Mackinac Island draws millions of tourists each year to its parks and restaurants, but is also said to be home to ghostly spirits according to studies by Shadowlands Haunted Places Index. Recently it was even named America’s most haunted small town!
Staff and guests on the Island have reported various forms of paranormal activity, from footsteps in empty hallways to doors opening and closing by themselves. A particularly haunted hotspot on the Island is Skull Cave – once used for Native American tribal burials but now occasionally home to ghostly skulls thought to belong to Lucy (a girl who committed suicide on the Island), who can often be heard calling out for her parents.
Michigan is home to some haunted spots ranging from an unsettling state prison in Jackson to an historic hospital in Traverse City – each boasting tales of ghostly encounters. As Halloween nears, here are our picks for haunted destinations across Michigan to check out.
3. River Raisin Battlefield
Many American military battlefields are haunted by the spirits of those who died, such as River Raisin Battlefield. Native warriors mercilessly killed many Americans at this battle – women and children included – including women warriors from both tribes. Their bloody massacre damaged Native American images as heartless savages with no sense of humanity while giving American militia forces renewed drive to prevail against their foes.
The River Raisin Battlefield saw several days of fighting between American and British forces in January 1813 at a crucial battleground between Frenchtown (now Monroe Michigan) and its Great Lakes region. It remained one of the only decisive victories against their opponent.
Many visitors report hearing ghostly voices and ghostly screams while at River Raisin Battlefield, along with seeing soldiers’ ghostly figures appear before them and EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) being heard frequently there. Many believe these noises come from souls of fallen soldiers still roaming the field seeking revenge while warning those who visit of what occurred there upon visiting this historical battlefield site.
4. Fort Wayne
This Detroit military fort has gained quite the reputation as being one of Michigan’s most haunted locations, due to its construction disrupting an indigenous burial ground and dislocating an indigenous burial ground burial ground, according to legend. Visitors and paranormal investigators have reported hearing disembodied soldier voices, footsteps in hallways and feeling that someone is watching them from inside the Fort.
Metro Paranormal Investigations has hosted popular ghost tours of Fort Wayne and several of their members have experienced personal encounters on the property. MPI founders Chris Forsythe and Wayne Miracle recently appeared on Coast to Coast AM show to share their experience at this haunted spot.
The Moral Re-armament Building is particularly haunted, said to be home to an ex-inmate who hanged himself for killing his wife, only to later take his own life after playing jokes on visitors and flirting with women he has known since being imprisoned for life. Rumor has it he plays practical jokes on guests and flirts with women at random times during visits.
