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The Little Girl Haunting Bogan Lane Inn at Mackinac Island

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In a cozy inn at the charming Mackinac Island in Michigan, a girl is said to haunt the house. Playing the piano at night, messing with the electronics as well as appearing in front of guests, her ghost is begging to go home. 

In the glistening waters of Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island is a serene retreat known for its picturesque beauty, historic charm, and an eerie reputation for the supernatural. In fact, Mackinac Island was called the most haunted town in America in 2021, with many stories having been covered over the years. And with only a full time population of around 583 people, the ghosts perhaps even outnumber the living. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

With no cars allowed and transportation limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, the island offers a unique step back in time. Some come to enjoy the quiet seaside and enjoy the famous fudge. The island has become a perfect summer destination for Americans, but after the tourists leave in the fall, the fog from the Straits comes rolling in, and the leaves turn color, the ghost of the island remains to haunt it. 

Bogan Lane Inn: Said to be one of the many haunted places to book a room at Mackinac Island, it is supposedly haunted by a little girl.

A Brief History of Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island’s history stretches back thousands of years, with indigenous peoples such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Huron considering it a sacred place long before European settlers arrived. The island’s name itself, derived from the Ojibwe word “Michilimackinac,” means “big turtle,” referring to the island’s shape when viewed from above.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Mackinac Island

The French established a fur trading post here in the 17th century, and the island later became a strategic military outpost during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In the late 19th century, it became more of a summer colony and a tourist destination that it still is. 

Mackinac Island: Cars were banned at the end of the nineteenth century due to health and safety concerns for the island’s residents and horses, as local carriage drivers said it scared their horses. This, together with the old historic houses and lush nature makes you feel like stepping back in time and welcoming old ghosts to linger.

The Haunting Inside of Bogan Lane Inn

The inn on the island was built in the mid-1850s as a private residence on Bogan Lane downtown on Mackinac Island, a quaint inviting house with white painted wood and a cozy porch. 

The inn was built when the fishing industry developed by many Irish families coming to the US after the Potato Famine was in large parts. It was left vacant for 40 years before being reinvented as a hotel. First in 1957 a new foundation, heating system and bathrooms were installed.

As with many of the old buildings on Mackinac Island, the Bogan Inn has its haunted legends and has been rumoured to be haunted by the ghost of a little girl.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from haunted hotels

The ghost is said to be a little girl with long dark hair, playing the piano and telling people she wants to go home, has also been reported at Bogan Lane inn. No one knows who she is or could be or when the haunting was started. The online postings about it go back to at least 2005.

It is not the only haunted inn in the street either as Pine Cottage Bed & Breakfast across the street has its own ghost stories as well. In this inn, there is a ghost story of a little girl called Lucy said to haunt the whole island. Although similar stories, they are often told separately and Lucy is often described very different, although both are looking for their parents. Check out he Ghost of Lucy of Mackinac Island Looking for her Parents

In addition to seeing the apparition of the little girl, guests and staff also talk about having difficulties with their electronics when staying at the inn. Lights in their room flicker and their television keeps turning on and off by itself. Something paranormal going on or simply old wiring?

There are also those claiming to hear strange voices when no one is there, whispering in the middle of the night, being woken up by something rattling the doorknobs, as if someone is trying to get in.

Who is Behind the Haunting?

When did this haunting start? Who is the ghost of the little girl and where is her home, really? As with most of seasonal open places there is always a reason to make up a ghost story as the summer tourists leaves and the halloween season sets in. But then again, all old houses tend to have their own ghost story, and as the season passes, we all have to acknowledge, Mackinac Island and its white painted houses are starting to get old and haunted. 

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References:

Shadowlands Haunted Places Index – Michigan 

Does anyone know of haunted spots in lower michigan?

Haunted Locations: Mackinac Island, Michigan – GhostQuest.net 

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Is Arch Rock One of the Reasons Mackinac Island is so Haunted?

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Many legends are told of the Arch Rock on Mackinac Island and its origin. Thought to be a portal to the afterlife, many people tie the many haunted ghost stories from this little island to the legends behind this mysterious rock formation. 

In the glistening waters of Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island is a serene retreat known for its picturesque beauty, historic charm, and an eerie reputation for the supernatural. In fact, Mackinac Island was called the most haunted town in America in 2021, with many stories having been covered over the years. And with only a full time population of around 583 people, the ghosts perhaps even outnumber the living. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

With no cars allowed and transportation limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, the island offers a unique step back in time. Some come to enjoy the quiet seaside and enjoy the famous fudge. The island has become a perfect summer destination for Americans, but after the tourists leave in the fall, the fog from the Straits comes rolling in, and the leaves turn color, the ghost of the island remains to haunt it. 

The Arch Rock: A place of legend on Mackinac Island. The Arch Rock are said to have been a portal to the afterlife, where spirits on the other side could come and the living could go.

A Brief History of Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island’s history stretches back thousands of years, with indigenous peoples such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Huron considering it a sacred place long before European settlers arrived. The island’s name itself, derived from the Ojibwe word “Michilimackinac,” means “big turtle,” referring to the island’s shape when viewed from above.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Mackinac Island

The French established a fur trading post here in the 17th century, and the island later became a strategic military outpost during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In the late 19th century, it became more of a summer colony and a tourist destination that it still is. 

The Arch Rock and it’s Legends

Many believe that many hauntings on Mackinac Island come from the stored energy the island holds. Some believe that the energy is stored inside of the many limestone and quartz the state park has. One of these places is the rock formation on the east coast of the Island called Arch Rock. 

It is one of the more famous places to visit on the island, arching 140 feet above the water of Lake Huron and is more than fifty feet wide. 

It is not only in recent times that people have begun talking about energy coming from the stones. Archaeologists have found evidence for the island being inhabited since AD 900, 700 years before any European settlers put their foot on the land. 

The Legends of the Arch Rock

Over the years the rock formation took place in more than one legend. One tells of the Ottawa nation committing a shameful act once upon a time, so shameful that the Master of Life punished them for it. He sent a wind to earth, so powerful, the rocky hills trembled for a whole day, even blowing the sun away. The Ottawa nation could only watch as when the sun turned into the color of blood before falling into the island, carving a hole through it, making an arch. Ever since then, the Ottawa have kept away from the rock and not even the bravest of them all walked over it.  

The Anishinaabek natives have long roots to the island and used to believe that the Arch Rock was a portal to the afterlife. According to their belief, it worked both ways. People would be able to cross over into the spirit world, and the spirit could return to the world of the living. 

The Anishinaabe people believed the island to be the home of the Gitche Manitou, or the Great Spirit. This was said to be the first land to appear after the Great Flood, and was a gathering place for tribes who made offerings to Gitche Manitou and a burial place of tribal chiefs. 

The Legend of She-Who-Walks-Like-The-Mist

One of the famous legends comes from a book by Dirk Gringhus’s, The Lore of the Great Turtle about an Ojibwe Chief and his daughter called, She-who-walks-like-the-mist, or ‘Mist Woman’.

Misty was a beautiful woman, always smiling as she went about her chores, although she rejected every suitor giving her gifts. One day, her smile faded, and she didn’t do her chores as she used to, only sitting down and looking miserable. 

The chief wanted her married and angry that she didn’t care to make an effort. He asked her what’s the matter. She answered that she would only marry the Sky Person:

“Two moons ago…..a handsome brave appeared to me…..‘Oh, lovely one,’ he said. ‘Long have I watched you in the village wishing that you might be mine for all time. In my home, high above you, I am the son of a chief, Evening Star, and therefore, a Sky Person…..(I descended) to earth that I might ask you to join me in my sky home.’”

“You should marry no one at all then!” her father said and put her in his canoe and paddled out to the Island of Turtle Spirits we today know as Mackinac Island, already a holy place for the natives.

He took her to the rocky formation and said she had to stay there until she was ready to obey him. She didn’t fight or move, only cried, her tears turning into an arch as she mourned her loved one she didn’t believe would come. One night however, the stars shone so bright it was a ray of light through the arch and the Sky People came down for her. He picked her up and carried her home to live in the sky for all its time. 

Ties with Freemasonry

Also when the Europeans arrived, there was a lot of mysticism over the place. The mysterious Freemasonry came to the Great Lakes region in the 1700s and built lodges around the area. Mackinac Island was home to St. John’s Lodge No. 15 (1782–1813), holding meetings at the newly constructed Fort Mackinac in the rooms in the Officers Stone Quarters. 

What really happened when they arrived is unknown as there are few records of the lodge in existence.
Was it only a boys and mens club for the military people stationed there? Or something else? The second Masonic Lodge was Mackinac Lodge No. 71, operating as a so-called moon lodge, with meetings on Monday evenings on or proceeding full moons until the 1860s.

The Haunting of Mackinac Island

For those believing in the paranormal, the Arch Rock is often said to be one of the sources of whatever strange things happening on the island. Truth is, going back to before the Europeans settled here, the whole island was considered somewhat holy to the local tribes. 

This is were they came to make offerings to Gitche Manitou or the Great Spirit they believed created the island and whose home it was after the Great Flood receded. Today the island is considered to be the home of more spirits than living. 

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References:

Is Mackinac Island Haunted? The Haunts of Mackinac in 2025 – Wandering Michigan Wisconsin

Early Accounts of Arch Rock – Mackinac State Historic Parks

Arch Rock on Mackinac Island

A Bridge to Another World: Mackinac Island’s Arch Rock – MiCannaTrail 

Mackinac Island – Wikipedia 

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The Witches of the Drowning Pool on Mackinac Island

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At the height of the witch hunts, seven Mackinac Island women were taken to trial for witchcraft. During the trial by water, all of them drowned and are now haunting the water that took their life. But how much of this elaborate ghost story is really true? And what lurks in the Drowning Pool said to be haunted by them?

In the glistening waters of Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island is a serene retreat known for its picturesque beauty, historic charm, and an eerie reputation for the supernatural. In fact, Mackinac Island was called the most haunted town in America in 2021, with many stories having been covered over the years. And with only a full time population of around 583 people, the ghosts perhaps even outnumber the living. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

With no cars allowed and transportation limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, the island offers a unique step back in time. Some come to enjoy the quiet seaside and enjoy the famous fudge. The island has become a perfect summer destination for Americans, but after the tourists leave in the fall, the fog from the Straits comes rolling in, and the leaves turn color, the ghost of the island remains to haunt it. 

The Drowning Pool: Said to be haunted by witches, what is the truth beneath the tales of the haunted lagoon?

A Brief History of Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island’s history stretches back thousands of years, with indigenous peoples such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Huron considering it a sacred place long before European settlers arrived. The island’s name itself, derived from the Ojibwe word “Michilimackinac,” means “big turtle,” referring to the island’s shape when viewed from above.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Mackinac Island

The French established a fur trading post here in the 17th century, and the island later became a strategic military outpost during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In the late 19th century, it became more of a summer colony and a tourist destination that it still is. 

The Drowning Pool

One of the most macabre stories comes from the island’s Drowning Pool, a small, seemingly innocuous body of water near the shore between Mission Point and downtown Mackinac with an ominous sounding name. Stories keep coming back about this water, told among people before finally reaching online, sometimes going viral on storytimes. 

There is plenty of lore around this little lagoon. Natives were known to have used this place for rites and rituals in the 18th century, a young native girl died there after her love for a British soldier went unrequited. According to legend she is still lingering by the pool, looking for her long lost love. Perhaps most telling is the legend that during the 1700s or early 1800s, seven women accused of witchcraft were drowned here. 

A lot of these legends would be hard to prove, but surely a huge witch trial like this would have been talked about more. Just how much of the legends are true, and is this little pool of water really haunted?

The Legend of the Seven Witches in the Drowning Pool

Back then, Fort Mackinac was a huge deal and there were a lot of brothels popping up around them. Seven of these women were said to entice the soldiers at the fort, the fur traders, as well as other’s husbands and luring them back to their house. 

One of the big tests they used on accused witches back then was the trial by water, or witch swimming test. They tied them up and threw them into the water to see if they floated or not. According to the saying, the water would repel any witches and make them float, as an direct intervention of God to show they were guilty. There are also those tying the connection water has with Jesus and his baptism and rejecting the witches from the water. If the accused sank, they were innocent. In both cases it could be a sure way to die. 

Indicium Aquae: Although not as often used as popular media will have you to believe, there were actual cases were the Trial by Water or indicium aquae’, was used to find witches. James I of England, stated in his writing in the Daemonologie (1597) “that God hath appointed … that the water shall refuse to receive them in her bosome, that have shaken off them the sacred Water of Baptisme, and wilfully refused the benefite thereof.” Here from: The ‘swimming’ of Mary Sutton (1615). The last time a suspected wizard being ‘swum’ by a mob, was in The Headingham witchcraft Case on March 15th 1864,

In this story, all women got rocks tied around their ankles and thrown into the lagoon. All seven women sank and drowned, proving their innocence, but taking their life. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories about witches

Ever since then, the Drowning Pool has been cursed by the lingering souls of the witches. Some say that they see their pale faces in the water under moonlight, or strange lights dancing over the water surface. In addition to the haunting of the Drowning Pool itself, the apparition and chilling feeling is also said to happen along or nearby Dennis O. Cawthorne Shoreline Trail.

What is the Truth Behind the Witch Trials?

But what is really true? The witch hunt was already pretty much over by the 1700s and such a big case like this would probably have garnered more sources than an abridged and vague story copy and pasted around the internet. 

In regards to the brothel side to the story, there is not much evidence or documentation that there ever existed brothels on Mackinac Island, at least any official ones. Was there prostitution? Almost certainly. Were there seven women luring men back to their home for witchcraft? More unlikely. 

But could the brothel mention just have been added as an afterthought to spruce the story up, or perhaps even the allegations? After all, not every retelling has this part with it. 

Was the pond even there back then? In fact, some say the pool of water didn’t’ exist then, but is of a more modern origin. Formed in the 90s and perhaps even the 2000 when the people behind tourism and development on the island have molded the land into their liking. Like knocking down several buildings to make a golf course and bistros to cater to the tourist. This created deep ponds formed from the resort areas to the rocky shoreline of Lake Huron. 

The Haunting of the Drowning Pool

Although there were no witches drowned there, could it be something else? What really is behind the stories of the sightings of the spirits lurking just below the surface of the Drowning Pool, only leaving us with the splashing sound of the deep murky water. 

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References:

Shedding Light on the Spirited Stories from Mackinac Island’s Mission Point – Promote Michigan

https://www.thehorrordome.com/blogs/news/from-soldiers-to-spectral-maidens-the-haunted-chronicles-of-mackinac-island?srsltid=AfmBOootX-dmsVR6t_j1cCuR-t8coTIMxuDL1sEWlV2GRa-TcS7iN3X3

Mackinac Island’s Witch Killing Drowning Pool, Is It Real?

At the Water’s Edge: The Witches Drowing Pool — Travelers Moon

Sink or Swim: The Swimming Test in English Witchcraft 

Swimming a Witch: Evidence in 17th-century English Witchcraft Trials | In Custodia Legis

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The Native and Métis Children Haunting the Mission House at Mackinac Island

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Sent away from their parents and culture, native american and métis children were taught how to be a christian american at the Mission House on Mackinac Island. What happened there? And where do the ghost stories come from?

In the glistening waters of Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island is a serene retreat known for its picturesque beauty, historic charm, and an eerie reputation for the supernatural. In fact, Mackinac Island was called the most haunted town in America in 2021, with many stories having been covered over the years. And with only a full time population of around 583 people, the ghosts perhaps even outnumber the living. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

With no cars allowed and transportation limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, the island offers a unique step back in time. Some come to enjoy the quiet seaside and enjoy the famous fudge. The island has become a perfect summer destination for Americans, but after the tourists leave in the fall, the fog from the Straits comes rolling in, and the leaves turn color, the ghost of the island remains to haunt it. 

Mission House: In 1825, this mission house was built at the site by a building crew led by Martin Heydenburk, a fellow missionary who was a teacher and carpenter. Today the Mission House is believed to be haunted by the indigenous children who were sent to school here. //Source: Wikimedia

A Brief History of Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island’s history stretches back thousands of years, with indigenous peoples such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Huron considering it a sacred place long before European settlers arrived. The island’s name itself, derived from the Ojibwe word “Michilimackinac,” means “big turtle,” referring to the island’s shape when viewed from above.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Mackinac Island

The French established a fur trading post here in the 17th century, and the island later became a strategic military outpost during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In the late 19th century, it became more of a summer colony and a tourist destination that it still is. 

The Haunting of the Mission House

Today the Mission House is housing the Mackinac Island State Park employees. It was also used as a hotel from 1847 until the great depression. Then, it used to belong to The Moral Re-Alignment movement, a religious group in the early 1940s up until the 1950s. Some would perhaps call it a cult even, as they were trying to mold the morality of the world to their own liking. 

They built several buildings around Mission Point, a theater, library and even a private liberal arts college had a short lived stint. The college building, now where the Mission Point Resort is, with one of the island’s most famous ghost stories. So is the theater which is the building right next to the Mission House as well. 

But the Mission House has a much longer story than that. Before any European set foot on the island, Mackinac Island was considered a holy place for the local natives where the Great Spirit resided. Ever since the French Jesuit missionaries came here in the 1600s, it was much used by missionaries.  

The Mission House was built in 1825 by the Christian missionaries William and Amanda Ferry. William and Amanda Ferry and their associates came to Mackinac Island to transform the spiritual and temporal lives of people and especially the “heathen”. They believed that the Holy Spirit had called them to God’s service, and that God had directed them to Mackinac.

The Mission House was originally a boarding school for over 150 native American and Metis children per year. Here they were to learn English, crafts, liberal arts, about Christianity and other standards and ways of life based on New England and the American east coast way of life. The European one that is.  

The background for these types of boarding schools was to assimilate the children into European society and culture, stripping them for their Indigenous identity and making them “good little christians.” A popular motto for these types of schools was “Kill the Indian, save the man.”

Native American Boarding Schools: Between 1869 and the 1960s, hundreds of thousands of Native American children were removed from their homes and families and placed in boarding schools operated by the federal government and the churches. By 1900 there were 20,000 children in Indian boarding schools, and by 1925 that number had more than tripled. Here a picture from Carlisle Indian Industrial School, Pennsylvania, c. 1900.

How was this type of school? Many of these types of schools for native children were awful, was this any different? According to some historians, it was an early version of this and the parents of the native children sent them there willingly and that they all lived together peacefully and in a friendly companionship. These type of schools often prohibited speaking their native tongue, but according to records Mission House translated the material into their language and trained them to be interpreters for 

At least 16 deaths were counted of the children according to a guide who used to live in the Mission House. They were said to die mostly due to illnesses like tuberculosis and typhoid. Although reports done on these types of schools claim there were no deceased students at Mackinac Mission School. The school operated after their own accounts, successfully for a decade. But the deportation of the tribes west of the Mississippi River in the 1830s, made it difficult for them to recruit more students.

The official reason for William Ferry’s resignation in 1834 and them moving away was a nervous breakdown. But was this true? A reverend called Peter Doughtery investigated and spoke to a woman called Jane Schoolcraft about his treatment of the students. He had this to say about school:

“If Jane Schoolcraft’s account is correct, Ferry’s abuse of young girls and his rigid disciplinary code for boys undoubtedly united the entire native community, regardless of gender, against the mission.” 
– From Countering Colonization, Native American Women and Great Lakes Missions, 1630-1900, by Carol Devens.

These schools have never really had a formal investigation by the federal government until 2022. It concluded that they didn’t know much about what went on in the school. Most schools they did investigate though, had burial sites next to them where thousands of indigenous children were buried. 

The Children Haunting the Mission House

What is the truth is difficult to say. Keeping records was more difficult back then, and especially the case of these types of Mission Schools have been shrouded in secrecy, even to this day. According to legend, it is said that the ghosts of these children sent to these schools only to die of some type of illness, are still haunting to this day. 

They were said to have sent the infected children to be quarantined in the cellar under the Mission House and few made it out.

They are mostly said to roam on the first and second floor as the third one wasn’t built until 1845 when they turned the Mission House into a hotel. During the night they are said to play, child voices laughing and their steps hurrying over the floor. The sound of a ball being tossed as well as knocking over stuff in the hallway makes their presence known. 

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References:

Feature Image: Source: Ojibwe children at their home near the head of Pelican Lake (outside the Nett Lake Reservation), 1918.

Mission Point (Mackinac Island) – Wikipedia

Mission House (Mackinac Island) – Wikipedia 

I Was a Ghost-Tour Guide on Mackinac Island 

Shedding Light on the Spirited Stories from Mackinac Island’s Mission Point – Promote Michigan

Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island Has Unexpected History

Mission Point Resort | America’s Haunted Roadtrip

Honoring Native Ancestors: Mackinaw Mission School 

Tribal citizens brace for trauma, hope for healing with federal report on boarding schools

Battle for the Soul: Mètis Children Encounter Evangelical Protestants at Mackinaw Mission, 1823-1837 on JSTOR 

https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft6p3007qj&chunk.id=d0e1316&toc.depth=100&brand=ucpress

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The Ghost of a Heartbroken Student Haunting the Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island

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Back in the day, the Mission Point Resort on Mackinac Island used to be a university. According to legend it is haunted by a former student who ended his life after being heartbroken. Or did he?

In the glistening waters of Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island is a serene retreat known for its picturesque beauty, historic charm, and an eerie reputation for the supernatural. In fact, Mackinac Island was called the most haunted town in America in 2021, with many stories having been covered over the years. And with only a full time population of around 583 people, the ghosts perhaps even outnumber the living. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

With no cars allowed and transportation limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, the island offers a unique step back in time. Some come to enjoy the quiet seaside and enjoy the famous fudge. The island has become a perfect summer destination for Americans, but after the tourists leave in the fall, the fog from the Straits comes rolling in, and the leaves turn color, the ghost of the island remains to haunt it. 

Mission Point Resort: This fine resort with an outlook over the blue water has gone through many stages and has been the home of many different organizations and schools. Today it is a hotel, but it is said it is still haunted by the ghost of a former student from when it was Mackinac Island College. //Source: Mary McGuire/Flickr

A Brief History of Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island’s history stretches back thousands of years, with indigenous peoples such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Huron considering it a sacred place long before European settlers arrived. The island’s name itself, derived from the Ojibwe word “Michilimackinac,” means “big turtle,” referring to the island’s shape when viewed from above.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Mackinac Island

The French established a fur trading post here in the 17th century, and the island later became a strategic military outpost during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In the late 19th century, it became more of a summer colony and a tourist destination that it still is. 

Mission Point Resort: Tragedy and Restless Spirits

Mission Point Resort can be found on the southeast side of Mackinac Island and is notorious for its paranormal activity as well as its wonderful view of the sunrise. The family owned place has been a hotel and conference center since the late 1970, but by then, it already had a long history.

The southeast end of Mackinac Island thus became known as Mission Point after Reverend William Ferry, a Protestant missionary established Mission Church, which was one of the first protestant churches in the Midwest. You can also find the Mission House, a boarding school built to teach native american children the christian way of life. Like the Mission Point Resort, the Mission House also is believed to be haunted.

In the 1940 and 50s, a lot of Mission Point used to belong to a religious group known as The Moral Re-Armament group. They called themselves a multi-national group promoting love, unselfishness, purity and honesty. Other people have since called the group a cult with a pro fascism and pro Hitler statements professed by some members. 

In any case, they invested in the place and built many buildings catering to the community, bot the locals as well as tourists.

Mackinac College and the Student Haunting it

Once, Mission Point Resort was a part of the Mackinac College campus, a private liberal arts college from 1966 to 1970. The college taught courses in biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, modern languages, theater, television, radio, journalism, art, government, and public affairs. The college offered professional degrees. 

The student mass consisted of 113 students from 30 states and Canada. It wasn’t a successful one and closed after graduating its first class in 1970. Some tried to revive it as a bible college, but also this failed. 

The Mission Point Resort is said to be haunted by the spirit of Harvey. He was a student at Mackinac College who allegedly committed suicide after a heartbreak. According to some sources, this was said to have happened in 1967. 

Mackinac Island College: The Clark Center for Arts and Sciences (left) and Peter Howard Memorial Library (right) were constructed for use by Mackinac College. The Library (completed in 1966) was torn down in approx. 1990. // Source: Mackinac Island State Historic Parks

Harvey probably stayed at the West Residence that was used as the male dormitory for Mackinac College. According to Amy Bruni and her paranormal research group, they were able to track down his real identity, but according to her, Harvey’s parents asked for his real name not to be mentioned. 

Some say it was simply an unrequited love, some say that he proposed, but turned him down. What really happened is something of a mystery, and we only really know that one winter day he went missing and wasn’t found until spring. 

What really happened to Harvey, was it really suicide? Some say that it was actually a rival for his love interest who had something to do with his death. Many stories claim that he jumped from the cliffs behind the college, but this narrative is most likely made up. According to other sources, they said that he shot himself. This is were the story about it perhaps not being a suicide comes on. There were rumors that there were two bullets to the head from a gun that was nowhere near his body. 

Visitors have also reported sightings of shadowy figures and phantom lights in the wooded areas surrounding the Mission Point Resort, as well as hearing mysterious voices calling out in the night.

Mission Point Theater: The first modern building at Mission Point, in 1955 the Theater is situated between Mission House (left) and Faren Cottage (right).// Source

Harvey Haunting the Theater and Mission Point Resort

His ghost is known to linger around the theater found at the center of the Mission Point Resort ground. The theater was built by the MRA group in 1955 and given to Mackinac College in 1965. where he is said to be flirtatious, bordering on harassing women and playing pranks on men. He is also said to be pinching and poking visitors, often accompanied by cold drafts and unsettling whispers.

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References:

Shedding Light on the Spirited Stories from Mackinac Island’s Mission Point – Promote Michigan

Mackinac Island Michigan Hotels | Our Story | Mission Point 

Mission Point Began as Conference Center and College – Mackinac State Historic Parks

Mackinac College – Wikipedia 

Moral Re-Armament – Wikipedia

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The Ghost of Lucy of Mackinac Island Looking for her Parents

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A little girl is said to haunt a summer island. According to legend, the ghost of Lucy of Mackinac Island died of an illness when her parents were out of town. Still to this day she is said to roam the island, looking for where her parents went. 

In the glistening waters of Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island is a serene retreat known for its picturesque beauty, historic charm, and an eerie reputation for the supernatural. In fact, Mackinac Island was called the most haunted town in America in 2021, with many stories having been covered over the years. And with only a full time population of around 583 people, the ghosts perhaps even outnumber the living. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

With no cars allowed and transportation limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, the island offers a unique step back in time. Some come to enjoy the quiet seaside and enjoy the famous fudge. The island has become a perfect summer destination for Americans, but after the tourists leave in the fall, the fog from the Straits comes rolling in, and the leaves turn color, the ghost of the island remains to haunt it. 

A Brief History of Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island’s history stretches back thousands of years, with indigenous peoples such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Huron considering it a sacred place long before European settlers arrived. The island’s name itself, derived from the Ojibwe word “Michilimackinac,” means “big turtle,” referring to the island’s shape when viewed from above.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Mackinac Island

The French established a fur trading post here in the 17th century, taking advantage of the rich natural resources and the strategic location that provided access to crucial trade routes. As time progressed, the island gained significance and later became a strategic military outpost during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, playing a key role in various military operations that shaped the early history of the United States.

With its scenic views and pleasant climate, in the late 19th century, it transformed into more of a summer colony and a tourist destination, attracting visitors from far and wide who sought relaxation and adventure. Today, it retains that charm, offering a blend of historical significance and natural beauty that continues to draw tourists looking to escape the bustle of modern life and immerse themselves in its rich heritage.

Mackinac Island: Cars were banned at the end of the nineteenth century due to health and safety concerns for the island’s residents and horses, as local carriage drivers said it scared their horses. This, together with the old historic houses and lush nature makes you feel like stepping back in time and welcoming old ghosts to linger.

The Ghost story of Lucy of Mackinac Island

Another well known ghost story on Mackinac Island is Lucy of Mackinac Island. She is said to be a 12 year old girl, wandering around the island in her light colored sundress and curly hair. At first glance, she probably looks like any other girl, but those looking twice will notice something strange as she appears and disappears like a ghost. 

The ghost of Lucy of Mackinac Island is not confined to a single spot on the island but can be seen peeking out from windows from old Pine Cottage B&B and following people on the staircase at Crow’s Nest Trail up to Anne’s Tablet. Anne’s Tablet is a 1916 Art Nouveau sculptural installation by William Ordway Partridge.

More Than One Ghost Haunting The Pine Cottage

Lucy of Mackinac Island is not the only one said to haunt the Pine Cottage. Although Lucy seems like she can come and go as she likes, there are some ghosts that seem trapped in this place. Spirits simply known as the man, the woman and the creature are also said to haunt this place. 

Pine Cottage: Peering out from the windows at the Pine Cottages, it is said that one of the ghost lingering there, is that of Lucy.

Room number 4 is haunted by a woman, often regarded as a helpful ghost according to the accounts of those who have encountered her presence. She is known for assisting guests in finding lost items, tidying up the space, and exuding a gentle aura that brings comfort to those who stay in the room.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from haunted hotels

Some believe that she may be the spirit of a woman who was allegedly murdered there in 1942, a tragic event that remains shrouded in mystery, with the details of the crime never fully uncovered. This unresolved history adds to the intrigue surrounding Room 4, drawing visitors who are eager to experience the soothing presence of the ghost and perhaps glean more insight into the tragic story that lingers in the shadows.

The man is thought to be the killer of the woman. There are however no unsolved murders on Mackinac Island except that of Frances Lacey who were murdered in 1960. She didn’t stay at the Pine Cottages though. 

Who was Lucy of Mackinac Island?

Back to Lucy, who is said to wander around the entire island, appearing to tourists with a haunting grace. Who was she when alive? Was her name even truly Lucy? Although a well-known ghost, she remains an enigma, not a well-known girl. There are not really many records that fit her descriptions; fragmented tales and local legends fill the gaps.

According to the local lore, Lucy died from a sickness when her family left town for the weekend, some say they went as far as Detroit. Did they leave her alone, were they as some would have it, drunkard parents? No one knows, but it is said that she was found dead when they returned. 

Now she is wandering, lost and calling for her parents. As dusk falls, the stories of her life and untimely death linger in the air, raising questions about her true identity and the life she once led before she became part of the island’s haunting allure.

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Shedding Light on the Spirited Stories from Mackinac Island’s Mission Point – Promote Michigan

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Ghostly Soldiers at Fort Holmes on Mackinac Island

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At the highest point of Mackinac Island in Michigan, Fort Holmes is thought to be haunted by ghosts from the War of 1812. Could there also be something more ancient haunting the place?

In the glistening waters of Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island is a serene retreat known for its picturesque beauty, historic charm, and an eerie reputation for the supernatural.

In fact, Mackinac Island was called the most haunted town in America in 2021, with many stories having been covered over the years. And with only a full time population of around 583 people, the ghosts perhaps even outnumber the living. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

With no cars allowed and transportation limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, the island offers a unique step back in time. Some come to enjoy the quiet seaside and enjoy the famous fudge. The island has become a perfect summer destination for Americans, but after the tourists leave in the fall, the fog from the Straits comes rolling in, and the leaves turn color, the ghost of the island remains to haunt it. 

Fort Holmes: On the highest top on Mackinac Island, is the reconstructed Fort Holmes. Those visiting it claim to have seen the ghost of soldiers still guarding the fort. //Source: Wikimedia

A Brief History of Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island’s history stretches back thousands of years, with indigenous peoples such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Huron considering it a sacred place long before European settlers arrived. The island’s name itself, derived from the Ojibwe word “Michilimackinac,” means “big turtle,” referring to the island’s shape when viewed from above.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Mackinac Island

The French established a fur trading post here in the 17th century, and the island later became a strategic military outpost during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In the late 19th century, it became more of a summer colony and a tourist destination that it still is. 

Fort Holmes and the War Time Haunting

On top of Mackinac Island’s highest point, an old British stronghold was built. The building standing is not the original redoubt, but built to look like it did in 1817.

Fort Holmes was originally built in 1814 during the War of 1812, between the United States and the United Kingdom. Back then there was only a blockhouse and stockade built by the British and was a defense place when the Americans attacked in 1814. Back then it was called Fort George, and was only renamed after the Americans took over after the Major who was killed during the assault.

Read More: check out all ghost stories from haunted forts

It fell into disrepair under the shadow of the Fort Mackinac it was built to assist and Fort Holmes never functioned as an independent military fortification. Fort Mackinac is about half a mile south from Fort Mackinac and has its own haunted ghost stories. 

The Fort Holmes was remodeled in 2015 and is today a popular place for tourists to hike up to watch the stars and the shoreline of the Straits of Mackinac. It is also said to be a place to see ghosts. 

Fort Holmes: Stairway up to Fort Holmes, the highest point on Mackinac Island. // Source: Wikimedia

Some also claim that something paranormal is going on at the old restored fort. Many people claim to have seen three soldiers wearing Colonial-era uniforms, talking among themselves, but when they notice they are being watched, they disappear. 

As with many places on the island, this fort is also said to have been built on top of native burial grounds, making people think that maybe the place also is haunted by the spirits of Ojibwe tribesmen and women as well as the Europeans desecrating more than one burial site. 

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References:

Fort Holmes – Wikipedia 

Fort Holmes – Mackinac Island 

Haunted Ghost Tour – Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau

5 Ghost Stories From MI’s Mackinac Island

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The Soldier Ghost at Rifle Range Trail at Mackinac Island

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A soldier hanged for the murder of another is said to haunt the Rifle Range Trail at Mackinac Island in Michigan. Appearing for those venturing onto the trail where he was once hanged, he tries to plead his innocence. 

Mackinac Island, located in Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, is a peaceful getaway famous for its scenic beauty, historic appeal, and spooky legends. In fact, Mackinac Island was called the most haunted town in America in 2021, with many stories having been covered over the years. And with only a full time population of around 583 people, the ghosts perhaps even outnumber the living. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

With no cars allowed and transportation limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, the island offers a unique step back in time. Some come to enjoy the quiet seaside and enjoy the famous fudge. The island has become a perfect summer destination for Americans, but after the tourists leave in the fall, the fog from the Straits comes rolling in, and the leaves turn color, the ghost of the island remains to haunt it. 

Fort Mackinac: The Straits of Mackinac quickly became an important French fur trading location. The British took control of the Straits after the French and Indian War and built Fort Mackinac to protect their settlement from attack by French-Canadians and native tribes.//Source: Wikimedia

A Brief History of Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island’s history stretches back thousands of years, with indigenous peoples such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Huron considering it a sacred place long before European settlers arrived. The island’s name itself, derived from the Ojibwe word “Michilimackinac,” means “big turtle,” referring to the island’s shape when viewed from above.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Mackinac Island

The French established a fur trading post here in the 17th century, and the island later became a strategic military outpost during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In the late 19th century, it became more of a summer colony and a tourist destination that it still is. 

The Hanging of Private James Brown on Rifle Range Trail

On February 1 in 1830, there was a hanging on Rifle Road on Mackinac Island between 10 am and 2 am. There was a lot of talk in the small town about it, but if it was ever made a spectacle remains a mystery. Many say that all the locals came to see the hanging, but we don’t really know. 

Corporal Hugh Flinn had been found dead, and Private James Brown was found guilty of his murder and hanged. They had argued the day he died and Brown walked by Flinn, sitting down at the mess room of the Soldier’s Barracks at Fort Mackinac. It was December 5 in 1828 and private James Brown entered the hall. A shot was heard and Flinn bled to death after the bullet hit his neck. 

Read Also: Fort Mackinac and the Ghosts of War 

What really happened that day at Fort Mackinac? Brown confessed that the shot had come from his rifle, but claimed that it had gone off by accident. There were 15 witnesses to the aftermath, not the shooting itself, and they claimed Brown had lowered his musket as he cried out: “My God, what have I done?”

Many believed in his innocence, including Governor Lewis Cass, who even asked the president, Andrew Jackson for a pardon for him. As they tried him, they kept him in the fort’s guardhouse. 

This pardon was not granted and he was found guilty of murder and hung to death on what is now close to the Rifle Range Trail. It was the only execution of its kind here. But it was not the end of the story of Brown. According to the locals, his spirit is still roaming the island, trying to convince the people who he appeared in front of to believe he was indeed innocent.

Ghost Haunting the Rifle Range Trail: There are miles and miles of trails on Mackinac Island. Some of them, like the Rifle Range Trail where the hanging occurred are said to be haunted by the ghost of the soldier. // Source/Zachary V. Sunderman

The Rifle Range Trail Ghost

On Mackinac Island there are over 70 miles of hiking trails, one of them going past where they once built a gallow especially for James Brown’s hanging, the only public hanging on the island. This particular trail known as Rifle Range Trail is said to be the place his ghost is appearing to haunt.

For eternity, his ghost roams Rifle Range Trail between Fort Holmes and Fort Mackinac. People sometimes hear footsteps and get a feeling of being watched when they walk it. Some stories claim that he will appear to some and plead his innocence he insisted on until his death, still trying to get someone to believe in him. 

In addition to his spirit of James Brown haunting the Rifle Range Trail, there are plenty of military hauntings around the island. The sound of a fife has also been heard playing old military tunes in the morning fog close to the fort’s North Sally Port Entrance. In the end, who knows how many soldiers posted at this place is lingering as ghosts?

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References:

Fort Mackinac – Haunted Houses 

Hiking And Biking Trails – Mackinac Island 

The Hanging for the Murder of Hugh Flinn – Mackinac State Historic Parks 

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The Haunted Post Cemetery on Mackinac Island

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The cemeteries on Mackinac Island are said to be haunted, some more than others. After her children died from illness, a grieving mother is said to be haunting the Post Cemetery on the island.

In the glistening waters of Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island is a serene retreat known for its picturesque beauty, historic charm, and an eerie reputation for the supernatural. In fact, Mackinac Island was called the most haunted town in America in 2021, with many stories having been covered over the years. And with only a full time population of around 583 people, the ghosts perhaps even outnumber the living. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

With no cars allowed and transportation limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, the island offers a unique step back in time. Some come to enjoy the quiet seaside and enjoy the famous fudge. The island has become a perfect summer destination for Americans, but after the tourists leave in the fall, the fog from the Straits comes rolling in, and the leaves turn color, the ghost of the island remains to haunt it. 

Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery: Located a half mile north of Fort Mackinac, near Skull Cave, a burial site for American Indians. The earliest interments in the post cemetery likely date to the mid-1820’s and is considered haunted. The military occupation of Fort Mackinac throughout the 18th century suggests there was an earlier post cemetery, yet the location of pre-1820’s burials remains elusive.// Source

A Brief History of Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island’s history stretches back thousands of years, with indigenous peoples such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Huron considering it a sacred place long before European settlers arrived. The island’s name itself, derived from the Ojibwe word “Michilimackinac,” means “big turtle,” referring to the island’s shape when viewed from above.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Mackinac Island

The French established a fur trading post here in the 17th century, and the island later became a strategic military outpost during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In the late 19th century, it became more of a summer colony and a tourist destination that it still is. 

The Haunted Post Cemetery

Mackinac Island is also home to several cemeteries, each with its own ghostly legends. One of them is the Mackinac Island’s Post Cemetery, the oldest cemetery on the island. It was built in the early 1800s to house both British and American soldiers who were killed in the War of 1812. After this, civilians and veterans of the American Civil War were also buried here. The cemetery’s history is closely knit together with the reportedly haunted Fort Mackinac.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from haunted cemeteries

Many have been buried here, not many are named. The wooden crosses marked with their name have long since decayed and only 39 of the 108 souls under the ground are identified with headstones. A lot of mystery lingers over the cemetery as a lot of its history is forgotten because of how bad they were at keeping records at the fort. 

The Graves: The story told about the Post Cemetery is that a grieving mother can be seen mourning over the graves. Here, the grave of Isabel Cowles and her brother, thought to be the graves the ghost mother is visiting. //Source

Visitors have reported seeing ghostly apparitions among the gravestones and hearing the faint sound of weeping, believed to be the spirits of those who met tragic ends during the island’s tumultuous history. One such story tells of the ghost of a weeping mother. She is seen over the 19th century graves of her two young children. 

The Cowles Siblings Haunting Fort Mackinac

There were a lot of children staying at the fort who died, including Josiah and Isabel Cowles who died in infancy. Could these be the children behind the haunting happening at the Stone Quarter? Could the ghost of their mother be the one said to haunt the Post Cemetery?

Mary Ella Cowles who buried her children at the Post Cemetery. Could she be the one said to haunt it?

The family had moved from post to post the last ten years and came to Fort Mackinac in 1884, a booming tourist town. Mary Ella Hitchcock was born in 1855 in Rochester New York and married Calvin Duvall Cowles six months after they met. They had children and were known to be caring and loving parents, the opposite Victorian stereotype of a strict and not very affectionate upbringing model.

The move to the island was supposed to be a fresh start, but shortly after they arrived, Josiah died, only five months old. They moved away for a while, but came back with their daughter, Isabel, born in New York. Just before her first birthday, she died as well on the island in 1887. 

Their mother never recovered and deeply mourned their passing. Although she spent the rest of her life traveling from post to post, taking care of her family, she never forgot or got over the children she lost on the island and buried next to each other. 

She died in 1906 after watching both the Spanish-American war and the Philippine-American wars from the posts. She was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

It is also said she is haunting the fort, often seen in the Officer Hills Apartment Quarters, standing helpless and watching her babies die of a sickness she no one could cure. 

Thirteen other children died at the fort over the years and were all buried at the Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery, and if the haunting is real, there could be plenty of mothers coming to mourn for their little ones for all eternity. 

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References:

Mary Ella Cowles – Mackinac State Historic Parks 

Josiah Hamilton Cowles – Find a Grave Memorial 

Isabel Hitchcock Cowles (1887-1888) – Find a Grave Memorial

Historic Cemeteries – Mackinac Island

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Fort Mackinac and the Ghosts of War

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Built to hold the British away, Fort Mackinac has seen its fair share of death, both in war times and times of peace. Soldiers dying in wars, children taken by diseases are only some of the many ghosts said to haunt the old fort on Mackinac Island. 

In the pristine waters of Lake Huron, situated between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island stands as a tranquil retreat renowned for its striking beauty, rich history, and a notable reputation for paranormal occurrences.In fact, Mackinac Island was called the most haunted town in America in 2021, with many stories having been covered over the years. And with only a full time population of around 583 people, the ghosts perhaps even outnumber the living. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

With no cars allowed and transportation limited to bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, the island offers a unique step back in time. Some come to enjoy the quiet seaside and enjoy the famous fudge. The island has become a perfect summer destination for Americans, but after the tourists leave in the fall, the fog from the Straits comes rolling in, and the leaves turn color, the ghost of the island remains to haunt it. 

Mackinac Island: Cars were banned at the end of the nineteenth century due to health and safety concerns for the island’s residents and horses, as local carriage drivers said it scared their horses. This, together with the old historic houses and lush nature makes you feel like stepping back in time and welcoming old ghosts to linger.

A Brief History of Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island’s history stretches back thousands of years, with indigenous peoples such as the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Huron considering it a sacred place long before European settlers arrived. The island’s name itself, derived from the Ojibwe word “Michilimackinac,” means “big turtle,” referring to the island’s shape when viewed from above.

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from Mackinac Island

The French established a fur trading post here in the 17th century, and the island later became a strategic military outpost during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In the late 19th century, it became more of a summer colony and a tourist destination that it still is. 

Fort Mackinac and the Echoes of War

Fort Mackinac, perched atop a bluff overlooking the island, is not just a historical site from the Revolutionary War era, but also one of its most haunted. As most haunted places in America, they believe the fort was built on top of a native burial ground.

The military fort dates back to 1779 founded by Patrick Sinclair, a British commander. Three years after its construction it was supposed to be handed over to the Americans, but Captain Robinson refused to. It was in the end handed over in 1796, but the fight of the fort was not over yet. 

Read More: check out all ghost stories from haunted forts

During the war in 1812 it was known as Fort Michilimackinac and the British returned. They came back for the fort with the help of the natives and Canadians. It was a surprise attack with cannons, and the sixty American soldiers stationed at the fort were easily defeated. 13 died during the attack and 51 injured. 

In 1814 however, it was given back to the Americans via a treaty, remaining with them without any more fights before being decommissioned in 1895. 

Fort Mackinac: The Straits of Mackinac quickly became an important French fur trading location. The British took control of the Straits after the French and Indian War and built Fort Mackinac to protect their settlement from attack by French-Canadians and native tribes.//Source: Wikimedia

Soldiers and civilians alike have reported unexplained phenomena, including disembodied footsteps, sudden cold spots, and the spectral figures of soldiers in 18th-century uniforms. There are mysterious orbs showing up in tourists’ holiday pictures. And it seems like the haunting is not only confined to one of the 14 historic buildings of the fort. 

At War: Today the Fort Mackinac is used as a museum and reenactments of the battles it used to be a part of and has shaped the many ghost stories around the island. //Source: Wikimedia

The Hospital Haunting

There used to be a hospital now operating as an exhibit within the fort, showing how it was done back in the 19th century. A doctor known as the father of gastric physiology worked here and studied in detail the digestive system after a fur trader shot a hole in his stomach and survived. Dating back to 1828, it’s the oldest hospital building in Michigan. As many who died in battle, even more died from diseases like typhoid fever outbreaks and other illnesses.

In the hospital, many visitors have felt an overwhelming feeling of sadness overcome them, thinking it has to have a paranormal source. It is also said that the sound of crying babies can be heard. Furniture is mysteriously moving around and the motion detectors in place keep going off, even when no one is there. 

There is also the mysterious case of the people claiming to have seen floating phantom limbs in the air and them showing up in pictures. 

The Children Haunting the fort

The Fort Mackinac was not only a military outpost, but also served as a home for those stationed there. At the Officer’s Stone Quarters the families of those deployed at the fort lived, including the children. It is now a tea room, and has toys for children that seem to constantly be played with after hours.

This building is said to be Michigan’s oldest building from 1780, and no wonder that ghost stories have formed inside. It’s said that a group of ghost children is playing around, leaving toys for people to find on the floor in the morning. It is believed that the children used to have a father stationed there, but do we know their names?

The Cowles Siblings Haunting the fort

Mary Ella Cowles

There were a lot of children staying at the fort who died, including Josiah and Isabel Cowles who died in infancy. Could these be the children behind the haunting happening at the Stone Quarter? 

The family had moved from post to post the last ten years and came to Fort Mackinac in 1884, a booming tourist town. It was supposed to be a fresh start, but shortly after they arrived, Josiah died. They moved away for a while, but came back with their daughter, Isabel, born in New York. Just before her first birthday, she died as well on the island. The two children were buried next to each other in the Post Cemetery.

Their mother, Mary Ella Cowles never recovered and deeply mourned their passing. It is also said she is haunting the fort, often seen in the Officer Hills Apartment Quarters, standing helpless and watching her babies die of a sickness she no one could cure. She is also said to be haunting their graves at the Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery. 

The Fort After Hours

Thirteen other children died at the fort over the years and were all buried at the Fort Mackinac Post Cemetery, so there is not really known which one of them who is thought to be playing at the fort during the night. 

As the sun sets on Mackinac Island, casting long shadows over its historic buildings, the past continues to linger in the cool evening air. The tales of Fort Mackinac and its spectral inhabitants serve as a reminder of the island’s rich, albeit haunting, history.

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References:

Fort Mackinac – Haunted Houses

Fort Mackinac

Fort Mackinac – Wikipedia

Haunted Ghost Tour – Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau 

I Was a Ghost-Tour Guide on Mackinac Island