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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 Luxurious Haunting at the Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island

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At the old and stately Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island, there are rumors about more than one ghost haunting the place. When building the hotel, they uncovered so many human bones they lost count. Some say that they are still under the luxurious hotel.

In the pristine waters of Lake Huron, between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, Mackinac Island serves as a tranquil retreat celebrated for its picturesque beauty, historic allure, and a notable 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, 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 Grand Hotel: A Luxurious Haunt

The Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island has become an iconic symbol of the island, is as famous for its opulence as it is for its ghostly residents. Built in 1887, this sprawling hotel has hosted numerous notable guests—and a few uninvited spectral ones.

Read More: check out all ghost stories from haunted hotels

The Grand Hotel is located on Grand Avenue is one of the most recognizable buildings with its 660-foot porch said to be the longest in the world. It was built in 1887 for the rich rail and steamship passengers. 

Movies have been filmed here and presidents and celebrities have stayed here. And according to some, so does the dead. 

Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island

The Mass Graves Found on Mackinac Island

In 2011 developers of a new hotel discovered a mass grave downtown on Mackinac Island. They had a plan of  building a three storey hotel at the site. Before the hotel construction started, there was a building known as the MacNally Cottage at the location. Some think that the cottage was built on a Catholic cemetery of the St. Anne’s Catholic Church who closed the cemetery in December in 1851. where there were many native american members as well. The police said that there were some bones belonging to animals, but there were also human bones. The human bones found were likely from the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of the Chippewa natives. Many hundred bones were unearthed.

The tribal members came to reclaim and rebury the remains to give them a traditional ceremony, but the building of the hotel went on ahead as well. The next year a few bones were discovered on the site of a remodel for a Main Street store. So it’s safe to say that most of the construction work on Mackinac Island will dig up some bones. Which begs the question, what did they find when they first built the Grand Hotel in 1887? 

According to the lore, they found so many bones and bodies during construction that they were unable to keep track of them. Who were the people buried here? Were they Anishinaabe Chiefs, warring tribes, or the fallen European soldiers from the wars fought on the land? We don’t really know, because they decided to build on top of them without removing the skeletons in the ground or doing further investigations. Some say that this has angered the spirits, and awakened them to haunt the Grand Hotel. 

The Ghosts of the Grand Hotel

So what are the ghost stories inside of the Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island? According to the staff, they keep hearing and seeing things they can’t explain, when they clock in for the morning shift, they find furniture has mysteriously moved. There are many different entities that are said to be the ones haunting the Grand Hotel. Here are some of the legends:

The Lady in Black

One of the most well-known spirits is the “Lady in Black,” believed to be a former guest who never checked out. Guests and staff have reported seeing the spirit of a young woman wearing Victorian era clothing, wandering the halls, particularly near the hotel’s grand staircase or walking a large dog on the porch after dark. She has even been said to get into bed with the other living guests.

The Haunting Black Mass

Another peculiar thing that is said to be haunting the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island is a sort of evil entity, appearing for staff and guests as a black mass with glowing red eyes. 

A maintenance man was once working at the theater stage at the hotel. According to him, there was suddenly a black mass rushing after him, knocking him off his feet and out. Two days later he woke up from the fall and decided to never go back to the hotel.

Haunted Hotel: There is said to be more than one ghost haunting the hotel. //Source: Photo of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island during the late 1920’s.

Other Ghost Haunting the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island

Another frequent sighting is that of an elderly man in a top hat lingering around the hotel’s bar and piano room, smoking a cigar. Those who see him claim that he disappears when approached.

Another is the ghost of Little Rebecca, who passed away on the grounds and haunts the fourth floor, being spotted floating or walking through the halls and disappearing to nowhere.

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References:

Historic Burial Site Found During Hotel Excavation | Interlochen Public Radio

Meet America’s Most Haunted Town: 5 Ghost Stories From MI’s Mackinac Island

Hauntings of the Grand Hotel: Mackinac Island, Michigan

Another Construction Site Unearths Bones On Mackinac Island | Interlochen Public Radio

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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

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The Dark Secrets of Detroit Masonic Temple

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Dark legends surrounds The Detroit Masonic Temple, casting long shadows over the city of Detroit. Built by the mysterious Freemasons, the building has since spun its own legends and ghost stories within its walls. But how much of it is actually true?

The Detroit Masonic Temple, towering 16 floors and holding over 1,000 rooms, is one of the largest Masonic Temples in the world, its Gothic architecture looming over Detroit’s skyline in Michigan. 

Read Also: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

Built in 1926 in the Cass Corridor neighborhood of the city as a meeting place for Freemasons, its intricate layout of concealed passageways, hidden staircases, and secretive meeting halls reflect the mystique of its origins. It was also designed a large cathedral, several chapels, two stylish ballrooms, hotel facilities, a library, a massive drill hall, and a 4,000-seat auditorium.

The Detroit Masonic Temple: Built in 1922 in Detroit, Michigan, United States, is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It was designed by architect George Mason. // Source: Einar Einarsson Kvaran aka Carptrash/Wikimedia

The Freemasons and the Legends of Detroit Masonic Temple

There are a lot of details about the Detroit Masonic Temple that has spun legends. The trowel placing the cornerstone was the same George Washington used for the cornerstone of the Capitol Building in DC.  And cornerstones is a genre of conspiracy theories in itself, hiding different secrets. 

Freemasons: The Masonic Square and Compasses.

Even today it serves as the meeting place to masonic organizations like the York Rite Sovereign College of North America, the Scottish Rite and the Order of the Eastern Star as well as sports teams. The fact that it belongs to a masonic organization in a gothic looking building makes the site even more haunting and conspiracy theories overflow around these clubs. 

The Masons are a spiritual fraternity with lodges across the world dating back to the 13th century. The organizations are known for dabbling in the ancient mysteries of Eleusis, esoteric knowledge, initiation rituals, and shared secrets. Could it be that it is more than a secretive gentleman’s club?

It was saved from closing down by Jack White of the White Stripes who wanted to help pay back the help they gave to his mother when they gave her a job working as an usher in the theater. It captivates and unsettles, with the cold stonework and long, echoing hallways shrouded in an air of enigma and secrecy.

George D. Mason and his Urban Legend

George DeWitt Mason: (July 4, 1856 – June 3, 1948) was an American architect in Detroit. An urban legend claim he is haunting Detroit Masonic Temple.

One of the most enduring legends surrounding the Detroit Masonic Temple involves its architect, George D. Mason, who, according to urban lore, poured his heart and fortune into the building. 

Originally from Syracuse in New York, he moved in his youth to Detroit where he worked as an architect for the rest of his life. A number of Mason’s works, either by himself or as part of Mason & Rice, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

But what about the urban legend that lingers within the walls of the building he designed? According to the stories, financial troubles and his wife leaving him allegedly drove him to despair, leading to the claim that Mason leapt from the Temple’s rooftop, haunted by the ruin his dream had caused him. 

Read Also: A similar legend is also told about the Taj Mahal Palace — India’s Grandest Hotel.

But did this really happen though? Many news outlets have retold the legend, so it must be true, right? Seems like it only is a legend though. According to official records, Mason died in his home in the Wilshire Apartments building on June 3, 1948. He was then 91 years old and buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in Detroit, and his wife never left him.

Even how many times the legend about George D. Mason is debunked, the haunted legends from the Detroit Masonic Temple persist.

The Haunting of the Detroit Masonic Temple

Source: Carptrash/wikimedia

While records do not confirm this tale, the ghost of a man ascending the stairs to the rooftop has reportedly been spotted by guests and staff alike, his ghostly footsteps punctuating the silence of the Temple’s upper floors. It is also said that the door to the roof is somehow always unlocked, even though the staff makes sure to lock it every night. 

The building’s long hallways and shadowed rooms have only added to its ghostly reputation, attracting paranormal enthusiasts and ghost hunters from around the world. Many visitors have reported unnerving encounters throughout the Detroit Masonic Temple—shadowy figures drifting down dimly lit corridors, faint whispers from vacant rooms, and an unsettling feeling of being watched. 

Some say they’ve seen mysterious lights flickering in windows or heard soft footsteps echoing in the vast halls late at night. The eerie vibes are only intensified by stories of ritualistic activity within its walls, remnants of the Masonic gatherings that took place over the decades, adding a layer of mystique that blurs the line between history and the supernatural. It begs the question: Just like with the Freemasons, how much more about the Detroit Masonic Temple is still a dark secret?

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References:

Featured Image: Carptrash / Wikimedia

Detroit Masonic Temple – Wikipedia 

George D. Mason – Wikipedia

Haunted History: The Masonic Temple | Detroit Historical Society

Detroit’s Masonic Temple celebrates 100 years since its first cornerstone was laid — and we still don’t understand what exactly the Freemasons do 

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The Haunting Tale of the Starving Charlie Mott on Isle Royale

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Isle Royale in the Great Lakes in Michigan was once a wilderness frontier. A man named Charlie Mott once tried to tame the winter wild and died for it. Today, he is said to haunt the island, locking for food as he died from starvation one winter night. 

In the icy embrace of Lake Superior’s northwestern expanse, Isle Royale in the Great Lakes in Michigan stands as a testament to both the rugged beauty of nature and the haunting whispers of its storied past, being the fourth biggest lake island in the world close to the Canadian border.

Designated as an island National Park in 1940, this remote outpost off the shores of Michigan has been a home to humanity for millennia, harboring tales as ancient as the land itself.The Isle Royale National Park consists of the island itself among 400 small adjacent islands in Lake Superior. 

Isle Royale: Photo taken in August 2001 on Isle Royale. It shows the beach at the camping area at Huginnin Cove on the North-West edge of the Island. It is said to be haunted by Charlie Mott, a man who starved to death on the island.

The island is renowned for its diverse ecosystems, including dense forests, sparkling inland lakes, and rocky shorelines. It’s also famous for its thriving populations of moose and wolves, which have been the subjects of long-term ecological studies. With over 165 miles of hiking trails, visitors can explore scenic ridges, ancient copper mining sites, and serene campsites. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

Among the legends that echo through the island’s dense forests and rocky shores, the spectral presence of Charlie Mott emerges as a chilling reminder of the island’s harsh winters and the unforgiving forces of nature. In the annals of Isle Royale’s ghost stories, the saga of Charlie Mott unfolds like a spectral tapestry, weaving tragedy, survival, and the lingering shadows of a bygone era.

Charlie Mott and Angelique on Isle Royale

The year was 1845 when Charlie Mott, a determined copper prospector, set foot on Isle Royale with his 17 year old wife, Angelique, an Ojibwe woman native to the Great Lake regions. He was hired to get a grip on the island’s copper deposits that they wanted to put a mine on. Lake Superior was an unsettled frontier at that time, and only the Fort Wilkins and Sault Sainte Marie in the Keweenaw Peninsula were settled at that time. Even the natives didn’t set up permanent camp there, and it was mainly used for summer hunting grounds for thousands of years.

Their aspirations echoed the dreams of many who sought fortune in the untamed wilderness. The couple’s fate, however, took a grim turn as they became reliant on the intermittent visits of supply ships for their sustenance. Winter’s icy grip on the waters between Isle Royale and the Canadian province of Ontario left the prospectors stranded without vital supplies as the ship never returned.

In the start they had their canoe to fish from, but a summer storm destroyed it and their fishing net fell apart from overuse. 

As the harsh winter months unfurled, the specter of starvation cast its long shadow over Charlie and Angelique Mott with only a half barrel of flour, six pounds of butter and some beans. 

Stranded on Isle Royale: Left to their own, the married couple were left for a year without any supplies. Charlie Mott is said to be haunting the island to this day after he starved to death.

Deprived of the lifeblood of supply ships, their dreams of prosperity turned into a desperate struggle for survival. Angelique told that in a fit of fever, Charlie Mott had pointed a knife at her, calling her a sheep and said he would kill and eat her. He didn’t though, and eventually died of hunger. 

Angelique survived the winter, and being raised in the Anishinaabe culture, had learned a few things to survive in the wild. When Charlie died, Angelique was forced to leave the body in the cabin and created a brush shelter for herself to live in. She lived of bark, berries and trapping rabbits in a snare fashioned with her own hair.

In May, the ship returned. The people claimed that they had sent the ship, but didn’t know what happened. Other people told her that the ship was never sent. 

In any case, she lived to tell the tale, and she lived for another 30 years. Her husband might have the ghost story, but she had the story of survival.The story was made into a movie in 2018 called Angelique’s Isle

Isle Royale: Together with her husband, Charlie Mott, Angelique survived an entire winter on the barren Isle Royale by herself. She survived and got off the island, her husband is said to still linger and haunt it.

The Haunted Isle Royale Today

To this day, the island is still preserving some of its wilderness, having no roads on the island, accessed only by private boat, seaplane or commercial ferries. 

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Haunted Islands

Visitors to Isle Royale report sightings of a ghastly figure of Charlie Mott prowling the wilderness alone—a spectral prospector forever condemned to wander the rugged terrain. The apparition of Charlie Mott serves as a haunting reminder of the island’s untamed wilderness, where the boundary between life and the afterlife blurs amidst the ancient pines and rocky cliffs.

People claim that his ghost is wandering the woods of the island, looking for food, eternally starving as he died, only leaving his wife to live and tell the tale.

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Hauntings on Isle Royale – Cascade Vacation Rentals

Isle Royale – Wikipedia

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The Haunted Colors of the Hippie Tree Outside the Asylum

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Outside the old Traverse City State Hospital in Michigan, there is an old willow called The Hippie Tree. It is said to be haunted by the former patients from the asylum and possibly a gateway to hell. 

In the secluded woods outside an abandoned state-run asylum called Old State Hospital Grounds near Traverse City, Michigan, stands The Hippie Tree, a silent witness to the spectral tales that have enshrouded it in an air of mysterious allure. Little is known about the creation of the tree, but it is said that it fell over and died when it was struck by lightning. 

Read more: Check out all ghost stories from the USA

The rotted and broken willow trees are painted with colorful neon paintings over the generations where one painting covers the faded one underneath. Its moniker derives not only from its location but from the unsettling local legend that has swirled around it for decades of it being haunted.

The Hippie Tree: In Traverse City you will find the Hippie Tree along the Hippie Tree Trail thought to be haunted or at least possess some spiritual powers from the former patients at the Traverse City Hospital.//Photo: Jeremy Thompson/Flickr

Traverse City State Hospital

But what patients are said to be haunting this particular tree? Traverse City State Hospital around there was opened in 1881, and was also once called Northern Michigan Asylum. It is the last Kirkbride Building standing in Michigan, a specific style of architecture for asylums. 

Read More: Check out all Haunted Hospitals around the world

There are many stories about how people treated mental illnesses, and before the drug therapy in the 1950s, the Traverse City State Hospital used a “beauty is therapy” philosophy. This meant to meet patients with kindness, comfort and pleasure where straitjackets for instances were forbidden. 

The idea was also to let the patients be surrounded by beautiful things like flowers, and perhaps the idea of painting the tree comes from this philosophy as well? 

Traverse City State Hospital closed its doors in 1989. It reopened again in 2002, but as The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, a place for shops, restaurants and offices, but there is still said to be ghostly remains of its time as a hospital. 

Traverse City State Hospital: Northern Michigan Asylum with its striking Kirkbride architecture is next to the Hippie Tree and housed the patients thought to possess and haunt the tree. The former hospital itself is also believed to be haunted.// Source

Haunted Legends about the Hospital

Traverse City State Hospital itself is lush with ghost stories as well. People claim they hear voices and footsteps when no one is there, as well as flickering light or an unnatural cold presence. 

This was especially talked about when they reopened the Traverse City State Hospital from the construction workers where some saw something that scared them so they refused to work on the building.

There is also a dark story about a doctor working at the hospital who killed patients as well as nurses, or about the hospital chaplain that went mad and hanged himself in the chapel they had. 

But although there are plenty of ghost stories inside the old asylum, the most well known story about this place is from the dead willow tree outside on the woodland trail. 

The Ghost of the Insane Asylum Patients

According to the lore, The Hippie Tree serves as a spectral meeting ground for the tormented souls of asylum patients coming from Traverse City State Hospital, their restless spirits lingering beneath its branches. 

The madness that once consumed them is said to echo through the rustling leaves, where they sometimes are mad, sometimes just sad.

Read More: Check out all ghost stories from Haunted Forests from around the world

Another ghost haunting the tree apart from the patients is a boy that allegedly was murdered around these parts, although not much information is found on this branch of the legend. 

The Hippie Tree is said to be haunted by many spirits and in the most extreme versions of the legends, it is even a portal to hell that opens up by the roots if you walk around the tree in a specific way. No one has been able to come back and tell me the right way to do it yet. 

The Hippe Rituals by the Hippie Tree

Jeremy Thompson/Flickr

Visionaries, mystics, and spiritual seekers, often dubbed “hippies” by the locals, would gather beneath the gnarled branches of The Hippie Tree, seeking solace and enlightenment in the heart of the haunted woods. Thereby the name The Hippie Tree stuck around.

A peculiar tradition emerged as these seekers meditated beneath the spectral canopy. It is said that the ghosts and the trees give out a particular energy that the hippies explore sitting on The Hippie Tree. 

In a ritualistic expression of their transcendental experiences, they would paint the revelations of their heightened consciousness onto the tree’s branches, creating a kaleidoscope of psychedelic visions amid the eerie silence of the asylum grounds.

How many people have painted on The Hippie Tree is unclear, at least thousand they say, creating another psychedelic picture on top of the other. 

Serving Colors and Ghosts

As night descends upon The Hippie Tree, the shadows cast by its haunted branches come alive, inviting those brave enough to delve into the mysteries that lurk within the heart of Traverse City’s most bewitched woodland sanctuary.

In daylight it serves as a colorful and fun thing to brighten up passersby and visitors alike in perhaps the most brightly looking haunted spot. 

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References:

Northern Michigan’s Hippie Tree | Kyle Schepperley | NewsBreak Original 

Traverse City State Hospital – Wikipedia

The Hippie Tree/Traverse City State Hospital  

Traverse City State Hospital & the Hippie Tree – Journey With Murphy