Traverse City (French "le traverse grand", English "the great crossing", dt. "the big crossing") is the second largest city in northern Michigan with 14,674 inhabitants (as of 2010) after Marquette. It is located on Grand Traverse Bay, which branches off Lake Michigan. This bay is divided by a peninsula, the Old Mission Peninsula.
Traverse City, Michigan, nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan
and renowned for its cherry orchards, wineries, and natural beauty,
harbors a shadowy underbelly of haunted legends and abandoned sites.
Drawing from local folklore, historical accounts, and paranormal
reports, these stories often stem from the area's 19th-century lumber
boom, early settlements, and institutional past. Below is an in-depth
exploration of the most prominent haunted legends and abandoned places,
focusing on their histories, reported supernatural phenomena, and
cultural significance.
Traverse City State Hospital (The Village
at Grand Traverse Commons)
One of the most iconic and eerie sites in
Traverse City is the former Traverse City State Hospital, originally
opened in 1885 as the Northern Michigan Asylum. Under Superintendent Dr.
James Decker Munson, the facility pioneered a "beauty is therapy"
approach, emphasizing fresh air, gardens, and humane treatment for
mental health patients rather than restraints or isolation. At its peak,
it housed thousands, including those with addictions, tuberculosis, and
other ailments, sprawling across 1,000 acres with Victorian-Italianate
buildings connected by underground tunnels used for utilities and
patient transport. The hospital closed in 1989 due to
deinstitutionalization policies, leaving much of the campus abandoned
and decaying for years.
Paranormal activity here is rampant, with
visitors and investigators reporting disembodied footsteps echoing
through empty halls, whispers and voices in the tunnels, and shadowy
figures darting across rooms or peering from upper windows. Some
attribute these to residual energy from patients who suffered or died
there, including during disease outbreaks. The tunnels, in particular,
evoke dread, with cold spots and sensations of being followed. Today,
the site has been redeveloped into The Village at Grand Traverse
Commons—a mixed-use area with shops, restaurants, condos, and event
spaces—but preserved sections offer guided tours, including twilight
walks that delve into its haunted history. Despite redevelopment,
unexplained occurrences persist, fueling its reputation as one of
Michigan's most haunted locations.
Bowers Harbor Inn (Now Mission
Table and Jolly Pumpkin)
Located on the scenic Old Mission Peninsula,
about 10 miles north of downtown Traverse City, Bowers Harbor Inn was
built in the late 1800s as a summer mansion for Chicago lumber baron
J.W. Stickney and his wife, Genevieve. The couple's story is tragic:
Genevieve, reportedly obese and diabetic, became increasingly jealous as
her health declined, suspecting her husband's affair with a nurse. After
J.W.'s death in 1909, Genevieve inherited the estate but allegedly
hanged herself from the rafters in a fit of despair (though some
accounts dispute the suicide method). The property later became an inn
and restaurant, now housing the upscale Mission Table and the casual
Jolly Pumpkin brewery.
The legend centers on Genevieve's restless
spirit, often described as mischievous or vengeful. Staff and guests
report flickering lights, silverware moving on its own, doors slamming,
and objects like salt shakers being hurled across rooms—particularly at
nurses, tying back to her jealousy. One famous tale involves a rug
rolling itself up repeatedly, and Tampa Bay Lightning players staying
there were once terrified by unexplained noises. Nearby Bowers Harbor in
Grand Traverse Bay adds to the lore, with whispers of ghosts from
historical drownings manifesting as apparitions or splashes in the
water. The site draws ghost hunters and curious diners, blending fine
cuisine with supernatural chills.
The Hippie Tree
Tucked in
the woods behind the Traverse City State Hospital grounds, approximately
12.5 miles southeast toward Kalkaska, lies the Hippie Tree—a massive
fallen oak covered in vibrant graffiti, symbols, and carvings. This site
emerged in the 1970s as a gathering spot for counterculture youth, but
its roots tie into the hospital's haunted aura. The tree, now a local
landmark, is accessible via hiking trails but often feels isolated,
amplifying its eerie vibe.
Legends claim the area is paranormally
active, with visitors hearing disembodied voices, feeling watched, or
capturing electronic voice phenomena (EVPs) near the tree and a nearby
cistern or water tower. Some link it to the hospital's spirits spilling
into the woods, including from logging accidents or escaped patients.
Paranormal investigators note radio static, sudden temperature drops,
and a dog's refusal to approach, suggesting residual hauntings or
something more malevolent. It's a popular spot for urban explorers, but
warnings abound about getting lost or encountering unease after dark.
Power Island
Power Island (also known as Marion Island), a
200-acre wooded isle in West Grand Traverse Bay, is reachable by boat
from Traverse City and offers hiking trails, beaches, and campsites.
Named after early 20th-century owner Henry Power, it was once a private
retreat and now serves as a county park. Its remote location—surrounded
by deep waters—lends an air of isolation.
Haunted legends describe
ghostly figures silhouetted along the shoreline at dusk, disembodied
voices carried across the water on windless nights, and wet footprints
appearing on docks or trails without explanation. Some tales connect
these to drownings in the bay or Native American burial sites, with
campers reporting tents disturbed by unseen hands or splashes from
invisible sources. The island's tranquility masks a sense of being
observed, making it a subtle but chilling spot for those seeking
supernatural encounters.
Other Notable Legends and Abandoned
Sites
Abandoned Root Cellar: On the outskirts near rural areas, this
sealed 1950s-era structure is tied to an urban legend of a child
vanishing while playing nearby. Visitors describe unnaturally still air,
even in gusty winds, and faint cries echoing from within, evoking themes
of loss and entrapment.
The Hush Road: A narrow lane near old train
tracks where unnatural silence descends, cars stall inexplicably, and
drivers experience "lost time" or hear approaching footsteps on gravel.
It's linked to industrial accidents or forgotten tragedies.
Cedar
Lake Lights: Residents report pulsing lights under the lake's surface,
unexplained by divers, fueling theories of submerged entities or
artifacts from logging eras.
Boardman Lake Woods: Deep forests
feature mysterious stick formations and tree carvings that allegedly
rearrange overnight, attributed to spirits of Civil War deserters or
loggers killed in accidents.
Chase Bank Building (Downtown Traverse
City): Built on the site of a late-1800s hotel fire that killed a porter
and his dog, with reports of smoke smells and frantic barking without
cause.
Park Place Hotel (4th Floor): Haunted by a young boy's spirit,
causing playful but unsettling disturbances like moved objects.
Native American Period
The area now known as Traverse City,
Michigan, has a rich indigenous history dating back thousands of years.
It was primarily inhabited by the Anishinaabe peoples, including the
Odawa (Ottawa) and Ojibwe (Chippewa) tribes, who were part of the
Council of Three Fires alliance along with the Potawatomi. These tribes
established villages along Grand Traverse Bay, utilizing its abundant
resources for fishing, hunting, and gathering. The Odawa referred to the
region as Kitchiwikwedongsing or Wequetong, meaning "place at the head
of the great bay," highlighting its position at the northern end of an
ancient trail system used for trade and travel, connecting to areas as
far south as Cadillac. This trail was part of routes used by earlier
cultures like the Hopewell tradition and later by the Anishinaabe for
seasonal migrations and commerce. The bay itself, named "La Grande
Traverse" by French explorers for the long canoe crossing used by Native
Americans, served as a vital waterway for transportation and sustenance.
European Exploration and Early Settlement (17th–Mid-19th Century)
European contact began in the 17th century when French fur traders
arrived in the Great Lakes region, establishing trade networks with the
indigenous populations around Grand Traverse Bay. The area fell under
French control until the French and Indian War (1754–1763), after which
it was ceded to the British, becoming part of the Province of Quebec and
integrated into fur trade routes linking the Great Lakes to Montreal.
Following the American Revolution, the Treaty of Paris in 1783
transferred the region to the United States as part of the Northwest
Territory.
Significant Euro-American settlement started in the early
19th century. The Treaty of Washington in 1836 with the Odawa and Ojibwe
opened the Grand Traverse Bay area to white settlers, leading to the
displacement of many Native Americans. One of the first permanent
Euro-American settlers was Reverend Peter Dougherty, a Presbyterian
missionary who arrived in 1839 and established a church and school on
the Old Mission Peninsula to serve the Native population. In 1847,
Captain Horace Boardman from Naperville, Illinois, purchased land at the
mouth of the Boardman River (then called the Ottawa River) at the head
of the west arm of Grand Traverse Bay. He and his crew built a dwelling
and sawmill, marking the beginning of industrial activity in the area,
which was still sparsely populated and inhabited by Native Americans.
The region was originally part of Omeena County (organized in 1840 from
Michilimackinac County) but remained unorganized until 1851, when it
became Grand Traverse County with Boardman's Mills (now downtown
Traverse City) as the county seat.
In 1851, Boardman sold his sawmill
to Hannah, Lay & Co., a partnership of Perry Hannah, Albert Tracy Lay,
and James Morgan from Chicago. They expanded operations, attracting more
settlers and laying the foundation for the community's growth. Perry
Hannah, born in 1824, is widely regarded as the "founding father" of
Traverse City for his pivotal role in its development. The first
steamer, the side-wheeler Michigan, arrived in 1852, and the first steam
sawmill was built by Hannah & Lay on the waterfront. That same year, the
first cherry trees were planted on the Old Mission Peninsula,
foreshadowing the region's future agricultural prominence. A post office
was established in 1853, initially named Grand Traverse City to
distinguish it from Old Mission, but shortened to Traverse City. Early
infrastructure included the first church (Methodist Episcopal) in 1858
and regular steamer service to Chicago by 1860. The first road south,
the Northport-Newago State Road, was built in 1864, ending the area's
isolation as a remote outpost.
Growth and Industrialization in
the Late 19th Century (1860s–1890s)
The lumber industry boomed,
driven by the region's vast forests. Hannah & Lay built a gristmill in
1869 and expanded their operations, while railroads arrived in 1872 with
a spur from the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad, facilitating log
transport and settlement. By the 1880s, additional rail lines extended
to surrounding areas, boosting tourism and industry. Traverse City
incorporated as a village in 1881 and as a city in 1895, with Perry
Hannah serving as its first mayor.
A key institution was the Northern
Michigan Asylum (later Traverse City State Hospital), established in
1881 to meet growing psychiatric needs. Designed in Victorian-Italianate
style under the Kirkbride Plan, it opened in 1885 under Dr. James Decker
Munson, who emphasized humane treatment. It expanded to treat various
ailments and became the city's largest employer. Other developments
included the first electricity in 1883 (from a basement generator in
Hannah & Lay's store), the City Opera House in 1892, and early factories
like the Wells-Higman Basket Factory. Fires were common, such as the
1896 blaze that destroyed parts of Front Street, leading to rebuilding
with brick structures.
20th Century: Agriculture, Tourism, and
Challenges
As lumber resources dwindled by the late 19th century, the
economy shifted to agriculture, particularly cherries and other fruits,
aided by the bay's microclimate. Traverse City earned the nickname
"Cherry Capital of the World." The first Blessing of the Blossoms event
occurred in 1924, evolving into the National Cherry Festival in 1932,
which now attracts over 500,000 visitors annually (suspended during WWII
from 1940–1946). Munson Medical Center opened in 1925, becoming a
regional healthcare hub.
Infrastructure advanced with the first
airport (Ransom Field) in 1929, replaced by Cherry Capital Airport in
1936. The Great Depression and WWII impacted the area, but post-war
growth included Northwestern Michigan College in 1951 and radio station
WTCM in 1941. The Traverse City State Hospital closed in 1989, leading
to economic shifts and redevelopment into a mixed-use village starting
in 2000. Population peaked at 18,432 in 1960 before stabilizing.
Key
events included the 1934 fire that destroyed the original Traverse City
High School (rebuilt in 1937), the 1918 Spanish influenza epidemic
closing schools, and cultural milestones like the Interlochen Music Camp
opening in 1928. Tourism grew with attractions like the Cherry County
Playhouse in 1955 and Grandview Parkway in 1952.
Modern
Developments (21st Century)
In the 21st century, Traverse City has
focused on tourism, wine production (with AVAs on the Old Mission and
Leelanau Peninsulas), and diversified industries like insurance
(Hagerty) and manufacturing. The city marked its 125th anniversary in
2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, dubbed the "quarantine
quasquicentennial." Jim Carruthers became the first openly gay mayor in
2015, serving until 2021. Controversies, such as a 2021 student-led mock
slave auction sparking debates on race and education, reflect ongoing
social issues. With a 2020 population of 15,678, Traverse City remains a
vibrant hub for festivals, outdoor recreation, and historic
preservation, including sites like the former state hospital (now The
Village at Grand Traverse Commons) and lighthouses on the Old Mission
Peninsula.
Traverse City, Michigan, serves as the county seat of Grand Traverse
County and is the largest city in Northern Michigan, acting as the core
of the Traverse City metropolitan area. It is positioned in the
northwestern section of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, specifically at the
southern tip of the 32-mile-long (51 km) Grand Traverse Bay, which is an
arm of Lake Michigan. The bay is divided into two arms—East Grand
Traverse Bay and West Grand Traverse Bay—by the narrow, 18-mile-long (29
km) Old Mission Peninsula, which connects directly to the city at its
base. This strategic location places Traverse City approximately 250
miles (402 km) northwest of Detroit and about 100 miles (161 km) north
of Grand Rapids, making it a central hub for the region's tourism and
agriculture. The city spans parts of both Grand Traverse County and
Leelanau County, with its municipal boundaries bordering four primarily
suburban townships: East Bay, Elmwood, Garfield (the most populous
township in Northern Michigan), and Peninsula. Surrounding areas include
additional townships like Blair and Long Lake, forming a substantial
suburban ring around the urban core.
In terms of topography,
Traverse City features a landscape shaped by glacial activity,
characterized by rolling hills, deep freshwater lakes, and a mix of
forested and open areas. The city itself is laid out in a grid pattern,
with major streets oriented east-west and north-south, and its downtown
district is bisected by the Boardman River, which creates a small
peninsula in the urban area before emptying into Grand Traverse Bay
northeast of downtown. Elevation within the city averages around 627
feet (191 meters) above sea level, with the surrounding region featuring
gentle undulations typical of post-glacial terrain. The total area of
Traverse City is 8.61 square miles (22.3 km²), comprising 8.27 square
miles (21.4 km²) of land and 0.34 square miles (0.88 km²) of water,
reflecting its close integration with aquatic features. The tallest
structure is the 10-story Park Place Hotel, but the overall skyline
remains low-rise, preserving views of the natural surroundings. Nearby,
about 20 miles (32 km) west-northwest, lies the Sleeping Bear Dunes
National Lakeshore, a federally protected area of massive sand dunes
along Lake Michigan's shoreline, adding to the region's dramatic glacial
topography.
Bodies of water dominate Traverse City's geography,
with Grand Traverse Bay serving as the defining feature—a long, natural
harbor sheltered from the open waters of Lake Michigan by the Leelanau
Peninsula to the west. The city has shorelines on both arms of the bay,
and access to the Old Mission Peninsula requires passing through
Traverse City, underscoring its role as a gateway. The Boardman River, a
key tributary, flows southward to northward through the city, with a
287-square-mile (743 km²) watershed that supplies about one-third of the
bay's water volume. Designated as a Michigan "Natural River" and a
top-tier Blue Ribbon trout fishery, the river spans 179 miles (288 km)
total, with 36 miles (58 km) qualifying for the fishery status; ongoing
restoration efforts, such as the FishPass project at the Union Street
Dam (the last remaining of five original dams), aim to facilitate native
fish migration while preventing invasive species. The broader area
boasts 376 kilometers (233 miles) of continuous Lake Michigan shoreline,
contributing to the region's status as having the largest freshwater
coastline in the United States. However, environmental concerns include
a superfund site at Avenue E, where groundwater contamination from a
former Coast Guard facility has affected local water quality.
The
climate of Traverse City is classified as warm-summer continental
(Köppen Dfb), bordering on hot-summer continental (Dfa), moderated
significantly by its proximity to Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay.
Situated near the 45th parallel, the area experiences warm, mild summers
and harsh winters, with lake-effect influences causing variable coastal
weather, including abrupt precipitation changes. Summers are
comfortable, with average high temperatures reaching 81.3°F (27.4°C) in
July, while winters are cold, with January highs averaging 29.3°F
(-1.5°C) and lows at 17.0°F (-8.3°C). Annual precipitation totals about
29.12 inches (740 mm), distributed fairly evenly, and snowfall averages
101.4 inches (257 cm) per year, primarily from November to April, though
flurries can occur as early as late September or as late as May.
Lake-effect snow contributes heavily to this total, and extreme records
include a high of 105°F (41°C) in 1936 and a low of -37°F (-38°C) in
1979. This moderated climate, combined with the peninsular geography,
supports thriving agriculture, particularly cherry orchards and
viticulture on the Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsulas.
The
natural environment around Traverse City is rich and diverse, featuring
dense forests, biodiverse watersheds, and agricultural lands that make
it a four-season destination. The Boardman River supports over 36 miles
of prime trout habitat and is integral to local biodiversity, with
restoration projects enhancing ecological health. The region is renowned
for its cherry production and hosts two American Viticultural Areas
(AVAs): the Old Mission Peninsula AVA and Leelanau Peninsula AVA, home
to over 50 wineries. Glacial soils and lake-moderated temperatures
create ideal conditions for these crops, while the surrounding hills and
lakes provide habitats for wildlife and recreational opportunities like
hiking, boating, and skiing. Overall, this geography fosters a blend of
natural beauty, economic activity in tourism and agriculture, and
environmental stewardship in Northern Michigan.
Traverse City has its own airport, Cherry Capital Airport, which is
also served by major airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines
and United Airlines (mainly from Chicago and Detroit). It is 305 miles
from Chicago and 242 miles from Detroit.
Of the original three
daily buses that connected Traverse City to the rest of Michigan, only
one operates today. The Indian Trails Bus departs from St. Ignace and
departs Traverse City bound for Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Chicago.
Traverse City does not have a freeway connection. The nearest
interchange is either in Cadillac (about half an hour south) or about an
hour east of Traverse City.
Traverse City bills itself as the "Cherry Capital of the World" and hosts the National Cherry Festival for eight days each July. A special event in this area is the cherry blossom time of the 3 million cherry trees, then the whole area seems to be wrapped in a white veil. In autumn, the Indian Summer can also be admired here.
Harold Sherman (1898–1987), writer
David Wayne (1914–1995), film
and television actor
William Milliken (1922–2019), Governor of
Michigan 1969–1983
Alma Routsong (1924–1996), writer
Erwin
Dumbrille (1930–2013), film editor
Dan Majerle (born 1965),
basketball player and coach
Jeremy Davies (born 1969), film and
television actor
Barry Watson (born 1974), film and television actor
Craig Thompson (born 1975), comic book artist
Brian Holden (born
1985), actor