Haunted Hotels in Michigan: 12 Historic Places You Can Stay Overnight

Looking for a haunted place to spend the night in Michigan? These historic hotels, inns, and resorts are known for ghost stories, paranormal legends, or reported unexplained activity. Whether you’re planning a ghost-hunting weekend on Mackinac Island or simply enjoy staying in historic hotels with spooky reputations, this guide highlights some of Michigan’s best-known allegedly haunted places to stay.

Featured Haunted Hotels

• • Mission Point Resort – Mackinac Island
  • Grand Hotel – Mackinac Island
  • Island House Hotel – Mackinac Island
  • Harbor View Inn – Mackinac Island
  • Pine Cottage & Chateau Lorraine – Mackinac Island
  • Murray Hotel – Mackinac Island
  • Terrace Inn – Petoskey
  • Stafford’s Perry Hotel – Petoskey
  • National House Inn – Marshall
  • Inn on Ferry Street – Detroit
  • Nahma Inn – Nahma

Haunted Hotels on Mackinac Island

This beautiful island in Lake Huron is home to the best fudge on the planet, no cars, and more haunted history than one could ever ask for in such a small place. Nearly every location on the island seems to have a ghost story. With its fascinating past, Mackinac is in no short supply of the kind of history that generates plenty of paranormal legends: British occupation, American occupation, wars, sacred Native American places, murder, mayhem—the list goes on.

Spend the night on the island and take a twilight ghost tour with Haunts of Mackinac, where you’ll be guided to many of the locations rumored to have a few invisible guests.

Todd Clements, owner of Haunts of Mackinac Ghost Tours, is the “go-to” guy for all things haunted on Mackinac Island. He told the Petoskey News, “The island is full of limestone and that transmits electrical charges,” which, according to some paranormal theories, is believed to make ghosts appear more often and possibly generate paranormal activity. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the entire island seems to be haunted?

So where should you stay while visiting the island?

Um…anywhere, if the above theory is correct.

MISSION POINT RESORT

The TV show Ghost Hunters on the SyFy network turned this resort into a haunted destination with Season 7, Episode 6, “Frozen in Fear.” The episode explores the Mission Point Theater and the story of a man who may have been murdered on the property.

Mission Point was built in the 1950s, but throw a tragedy into the equation and a ghost is born.

“Harvey,” as he’s been nicknamed, was a student when the property briefly served as Mackinac College. It’s said that, distraught over a girl, he shot and killed himself in the woods behind the school during the snowy month of February in the 1960s. His body wasn’t found until six months later in July.

Gross.

Researcher Todd Clements verified the death with the Mackinac police, who stated the man had actually been shot twice in the head, but no gun was ever found.

Haunted Mission Point Theatre | Photo by Tim Rehahn

Ghostly EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) have reportedly captured the words “shotgun” and “soundstage,” leading some to speculate that the murder weapon was hidden somewhere in the theater, which has long been considered one of the property’s most paranormally active locations.

GRAND HOTEL

Grand Hotel is a Mackinac Island icon and one of the first buildings visitors notice as they approach the island by ferry.

It’s huge!

Built in 1887, it boasts the world’s longest front porch at 660 feet. Many people also recognize the hotel from the beloved 1980 time-travel romance Somewhere in Time, starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.

Everyone likes to think Grand Hotel has plenty of ghosts, mostly because of its age and opulent appearance, but the hotel does not endorse or advertise any paranormal activity within its walls.

Ghosts reportedly seen at Grand Hotel are the “classic” kind—luminescent women in Victorian gowns and a gentleman wearing a top hat in the bar. Even the hotel’s ghosts seem to fit the elegant atmosphere.

The excellent book Haunts of Mackinac mentions several ghostly encounters, including a mysterious “Woman in Black” seen walking a large white dog along the porch and the ghost of a child named “Rebecca,” who is said to haunt the fourth floor.

With the history and longevity of this grand old hotel, it’s no surprise that stories of strange and unexplained activity have accumulated over the years. You’ll just have to save your pennies, splurge on a night or two, and see what happens if you’re on the hunt for a ghost.

THE ISLAND HOUSE HOTEL

Haunted Island House | Photo by Amberrose Hammond

Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973, the beautiful Island House Hotel was built in 1852, making it the oldest continuously operating hotel on Mackinac Island.

While the Island House doesn’t have one particularly famous ghost story attached to it, guests have reported seeing a male apparition and witnessing furniture move on its own.

If you’ve had an experience here, I’d love to hear it. Please share your story in the comments below.

HARBOR VIEW INN

Harbor View Inn | Photo by Amberrose Hammond

Madeleine La Framboise, one of Michigan’s first successful businesswomen, built and lived in this beautiful mansion now known as the Harbor View Inn. After her husband was murdered, she took over his fur trading business and made a name for herself, continuing to expand it and becoming very wealthy.

Of French and Odawa descent, Madeleine spoke English, French, and Native American languages, giving her a tremendous advantage when trading with people from different cultures.

Madeleine’s daughter died while giving birth to her son in 1820, and Madeleine herself died 26 years later in 1846.

The family was buried on the island beneath the altar of Sainte Anne Church.

What’s especially spooky is that the remains of Madeleine, her daughter, and her infant grandson were moved during church construction in the 1950s when a basement was added. Todd Clements writes that the remains were temporarily stored in the basement before finally being given a proper reburial. Some believe that’s when the paranormal activity began, possibly resulting in a “curse” on the church and a ghostly presence at the old mansion.

PINE COTTAGE AND CHATEAU LORRAINE

Could Pine Cottage be one of the most haunted locations on Mackinac Island?

Pine Cottage is said to be haunted by four ghosts known simply as “the man,” “the little girl,” “the woman,” and, most disturbing of all, “the creature.” Thankfully, “the creature” isn’t reported very often, but witnesses have described it as a bent-over figure “with horns lining his back.”

No thanks.

Haunted Pine Cottage Hotel | Photo by Kimberly J. Cenci

Room 4 is said to be haunted by “the woman,” who appears to be a helpful ghost. Some wonder if she is the spirit of the woman murdered there in 1942, a crime that remains unsolved. “The man” is believed by some to be her killer.

“The little girl” is the most active of the four spirits. Those who claim to have encountered her describe her as having blonde hair and a sad expression. According to the story, she was abandoned by her alcoholic parents.

Across the street is Chateau Lorraine. Browse sites like TripAdvisor or Yelp and you’ll occasionally find reviewers describing paranormal experiences. One couple reported hearing someone running through the hallway during the night. Another guest awoke to find a man touching his shoulder and asking if he was okay before turning around and walking out of the room.

Overall, these two B&Bs are reasonably priced, and if you’re staying in hopes of encountering the paranormal, you won’t have to break the bank. The biggest complaint guests seemed to have was the décor. I guess some people need their rooms photo-shoot ready in case Architectural Digest shows up.

If you’ve had a paranormal experience here, please write or comment below.

THE MURRAY HOTEL

On Friday, July 29, 1960, national newspaper headlines read, “Rich Widow Found Slain on Mackinac.”

Frances Lacey of Dearborn, Michigan, had been staying at what is now the Murray Hotel. She disappeared on Sunday, July 24, 1960, and her body was found five days later on the grounds of what is now Mission Point Resort, then owned by the Moral Re-Armament Organization, which had originally built the property.

She had been strangled, and her murder remains unsolved to this day. Because of the tragedy, some people believe her spirit still lingers on the island.

Haunted Murray Hotel | Photo by Kristin Speer

Of course, there are plenty of other places to stay on Mackinac Island, including numerous bed-and-breakfasts.

If you’re interested in the island’s haunted history, pick up a copy of Haunts of Mackinac by Todd Clements. It’s the perfect ghostly guide to Mackinac Island’s legends and haunted locations. Much of the information above was referenced from this excellent little book.

Haunted Terrace Inn | Photo by John Cassidy

THE TERRACE INN – Petoskey

Unlike some places that avoid talking about paranormal activity, the Terrace Inn embraces it. Over the years, they’ve hosted paranormal conferences and ghost hunts for guests that have been quite popular.

The Terrace Inn has all the classic haunted hotel ingredients: a “Lady in White” apparition, objects moving on their own, ghostly figures seen on the staircases, and disembodied voices. Guests have also reported seeing a man in a tweed jacket standing on the balcony, simply “looking in.”

Haunted Travels of Michigan also mentions a “little shadow person in the basement,” which the authors considered to be the property’s most active paranormal entity.

It’s definitely a place worth staying if you’re a paranormal enthusiast looking to get a few winks—or none at all—on Michigan’s Sunset Coast.

HOTEL PERRY – Petoskey

This historic Perry Hotel has welcomed guests since 1899 and was considered one of northern Michigan’s original luxury hotels during the early twentieth century. Today it still offers a beautiful place to eat, relax, and spend the night while overlooking Little Traverse Bay.

In 2008, a business manager shared his personal experiences with a reporter from the Petoskey News, describing them all as “friendly encounters.” Guests have reported seeing a ghost in the library, and the reporter even heard phantom music coming from the room.

Who doesn’t love a library with a ghost in it?

Porch of the Front Porch of Perry Hotel | Photo by Gary Edwards

In her book Michigan’s Most Haunted, author Sandy Arno Lyons interviewed the staff in 2007. One story involved a man who spent the evening pestering women in the Noggin Room Bar. That night, he awoke to find a glowing woman dressed in white floating above him, wagging her finger with a disapproving look on her face. Terrified, he fled to the lobby and waited for the restaurant to open so he could grab a cup of coffee and leave.

The staff nicknamed the apparition “The Lady of the Lake.”

Was the spirit annoyed by the man’s behavior in the bar?

This same glowing figure has also been spotted sitting in the library on surveillance footage. Many suspect her name is actually Doris because the book The Autobiography of Doris Day mysteriously keeps turning up in odd places around the library.

NATIONAL HOUSE INN – Marshall

Built in 1835, the National House Inn is Michigan’s oldest continuously operating hotel. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also recognized as a Michigan Historic Landmark.

Originally serving as a halfway stop for travelers between Detroit and Chicago, the inn thrived during the early railroad era before eventually becoming apartments and falling into disrepair. In 1976, it was restored and preserved, and today it operates as a highly rated 16-room bed-and-breakfast.

Haunted National House Inn | Photo by Lon Kuehn

Paranormal activity is said to have increased after the renovations, which isn’t unusual according to paranormal lore. Many believe renovations can stir up or awaken supernatural activity. Guests have reported seeing the ghost of a woman in a red dress drifting through the hallways, and the inn has long been rumored to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad.

If you don’t encounter a ghost during your stay, take a horse-drawn carriage or walking ghost tour with the Marshall Carriage Company, located just 1.5 miles from the inn. Marshall is home to one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States, so it’s no wonder the town has such a rich history—and plenty of ghost stories to go with it.

THE INN ON FERRY STREET – Detroit

The Haunted Inn on Ferry Street Detroit | Photo Via Gary Edwards

These four Victorian mansions and two carriage houses are located on East Ferry Avenue in Detroit’s Midtown Historic District. Around 2000, they were lovingly restored. Decorated with precision and style, there’s nothing tacky about the Inn on Ferry Street.

According to a lonely little blurb on a website called The Indulgent Traveler, an apparition of a woman in a wedding dress has been seen in the Roehm House, and Room 4102 in the Owen House is said to have a ghost.

True or not?

I can’t help but wonder if the many pictures of brides displayed throughout the Roehm House have anything to do with what people think they’re seeing.

After a friend spent the night in the Roehm House, he told me he had peculiar dreams about a bride ghost lifting him from his bed.

So now I’m curious!

If you’ve stayed here and had an encounter, please write or comment below.

NAHMA INN – Nahma

Haunted Nahma Inn | Photo by Brad Blair

The Nahma Inn is said to be haunted by a woman who once worked in the kitchen. Guests claim she likes to organize things and move items around.

According to the inn’s website, they believe the ghost is Nell Flemming. Her boyfriend, Charlie, left town, and she watched for his return from a second-story window. He never came back, and legend says she’s still waiting for her lost love. Her room is reportedly haunted, and guests have witnessed glasses sliding off tables on their own in the lounge.

If you’ve stayed at any of these locations and have a story to share, send it to Michigan’s Otherside.com to be featured with this article.

Disclaimer

Mysterious Michigan is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the locations listed above. If you’re considering staying at one of these locations, I recommend checking recent reviews on sites like Yelp or TripAdvisor to help decide if it’s the right fit for your trip.

Also keep in mind that not every haunted destination lives up to its reputation. As paranormal tourism has grown in popularity, some locations may embellish—or even invent—stories to attract visitors.

This list was compiled using books, websites, newspaper articles, and my own research, and I tried to include places that I felt were genuinely worth considering.

Sources and Further Reading

Clements, Todd. Haunts of Mackinac: Ghost Stories, Legends, & Tragic Tales of Mackinac Island. Grosse Pointe, MI: House of Hawthorne Publishing, 2006.

Creager, Ellen. “Haunted Hotels in Michigan.” Detroit Free Press. October 25, 2012.

“Marshall Hauntings, National House Inn.” HauntedHouses.com.

“The Official Haunted History Tour of Mackinac Island.” Travelling Assassin. August 7, 2011.

Singer, Marci. “Ghosts: Not a ‘Believer’… Yet.” Petoskey News-Review. October 23, 2008.

Tedsen, Kathleen R., and Beverlee J. Rydel. Haunted Travels of Michigan. Holt, MI: Thunder Bay Press, 2008.

Webb, Ali. “Things That Go Bump in the Night at Haunted Hotels.” The Indulgent Traveler. October 25, 2013.

Amberrose Hammond has spent more than two decades researching Michigan folklore, hauntings, paranormal history, and unsolved mysteries. She is the author of many books including Mysterious Michigan and has appeared at libraries, museums, and historical organizations across the state.