TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Forget Flint’s dark alleys and your neighborhood cemetery. When it comes to things that go bump in the night, Traverse City is apparently Michigan’s favorite place to get spooked.
Ghosts in Northern Michigan?
According to new research from travel connectivity company Nomad eSIM, Michigan ranks as the 12th-spookiest state in the nation, while Traverse City takes the title of Michigan’s spookiest city, ranking 42nd nationally with a score of 18.75 out of 50. The study analyzed data from the Shadowlands Haunted Places Index, Tripadvisor and Ahrefs, comparing reported haunted locations, ghost tour availability and online interest in paranormal activities to determine which states, cities and regions are the spookiest in North America.
Spooky TC
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The Cherry Capital boasts 10 reported haunted locations, a ghost-tour listing and plenty of curious residents searching online for paranormal activity. Originally opened in 1885 as the Northern Michigan Asylum, the former psychiatric hospital has become the subject of eerie tales involving mysterious voices, ghostly children and lights flickering on in buildings believed to be empty.
Then there’s Mission Table, formerly Bowers Harbor Inn, on Old Mission Peninsula, where the spirit of former resident Jennie Stickney reportedly still hangs around. According to local lore, she’s been spotted in mirrors and photographs.
Michigan’s Other Ghostly Hotspots
According to Minty Digital, a digital marketing and public relations agency that took a deep dive into the research, Mackinac Island came in second statewide with a score of 17.50, followed by Grand Rapids and Detroit, tied at 16.25.
Michigan itself ranked 12th nationally, boasting 545 reported haunted locations, three ghost-tour listings, and 990 monthly paranormal-related searches.
Nationally, New Orleans took the spooky crown, followed by Savannah, Georgia, and New York City.
So this Halloween, if you’re looking for a good scare, Michigan has plenty of places to explore. Just remember, some of the state’s most notorious haunted attractions don’t need fake cobwebs, plastic skeletons or someone jumping out at you from behind a tree. Their ghosts allegedly come with the property – and apparently have no plans to move out.
