Haunted Trail – Michigan’s Thumbcoast
Some say ghostly haunts and paranormal activity linger throughout the Thumbcoast. If you’re a paranormal enthusiast, take our self-guided tour of eerie locations and uncover spine-tingling stories along the way. From whispered legends to mysterious sightings, each stop has its tale waiting to be discovered. The list currently features 12 of the real haunts, but there’s room for one more to make it an infamous 13. Be sure to tag us in your ghostly adventures on our Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok pages.
The 12 Haunted
1. The legend of Morrow Road dates back to 1893, when Isabella Chartier disappeared with her child. Over the years, people have claimed to see her wandering the road at night, calling out for her child, along with mysterious glowing orbs in the darkness.
The story has become one of Michigan’s most talked-about hauntings, and you can dive deeper into it through the Paranormal Video Archive or Mysterious Michigan. The Morrow Road movie, inspired by the 1893 Michigan legend of a woman searching for her lost child, is currently in production and inviting fans to appear as extras in upcoming scenes.
Photo, Morrow Road Facebook Page
2. Marine City Hall once housed the city’s offices, but it has now sat vacant for 21 years and, as of June 2025, is listed for sale according to The Voice newspaper. Although there are no official records of hauntings, members of the Friends of City Hall have reported a mysterious presence and even brought in a paranormal investigation group. With little documented history, this is one place you’ll have to experience for yourself to see if you sense anything unusual.
Photo, Marine City Hall
3. The historic Murphy Inn is a restored 1836 boarding house with seven rooms and a restaurant. It is one of the state’s oldest inns and has multiple accounts of a haunting presence from overnight guests and staff, particularly in the basement. Be sure to ask to see the book they keep there of haunting stories. The Blair Rick Project from Canada did a video of their experience in August 2023 called “Sharing a bed with a ghost at Murphy Inn.”
4. The Kammer Cabin, built in the 1850s, has long been rumored to be haunted. Originally from Casco Township, the cabin was relocated to Port Huron, though perhaps its move, or its past, carried a lingering mystery with it. Each fall, Detroit Rock City Paranormal typically visits to investigate both the cabin and the Carnegie Museum, offering a chance to experience their findings firsthand.
5. The Carnegie Center has a history of unexplained paranormal phenomena. Reports suggest that objects have been thrown across rooms, eerie voices have been heard, and mysterious music has played without any apparent source. These hauntings may be linked to the historical artifacts displayed at the center, including an iron lung.
6. Step inside the Foundry, and you might feel more than just history in the walls. The tragic story of Adelard Lebert lingers here, and locals say his restless spirit still roams the building, a spectral reminder of the mystery that has haunted Port Huron for nearly a century.
“In 1925, the Times Herald reported a bizarre tragedy: a man, transfixed by the blazing furnace at Sarnia’s Imperial plant, leapt headfirst into the inferno and died despite a quick rescue. Port Huron’s Victoria Manley identified the body as her missing ex-husband, Adelard Lebert, recognizing old scars and recalling his history of anxiety and talk of suicide. Though remarried to an elderly Civil War veteran, she had kept paying premiums on Adelard’s life insurance, which paid out $10,000 after his presumed death, money she used to build the Adelard Apartments, now the Foundry, appropriately enough. The mystery deepened when, a year later, a man claiming to be Adelard appeared at the apartments;
Victoria dismissed him as an impostor, though his family believed otherwise. The ensuing insurance lawsuit collapsed, leaving unanswered questions: if the furnace victim wasn’t Adelard, who was he? and how did he bear the same scars? Was Victoria complicit, or simply opportunistic? Nearly a century later, the mystery lingers.” ~ Andrew Kercher of Andrew Kercher Lectures & Tours
Historian Andrew Kercher, known for bringing local history and folklore to life, will also be diving into the world of cryptids this fall. On Friday, October 17 at 5:00 p.m., he presents Cryptids Decoded inside the Historic Church at the Sanilac County Museum. From Bigfoot to the Loch Ness Monster, and even the odd case of a kangaroo mistaken for a monster, Kercher unpacks how mysterious legends often have roots in real encounters.
Watching Freighters
Don’t get me wrong, I love a bright blue sky and turquoise water here at the Blue Water Bridges, but seeing a freighter in the fog is incredible. The low light and eerie quiet as it passed felt like I was watching a ghost ship!
You can see freighters along our coast. Click the button to view their locations, including live 24/7 cameras that you can access from anywhere.
How Many Believe?
“Americans are broadly skeptical about each of eight paranormal phenomena tested in a recent Gallup poll. Nearly half of U.S. adults, 48%, believe in psychic or spiritual healing. Slightly fewer, 39%, express a belief in ghosts, while between 24% and 29% say they believe in six other supernatural phenomena, including telepathy, communication with the dead, clairvoyance, astrology, reincarnation and witches.” according to the article “Paranormal Phenomena Met With Skepticism in U.S.” from July 23, 2025.
7. The Vintage Tavern in downtown Port Huron is a hotspot for paranormal activity, particularly in the basement, where most of the unexplained events are reported to occur. Jeff, their Sommelier, will frequently see the spirits of two men dressed like old train workers in suspenders, dirty white shirts, and sometimes top hats. Interestingly, a medium visiting the tavern described seeing the same apparitions, inspiring a new painting in the wine cellar. Over the years, multiple staff members have reported encounters with these friendly yet occasionally temperamental spirits, who seem to react if they feel unwelcome. Adding to the intrigue, a genuine top hat dated 1890 was discovered in the building’s ceiling and is now displayed in the dining room, a tangible link to the tavern’s ghostly past.
Photo credits, Andrew Jowett and Rachel Kawate
8. It’s no surprise that Michigan’s oldest lighthouse, rebuilt for the second time in 1829, has its share of ghostly tales. The Fort Gratiot Light grounds are open year-round, allowing visitors to explore independently or join a guided tour climb from May to December. Each fall, Detroit Rock City investigates the lighthouse, bringing specialized equipment to uncover any paranormal activity and share spine-tingling stories of past sightings and unexplained phenomena.
Photo by Andrew Kercher
A chill is in the air, and not just from the season, paranormal investigations are coming to the Carnegie Museum Oct. 18th and the Fort Gratiot Light Oct. 25th. Step inside if you dare, where history lingers in the shadows and the spirits might just make their presence known.
9. The Cadillac House Inn & Tavern is a registered historical location dating back to the mid-nineteenth century and is said to be haunted by a ghost named George. The staff openly acknowledges a strong presence in the hotel, and numerous visitors and paranormal investigators have reported experiencing it firsthand. Some even say George has a mischievous streak, occasionally making his presence known in unexpected ways.
Fun Facts: This hotel does not have a room #13, and the original hotel registry in the lobby dates back to the early 1900s.
10. The Sanilac County Historic Village and Museum carries an air of mystery, with whispers of hauntings tied to its oldest buildings. The Loop-Harrison Mansion, built in 1872 and once home to the village physician, the church, and the 1847 Huckins Schoolhouse, is said to be haunted by lingering spirits. Both employees and guests have reported apparitions over the years. Together, these historic structures make the museum grounds a chilling stop for those who dare to explore.
Each year, the Sanilac County Historic Village & Museum hosts its delightfully eerie Creepy Baby Doll Contest. Locals and visitors alike are invited to submit their most scare-worthy dolls, and museum guests get the chance to cast their votes to decide which one earns the title of “Creepiest Doll.” This annual tradition has become a spooky favorite on the museum grounds.
11. Minnie Quay remains a haunting local legend nearly 150 years after her death. Many claim to have seen her wandering the shoreline of Lake Huron near the quiet town of Forester, while her grave continues to draw visitors who leave trinkets in remembrance of her. To learn more, you can explore a Facebook page dedicated to her story, read Dead Reckoning: A Great Lakes Love Story by Denise M. Dutcher, or visit sources like Lost in Michigan and Find a Grave for additional accounts of her ghostly tale.
12. The spirit of Catherine Shook, Michigan’s first female lightkeeper, is said to haunt the historic Point Aux Barques Lighthouse, standing watch at the tip of Michigan’s Thumb over the vast waters of Lake Huron. According to Huron County Parks, the East Michigan Paranormal Society has investigated the site, and stories of eerie encounters continue to draw curious visitors. For more on its haunted history, visit Lost in Michigan for their take on the legend.
Photo by Cindy Scoviac Photography
Climb, Stay, Keep Watch
Two stops on the haunted trail are historic lighthouses, each offering a chance to step beyond ghost stories and truly immerse yourself in their past. Imagine the creak of old wooden floors, the steady beam of light stretching over dark waters, and the lingering sense of those who once kept watch through lonely nights. At Michigan’s oldest lighthouse, you can spend the night in a bunk room inside the keeper’s dwelling. This overnight stay includes a guided tour of the grounds and a climb to the top of the tower, where sweeping views of Lake Huron connect you to the history and mysteries of the light.
For an even deeper experience, the Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse in Port Hope invites you to become part of its legacy through their Assistant Keeper Program. Participants live and work on site, carrying out the daily duties of a lighthouse keeper, much like those who tended the beacon more than a century ago.
Disclaimer
Please respect all private and public properties, and do not enter any location outside of its posted hours or without permission. Remember, your visit affects both the site and the surrounding community. Be courteous, leave no trace, and take only memories with you.
Article by Katie Stepp, Director of Marketing at Discover Michigan’s Thumbcoast
