Heading home from Detroit on 75, the expressway suddenly became a parking lot, and I hate sitting in traffic, so I got off and headed north on M24. I somehow ended up going down Blood Road near Metamora, I remember reading about it being haunted in the book Weird Michigan. Searching Google I found several rumors and legends of witchcraft and satanic worship, it is said that during the witch trials people migrated to the area in the 1600’s, there is also a story about a man that murdered his wife and the body was dumped into the swamp and at night the swamp turns red. Urban legend has I that if you drive down the road at night the branches of the trees fall behind you and the road will turn red. But the most logical thing I found was someone said the road has a lot of clay in it, and when it rains the road turns red, and the puddles look like blood. Of course, everything I found was on the internets, so it has to be true. Besides who doesn’t love a good urban myth, and the road is named Blood Road.

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Michigan has a road where you can defy gravity and your car will roll uphill.   Known as “Gravity Hills” they are hills where gravity seems to work in reverse. Near the town of Rose City, there is a road where you can stop and put your car in neutral, and you will swear you are rolling uphill.  I had to check out the gravity hill on Reasner Road northeast of Rose City. I was not sure what part of the road the hill was on until I came near the end of the road, and saw a sign that said ” Do Not Stop, Do Not Go Backwards” well they put up a sign telling someone not to do it, I could not resist the temptation of going to jail just to try out the gravity hill. I figure the deer on the side of the road would not mind either, so I put the jeep in neutral, and it sure felt like I was going uphill. Now I know gravity does not work backward, and its more of an optical illusion, but it sure seemed like I broke Issac Newtons Laws.

I can’t tell you to do it, because you are probably breaking some sort of motor vehicle law, but I thought I would share my experience with you, I hope there is wifi in jail if they come to arrest me so I can keep posting more pics.

P.S. If you do attempt to defy gravity. I recommend you turn your car around so you are at the bottom of the hill and then put it in neutral so you are rolling forward.

If you want to know more about this place and other strange places around the Mitten State take a look at the Lost In Michigan books ON SALE at Amazon by clicking HERE

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If you are wondering where New Zebedee Michigan is located you are not alone because I never heard of it also. I was watching the movie The House With The Clock In Its Walls.  and at the beginning of the movie, a young boy was traveling on a bus to live with his uncle in New Zebedee. I had to find out where it’s located and to my surprise, it is a fictional town in a book inspired by a real town.  John Bellairs, born in 1938, grew up in Marshall Michigan. He wrote the book inspired by an old house in his hometown. The Cronin House (Pictured in this post) is located down the street from the high school. Bellairs went past this house going to and from school every day. Sadly Bellairs died in 1991, but he did inspire me to take a trip to Marshall to see this old house. There is a lot more to the story but I am thinking that may be for the next Lost In Michigan book.

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John Hirst built this extravagant hotel in 1891, and with over 25 trains a day stopping in the town of Holly where it still stands today it must have been a busy place. It was known as the Hirst Hotel until he sold it to Joseph P. Allen in 1912 who renamed it the Holly Hotel. About a year after Mr. Allen purchased the hotel, a devastating fire destroyed the upper floor.  He rebuilt the hotel with some changes to the roof because of the fire. After decades of guests, Prohibition and the Great Depression, the hotel suffered another fire in 1978 exactly 65 years to the day from the first fire on January 19th. The remains of the hotel faced a date with the wrecking ball but instead, it was painstakingly restored to its 19th-century glory. It has the distinction of being one of the few buildings in Michigan that have been serving food in three different centuries.

Employes and guests to the hotel have said that you smell cigar smoke before seeing apparitions of a man in a top hat. It’s believed to be the ghost of Mr. Hirst who was known to smoke cigars. He is not seen very often, but on many occasions, his laughter can be heard in different locations around the hotel. A former hostess of the hotel, Nora Kane’s spirit can be heard singing along with the smell of her perfume.

I am not sure if you will see a ghost at the old hotel, but it is worth a trip to Holly. It’s a beautiful downtown with old historic buildings, lovely shops, and restaurants.

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The current owners of the Anchor Inn, located near the lake in Houghton Lake, have seen spirits and many unusual things like hearing footsteps when no one else is around, doors mysteriously slamming, and faucets turning off and on by themselves. Many customers have also seen strange things while dining in the historic restaurant.  The building dates back to over a century ago when lumberjacks worked in the forest in central Michigan.  It was built as a hotel, and I can imagine over the years it has had some tragic events happen in its rooms. Local legend has it that Al Capone and the Purple Gang visited the establishment several times. During the prohibition era, the old hotel was also used as a brothel.  Now it’s a restaurant and still welcomes customers to come in and possibly experience a paranormal event while they are there.

I was gonna get some lunch while I was in the neighborhood, but they did not open until 4 pm that day. I guess I will have to go back some other time and try the food. Maybe I will get lucky and one of the resident ghosts will join me.  You can find out more about the historic place on their website HERE

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The old state hospital in Traverse City was built in 1881 and was called the Northern Michigan Asylum.  The hospital was established for the care of the mentally ill, its use expanded during outbreaks of tuberculosis, typhoid, diphtheria, influenza, and polio. It also cared for the elderly, served as a rehab for drug addicts, and was used to train nurses. The hospital closed in the 1990s and in 2000 was purchased by an investment group that has been renovating and repurposing the old buildings. The main building is now used for office space and the lower floor has some of Traverse Cities finest gift shops and restaurants.

Towards the back of the property sit some of the old dilapidated buildings still waiting to be renovated. Among the buildings, I saw this old abandoned house. I am not sure who lived there. Maybe one of the supervisors or doctors. It looked rather spooky sitting up on a hill. Some say the old asylum is one of the most haunted places in Michigan. I am sure Eugenics was practiced at the hospital, and over the years many patients have died in the buildings. One legend says that a priest had hung himself in the old chapel. Workers have said to see strange spirits and ghosts roaming the buildings.  Hiking Trails meander through the woods next to the facility and some say the area surrounding the Hippie Tree is connected to the underworld.

I have visited the old asylum many times to get something to eat and browse its many gift shops. I don’t know if it’s haunted, but it sure is amazing the transformation of the buildings over the past 15 years.

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