Ghosts of the Art Coast®
The Art Coast is renowned for its autumnal beauty—lush forests with vibrant leaves on full display, and orchards, wineries, and farms with fall’s finest bounty ripe for the taking. But lurking beneath this golden exterior, buried under layers of sand and time, lies something darker—a haunted history that took root in the 1800s, when the region was a boom town for the lumber and shipping industries. For those drawn to the eerie and unexplained, here are some of the most haunted spots in the area waiting to be explored.
The Spirits of Singapore
There’s nothing creepier than a thriving town that suddenly vanishes from existence. That’s exactly what happened to the town of Singapore, located along the banks of the Kalamazoo River, just north of where the modern-day village of Saugatuck stands today. In the 1830s, the settlement of 200 people included 25-40 houses, four lumber mills, a general store, and a bustling harbor. By the 1870s, the town had become a significant port for major Great Lakes cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee.
Over time, deforestation led to significant erosion and increased exposure to the brutal Lake Michigan gales, which buried homes up to the rooftops in sand.
Today, you can still see spooky remnants of the lost town when exploring Saugatuck Dunes State Park. Locals and visitors to the area have also reported seeing the Lady in White—a mournful ghost wandering through the dunes where the town’s remains lie.
The Haunting of Felt Mansion
The most infamous haunted locale in the area is the Felt Estate mansion, a luxurious summer home built by Chicago inventor and prominent businessman, Dorr Felt. The 12,000-square-foot mansion included three floors, 25 rooms, and a ballroom, along with a farm, beach house, and petting zoo, and was intended to be a dream home for his beloved wife, Agnes, and their four children.
In 1928, only six weeks after moving in, poor Agnes died, followed a year and a half later by Dorr. After staying in the family for 20 years, the property later became a Catholic prep school (attended by Pope Leo XIV).
Today, the property is open for weddings and tours, during which many have reported supernatural encounters. These include doors that open and close on their own and shadowy specters in the library, ballroom, and bedrooms—suspected to be Agnes and family members who never got to enjoy the place Dorr Felt called “Agnes’ house.”
Interested in exploring this haunted mansion? Check out the Felt Estate’s Hauntings & History Nights in October for tales of close encounters and a guided, candlelit tour of the property’s darkest corners.
An Artist’s Tragic End
The Ox-Bow School of Art & Artists’ Residency is known as an idyllic retreat for creative souls in search of inspiration. Tucked away in the woods near a sparkling lagoon, artists from all over the world visit the 115-acre campus each year to teach, learn, and make art. Tragically, one artist who lived at the school never left.
Mary Kay Bettles, a beloved caretaker at Ox-Bow, lived with her partner in a quaint cabin at the edge of Tallmadge Woods. Sadly, Mary Kay drowned while chasing after her dog onto the ice. Today, her cabin is used as housing and studio space for faculty, students, and visiting artists, many of whom have reported encountering Mary Kay’s spirit.
The cabin, now affectionately known as “The Mary Kay,” is featured during Ox-Bow Goes to Heck. This family-friendly, school-sponsored event includes an outdoor carnival, games, crafts, and more.
Whispers in the Woods
A quick trip south through Allegan County’s dark forests unveils a wealth of sinister history.
Allegan’s Old Jail Museum, an unassuming Victorian structure, hides an unsettling presence within. Many visitors have encountered the mischievous spirit of a nine-year-old girl who scampers the floors, opening closets and drawers. It’s believed that she drowned in a nearby lake over a century ago, and her spirit was unleashed when a Bible containing a lock of her hair and pressed flowers was donated to the museum.
The museum, popular with ghost hunters and operated by the Allegan County Historical Society, is open to the public for free.
While you’re in the area, be sure to spend time exploring the trails of Fennville’s Allegan Forest, which are rumored to be haunted by the “Melonheads.” These large-cranium creatures are said to have escaped from an experiment gone wrong and now inhabit the West Michigan wilds—terrorizing locals and visitors alike.
While traversing the woods, you might also encounter the charred remains of the Yellow Hotel, also known as the Wildwood Hotel. Al Capone and his gang would often hide out in the area during the 1920s and may have spent time at the hotel, which featured underground escape tunnels and quicksand where Capone could easily dispose of bodies. The ghosts of these hapless victims now haunt the dense Fennville woods.
For more urban legends and campfire stories like these, along with an interactive GPS-guided adventure through the woods, visit the Allegan Forest Museum of Campfire Stories.
