State By State 01 - Michigan

Strange Things in Michigan

Introduction

So Michigan certainly has its fair share of oddities, strange stories and fantastical creatures. A lot of the lore is heavily steeped in the Native roots which run deep here, but never discount the influence of the Irish and German settlers who brought in many of their own traditions. But let's have a look and dive into some of the strange things that exist in Michigan.

The Waheela

(Scary Creature/Cryptid)

It just wouldn’t be a proper video without at least one scary creature mentioned now would it? The Waheela is a wolf-like creature that is said to be as large as a bear. It’s said to inhabit Northern Michigan, Ontario and Alaska. 3.5 to 4 foot tall at its shoulders the Waheela is said to have shorter back legs than front legs and its footprints are said to show wide spaced toes. It is built more heavily and larger than the other wolves in the area. I think this is one of the more interesting cryptids I’ve come across in awhile and it’s very frustrating I’ve not been able to find very many stories relating to it. However, here is what I was able to learn about this fascinating bear dog.

The creature is prominent in Native American lore of the region and is often portrayed as an evil spirit that kills people by removing their heads. Given its reputation as something of a headhunter it should come as no surprise it is said to be native to the Nahanni or the “Headless Valley”. Although it’s not just Natives who have claimed to have had encounters with this apex predator. An auto mechanic by the name Frank Graves reported seeing the beast and described it as “a wolf on steroids”. Later on Graves would be quoted as identifying the creature as a timber wolf. It’s been theorized the creature is an amphicyonid or perhaps a Dire Wolf but again these are just theories. It is also said that the Waheela is a solitary predator, never traveling in packs. Possibly due to its size and the lack of any natural predators the creatures don’t feel the need to find safety in a pack.

The dark origin of the name Waheela allegedly comes from a pre-colonial account in which three trappers had a fatal encounter with a “phantom-like giant white wolf”. A popular story surrounding an encounter with the Waheela tells of a hunter out in the wilderness where he encounters a monstrous white wolf with glowing eyes. Unsettled by this looming creature the hunter continues about his business only to come upon the headless corpse of a fellow trapper nearby. 

Most stories and sightings of the Waheela come to us from Canada, specifically the Nahaani Valley. There are accounts of a hunter tracking and attempting to shoot a Waheela only for the beast's dense, white fur to have protected it from the projectile. And while Canada may well be the beasts home and native land there have been sightings of Waheela in Alaska, Michigan and even the Kansas City area. From the distant pre-colonial days all the way up into the 21st century there are still sightings of these solitary beasts in two countries.

A bear dog, a Dire Wolf, right now it’s difficult to classify exactly what the Waheela might be. It does seem to be one of the more plausible or explainable of many of the modern cryptids that have taken up residence in modern lore. After all people thought the platypus was a mere myth but now we all know otherwise. This is actually a very interesting creature that I was saddened I could find so little on. So I’m going to make a request on behalf of my friend Raven here and ask you dear audience to send us (specifically Raven) any stories you have about the Waheela. 

As an aside during my research into this particular creature I was looking more into the “Waheela Sightings in Kansas City area” and immediately realized that the “Waheela” sightings that were actually being referred to in the KC area are Waheela C mountain bikes. So beyond one mention of a sighting in the KC area in the same breath as those of the actual Waheela referred to in the stories of the bloodthirsty Dire Wolf/bear dog from Nahaani Valley and Michigan the sightings in the KC area circa 2020 in fact refer to the bike.

The Prehistoric Forest 

(Abandoned Theme Park)

In 1963 in the Irish Hills area of central Michigan when tourist traffic along US-12 was at a peak along came a little tourist trap among a sea of tourist traps called The Prehistoric Forest. At the time it was one of a great many such gimmicky little spots along the highway. A visit to the park would have consisted of first a safari train ride through the forest. Along this adventure one would have been treated to fiberglass sculptures of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures (very accurate ones I’m sure). Next along in your foray through the park you would have walked along with a tour guide who would have taken you for a closer encounter with some of the exhibits previously seen along the train ride. They would have explained the creature’s habits, habitats and diet. Then there was the second train ride through an area called “the land of the leprechaun” where one could explore the myths, legends and beliefs held by the early Irish settlers from the area.

A third area was where one could get your souvenirs, play games and even go on your own fossil hunt in a designated digging area. Other attractions were a volcano which smoldered and spilled smoke into the sky. In the 80’s a 400 foot water slide was added as the once thriving stream of tourists began to dry up in the 80’s and the park’s popularity waned. In 1981 the price of admission was only $2.75 per adult and $1.75 per child. As the 80’s went by one by one the various attractions closed down and it was ultimately sold to new owners in 1997 but would only barely limp along until closing for good in 2002.

Without question one of the most popular of the park's attractions were the fiberglass figurines of which there were fifteen dinosaurs existing alongside cavemen nestled along the tropical waterfalls and the man made volcano. Going back to the 1970s these statues were often the target of local mischief. In 1985 three of the statues, including the neanderthal man, were stolen from the park and later found in front of Saline High School. After the park was closed a similar prank was pulled in 2010 when some of these same statues appeared on the roof of a school in nearby Onsted. Heavy equipment was required for their removal and return to the defunt park once more. Some of the more recent acts of vandalism have not been quite so harmless or in good fun. In 2010, 2011 and 2012 during the same weekend in November acts of property damage had been carried out when several statues had their heads or limbs smashed or busted off.

After noticing the pattern in the vandalism the owner of the abandoned park placed numerous motion activated cameras around the park and this was how they managed to capture their repeat offenders. It was a group of 13 teenage boys and two of their fathers. They were in the area for a yearly track meet and had made it kind of a tradition to come deface and damage the fiberglass statues in the fading Prehistoric Forest, which lays a five hour drive from the still open and operating Dinosaur Gardens.

I do have to say that given the park has an entire section called “the land of the leprechaun” I was hoping to find more crazy stories about people going out and exploring this abandoned park just for a laugh, but remarkably little is written anywhere about the Irish myth themed area of the park. One thing is for certain; this park is remembered more for the dinosaur and prehistoric theme than its leprechaun theme.

In 2018 it was noted that the waterfall and cavern are experiencing structural issues and have been deemed unsafe and there have been requests for it to be demolished. In both 2019 and 2021 the current owners have stated they want to refurbish and reopen the park but no concrete dates have been announced for when such a reopening may happen or when the refurbishing might begin. At multiple times it has been listed as “For Sale” most recently at a price tag of $269,000. So if you have a quarter million dollars and ever dreamed of owning a dinosaur themed park it might be your lucky day. Until then this once great American tourist trap and its fiberglass statues will continue to sit alone in the Irish Hills, albeit under the watchful eyes of security cameras while the forest and elements slowly reclaim the Prehistoric Forest.

The Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor

(Strange Attraction/Curiosity)

I do hope that Scary Fairy Godmother will forgive me for writing this one but it’s just too darn interesting, whimsical even. Who would have thought it but Ann Arbor is home to an entire world of urban fairies. Yes. Fairies. Scattered throughout Ann Arbor are tiny little doors about six inches high that open to a miniature world within. Beyond these doors are other tiny doors, and even tiny windows that will magically light up sporadically as tiny denizens carry out their daily lives. This would certainly be odd to discover, maybe even a bit unsettling but I feel it’s much less scary than say a murderous bear dog prowling around.

It all started back in the olden days of 1993 when Jonathan B. Wright began renovations on his home. During the remodel his young daughters began discovering these little six inch doors in various places around the house. The first one was found in a remodeled closet, upon opening the door they found a staircase with railing that led up to another tiny door. Once the family’s fireplace had been built the girls found another door that opened into a tiny room with a tiny fireplace of its own, there was also another tiny door that opened revealed a landing with a checkered black and white floor. Their placement is as whimsical as the very things that dwelled on the other side of these miniature doors, and the “urban fairies” that dwell within. Upon completing the remodel of his kitchen a tiny door was found with a tiny set of windows that looked out into the Wright’s breakfast area. Leading one to wonder if maybe the fae counterparts didn’t in their own way enjoy a nice breakfast with the Wrights as part of their own little daily routine.

By 2005 Wright, now a full blown “fairyologist”, was documenting two dozen of these six inch doors that were popping up all over the city. In the Ann Arbor Public Library for instance the little folk have made a home out of a bookcase and volumes of fairy tales. Then there’s the gift shop known as The Peaceable Kingdom in which the fairies have set up their own elaborate little store full of all the things a thriving fairy community needs, nay demands; Pennies, acorns, sweets and all manner of shiny loot. Michigan Theatre houses another tiny gem, a private fairy theater complete with a working screen.

If fairies, or fairy lore is your thing then I would strongly advise you to check out Wright’s website urban-fairies.com. It has some pretty cool pictures curated throughout the site, as well as some encounters, history and lore. I don’t think it’s been significantly updated in quite some time but if nothing else it’s a very intriguing little time capsule to explore. I think as far as strange things to have in your city this would be one of the more desirable things to stumble across. Not that Fae can’t be mischievous or bothersome but it would for the most part seem that the Fairies of Ann Arbor are mostly content to just live and let live, with some of them even modeling their miniature world to resemble or even reflect the larger human world around their own. 

I personally think that maybe these tiny rooms, tiny theaters and shops could be the boundary and beyond the oft locked doors on the other sides of these tiny rooms could be the fairy realm. But until someone shrinks themselves down or receives some kind of formal invitation we will probably never fully understand the true culture of the urban fairies or why they have chosen Ann Arbor as a kind of Tir Na Nog.

The Singing Sands of Bete Grise

(Strange Phenomena/Native Legend)

Originally named “Baie De Gres” meaning “the Bay of Sandstone” Bete Grise (“Grey Beast”) is a nature preserve situated on the Keweenaw Peninsula and is truly a picturesque place. A popular tourist spot with beautiful beaches along the Great Lakes, but there are legends about these beaches. Stories about these sands, and a phenomena that makes these sands sing. As with so many things the story behind this dates back to a Native story about a woman who lost her husband or lover to the waters of the Great Lakes and to this day her voice lingers in the sands as she calls for her lost love hoping maybe he will at long last follow her voice and return home.

I’m not really sure what could cause such a phenomena as this. They say that when you press down on the sand with your palm that the sand will “sing” and that it will “bark” if struck. I’ve honestly never heard of anything like this before and I am certainly curious to hear these sands. However don’t think you can collect some of this sand to take home and have it serenade you each night. They say that once the sand is removed from the beach that it loses its singing abilities or properties, however you want to couch it. Which is kind of a bummer, I think everyone would be better for having this random dish of singing sand in their home.

A wonderfully simplistic little legend perhaps but when you think about the phenomena with the context of just how picturesque Beta Gris truly is the magic they weave together is a bit heady. The romance and tragedy behind the separated lovers coupled with the serene beauty of the area and only then factor in the singing sands and it truly becomes a kind of beautiful story with a phenomena that’s honestly not at all scary but certainly piques one's curiosity. We’re all thinking it so I’ll just say it: Would the singing sand totally slay at karaoke night? I guess since it can’t sing once it’s removed from the beach we’ll never be able to find out. But perhaps a nice reminder that not all strange or unexplainable things are necessarily scary or malevolent.

Hell, Michigan

(Strange/Interesting Place)

We all have that oddball friend that draws a kind of delight from the macabre or the darker humor to be found in life (for some people I am that friend), but in Michigan there is an entire town of people who absolutely relish in the darker side of things. If you want to visit a truly odd town then my friends all you need to do is go to Hell… Michigan that is. For those of you that don’t know there is actually a town in Michigan named, yes, Hell; and the residents of this town relish in the town’s name, and the macabre association to the infernal.

The town is also up for sale. That’s right my friend you can buy 1 square inch of the town for the low, low price of $6.66 per square inch, so for quite a reasonable sum you can actually own Hell’s half acre. And of course a town such as Hell has quite the set of creative business owners. Stop in at Screams Ice Cream and eat at the Crematory where you can finally figure out just what a chance in Hell a popsicle actually has. You might also enjoy the famous, or perhaps infamous, Gravedigger Sundae.

It may be a bit of an odd place but by all accounts its denizens are quite friendly and good natured about the damned name of the town. Beyond all the gimmicky shops and businesses aimed at those tourists that brave perdition to find out what Hell is like, the town also plays host to a lot of far more practical activities than eating ironically named sweet treats and t-shirts that might be just a bit too on the nose. Apparently Hell is quite scenic and offers numerous chances to escape into the wilderness via hiking trails. If you’re more of a fishing type then you can rent everything you could possibly need for a weekend on the water including kayaks or canoes if you’d rather not wander in the woods. For the wilderness lovers though why not book yourself a nice campground? 

I guess Hell truly does have multiple circles and some of those circles are much nicer than others. I’d almost be the one to suggest changing the name to “The First Circle of Hell”, Michigan but I suppose that is a bit on the wordy side. Anyway let’s look at some more interesting and unique things about this quaint and wholesome little town.

So it turns out that Hell is completely unincorporated. Located in Putnam Township, Livingston County, Hell has no defined boundaries and no population statistics. So Hell has free reign in Michigan; always good to know. Also located here is Damnation University from which you can purchase a diploma. In addition to the lighthearted jokes, owning a square inch of Hell, it is also possible for visitors to become the Mayor of Hell for a day. For a small fee of course.

Ever want to lock in your love and throw away the key? Well why not do it at the Locks of Love Bridge that spans the Hell Creek River, because nothing screams romance like padlocking your love to a bridge in Hell then throwing the key into the river so it may never escape. What better way to proclaim your undying love than by forever attaching it to the infernal damnation of Hell? Surely the people who do this have a high success rate in their relationships. For all we know the 50% of couples that don’t get divorced may have sealed the deal in Hell. Maybe that’s the secret.

Ever wanted to send your friends and loved ones that long awaited postcard from Hell? Well may as well do it while you’re in town, hell who knows when this chance will arise again after all. I know there’s a couple of people I’d like to send one of these postcards too. At least one of them would just shake their head and say “Not surprised.”

There’s a theory as to where the name originally stemmed from. It’s entirely possible that it comes from the early German settlers to the area who said the area was “so schön hell” or “so beautifully bright” but only part of the phrase stuck. Go figure. Perhaps it was the old Iceland/Greenland subterfuge and someone thought if they called it “Hell” then people would just keep moving on. Being completely honest I think maybe Hell ain’t so bad after all.