Oct .1, 2008

ROYAL OAK, Mich. — Citizens who are easily scared or who are fascinated by the paranormal may be wondering where they can find — or hide from — the cities in Michigan where they’re most likely to encounter ghosts and paranormal phenomena. To help the communities enjoy their Halloween season, HauntedMichigan.org has once again identified Michigan’s Top 10 most haunted cities.

“The top 10 cities include places for the believers and skeptics, living or otherwise,” says John E.L. Tenney, founder of HauntedMichigan.org and WeirdLectures.com. Tenney’s organization collects and compiles e-mails, news stories, letters, and historical documents to create the list. “People are not only interested in understanding paranormal phenomena in their community,” he says, “but they use those experiences to connect with neighbors and other residents and share in a new kind of oral history.” The real excitement in these haunted cities, Tenney says, comes from exploring them in person and absorbing their essence.

All the cities on HauntedMichigan.org’s list have incredible histories to share. Self-guided walking tours are a fun, relaxing, and healthy way to see these communities. Every year, some citizens worry needlessly about the list, which has become a “rite” of the Halloween season. But not to fear, Tenney says. “The only thing some residents are really afraid of is if this list will effect the marketablity and value of the homes in their community. The reality of the situation is that researchers and scientists would pay anything to get their hands on a truly haunted house.”

The 2008 Top 10 Haunted Michigan Cities (2007 rankings in parentheses)

1. Troy (4)
2. Traverse City (1)
3. Kalamazoo (6)
4. Detroit (2)
5. Ann Arbor (3)
6. Flint (5)
7. Alpena (-)
8. Bay City (-)
9. Jackson (7)
10. Rochester Hills (9)

HauntedMichigan.org is dedicated to the mysterious places and events that have their home in Michigan. Information is compiled and collected from a vast number of resources, researchers, and writings. Every year, on October 1, HauntedMichigan.org releases, in association with WeirdLectures.com and the Great Lakes Ghost Society, a list of the 10 most haunted cities in Michigan. www.hauntedmichigan.org, www.weirdlectures.com, www.glghostsociety.com.