Think you know everything about Michigan? Think again! From mysterious disappearances in the Michigan Triangle to buried towns beneath the dunes, I’m diving into 5 strange and surprising facts about the Great Lakes State that will leave you wondering what else lies beneath the surface. Let’s get to it.
I have made several videos over the years about Haunted places in Michigan, creepy legends in Michigan (that I will link at the bottom of this article), as well as things you may not know as an outsider looking in, but the truth is, the 5 things I am about to dish out to you are things even the insiders don’t know.
Strange Places In Michigan:
The Michigan Triangle
Kicking this list off with #5, we have the Bermuda triangle, you know that place on the other side of the world where people vanish and com systems shut off?
Well, Michigan actually has their own Bermuda triangle as well. Lake Michigan holds a mystery that rivals the infamous Bermuda Triangle. Known as the Michigan Triangle, this zone between Ludington, Benton Harbor, and Manitowoc has been the site of strange disappearances, shipwrecks, and eerie phenomena for over a century.
In 1891, the schooner Thomas Hume set out to collect lumber but vanished without a trace, along with its seven crew members. It wasn’t until 2006 that the wreck was discovered at the lake's bottom—leaving the fate of the crew a lingering mystery. Then in 1921, the Rosa Belle, a ship carrying 11 people, was found floating overturned. There were no signs of a collision, but the crew had completely disappeared, and their bodies were never recovered.
Perhaps the most chilling case is Northwest Airlines Flight 2501. In 1950, the plane was en route from New York to Seattle when it vanished over Lake Michigan with 58 people on board. Despite a massive search, only small debris and human remains were found—yet the main wreckage has never been located. Adding to the mystery are reports of sudden weather changes, malfunctioning compasses, and strange sightings in the Triangle. In 2007, an underwater rock formation resembling Stonehenge was discovered beneath the lake, raising more questions than answers.
While some suggest magnetic anomalies or unpredictable storms as explanations, the true cause behind these strange events remains unknown. The Michigan Triangle continues to baffle investigators, leaving behind more questions than answers.
The Village of Singapore (Saugatuck, Michigan)
Stepping over to #4 on the list we have the vanishing village of Singapore buried beneath the Saugatuck dunes. On the picturesque shores of Lake Michigan lie the Saugatuck Dunes, towering sand dunes that draw visitors for their natural beauty and hiking trails. But beneath these peaceful sands lies a fascinating and eerie piece of Michigan’s forgotten history—the buried village of Singapore.
In the early 1830s, the village of Singapore was founded by New York investors, hoping to establish a bustling shipping port and lumber town. With its location at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River, Singapore thrived during Michigan’s logging boom, supplying lumber to rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871. At its height, the village had sawmills, homes, stores, a bank, and even a hotel. It seemed destined for success.
But the town’s rapid growth was tied to the demand for lumber, and in their haste to profit from the timber industry, Singapore’s loggers made a fatal mistake. They deforested the surrounding area, cutting down the trees that protected the town from the shifting sand dunes along the shoreline. Without the trees to stabilize the land, the wind began to blow the loose sand toward the village.
By the late 1800s, Singapore faced a relentless enemy—sand. As the dunes slowly encroached on the town, homes and buildings were buried one by one. Despite efforts to dig out the structures, the village was no match for nature. Eventually, the residents were forced to abandon Singapore, leaving behind a ghost town swallowed by the very sands that had once surrounded it.
Today, Singapore lies completely buried under the Saugatuck Dunes. While visitors to the area can enjoy hiking the dunes and soaking in the views of Lake Michigan, they are walking over what was once a thriving village. Only a few historical markers and remnants remain to remind people of the town that disappeared beneath the sand.
The story of Singapore serves as a haunting reminder of how nature can reclaim what was once taken. It’s a lost chapter of Michigan’s history—one that’s hidden under layers of sand, waiting to be rediscovered.
Underwater Stonehenge (Lake Michigan)
Jumping on over to #3, we are stepping on over to Lake Michigan once again to talk about Michigan’s underwater Stonehenge, a 10,000 year old mystery beneath lake Michigan. In 2007, researchers made an astonishing discovery at the bottom of Lake Michigan—a series of stones arranged in a circular pattern, much like Stonehenge. Located about 40 feet beneath the surface near Traverse City, this underwater formation is estimated to be over 10,000 years old, dating back to the time when mastodons roamed the area.
What makes this discovery even more intriguing is that one of the stones appears to have carvings of a mastodon, linking the site to a period when early humans and these Ice Age creatures coexisted. The stones may have served as a ceremonial site or even an ancient calendar, though its true purpose remains a mystery.
Before Lake Michigan existed in its current form, this area was dry land, making it possible that the stones were placed there by ancient peoples. While more research is needed to fully understand the significance of the structure, Michigan’s underwater Stonehenge is a fascinating window into a prehistoric world, hidden beneath the lake's surface.
Detroit Salt Mine (Detroit, Michigan)
Slithering on over to #2, we have the Detroit Salt Mines, a hidden world beneath the city. Beneath the bustling city of Detroit lies an underground marvel that few people know about—the Detroit Salt Mines. Stretching over 1,500 acres and plunging 1,200 feet below the surface, this vast salt deposit has been an important part of Michigan's industrial history for over a century. The mine was discovered in the late 1800s, quite by accident, during a drilling operation to find fresh water. Instead of water, workers struck a massive vein of salt, part of the Salina Formation, which had formed over 400 million years ago when a prehistoric sea evaporated. This geological treasure made Detroit one of the few urban centers in the world with such a valuable natural resource hidden beneath it.
Mining operations began in 1910, and the Detroit Salt Company became a key player in supplying the region with road salt, particularly during the harsh Michigan winters. The scale of the mine is incredible, with tunnels wide enough to fit trucks and massive caverns that could house skyscrapers. But working in this underground labyrinth wasn’t without its dangers. In 1914, a devastating fire claimed the lives of several workers, serving as a sobering reminder of the risks involved in salt mining. Despite the hazards, the mine continued to produce salt for decades, with miners working deep below the city’s streets, largely unnoticed by the public above. By the 1980s, however, operations slowed due to rising costs and changing economic conditions, leading to a temporary closure. The mine was later reopened in the 1990s and remains in operation today, though on a smaller scale. It still supplies road salt, a critical resource for keeping Michigan’s highways clear during winter.
While most of the mine is now inactive, the vast, empty sections have inspired various urban legends. Some say the mine is haunted by the spirits of those who perished in the early days, while others believe it could serve as a secret government bunker due to its secure, hidden location. Though these stories remain unverified, they add a layer of intrigue to this already fascinating underground world. Unfortunately, the Detroit Salt Mines are not open to the public, but on rare occasions, tours have allowed visitors to explore this mysterious underground network. Those who have ventured inside describe the mine as otherworldly, with its massive caverns and long, dark tunnels stretching for miles beneath the city. The Detroit Salt Mines remain one of the city’s best-kept secrets, a reminder that while the hustle and bustle of Detroit takes place above, there’s an entirely different world hidden far below.
The Michigan Thumb
Last but not least, we have #1, the thumb of Michigan. In Michigan’s Thumb region, history and mystery intertwine. Once a booming lumber hub, this area now holds the remnants of long-forgotten towns. Port Crescent, once a thriving community with sawmills and hotels, faded into obscurity when the lumber industry collapsed. Now, it exists as a state park, with its bustling past buried beneath nature. Similarly, White Rock was devastated by the Great Thumb Fire of 1881. The fire wiped out entire towns, and White Rock never fully recovered. Today, the land is quiet, with only whispers of its tragic history remaining.
The Thumb also hides strange geological features, such as the smooth, flat rocks near Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse, visible at low tide. These formations resemble ancient pathways, their origins still a mystery, adding an eerie beauty to the coastline.
The region’s unique micro-climate, shaped by Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay, makes it ideal for farming crops like sugar beets and grapes, contributing to the Thumb’s growing wine industry. Agriculture has long been a part of the Thumb’s identity, and quirky structures like the Thumb Octagon, an eight-sided barn built in 1882 to improve grain storage, still stand as reminders of the area’s rural past.
Even the supernatural finds its place here. Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse is said to be haunted by the ghost of Catherine Shook, the lighthouse keeper’s wife, who drowned in a storm. Visitors report hearing strange sounds and seeing unexplained lights, adding to the region’s allure. From ghost towns and mysterious rocks to haunted lighthouses and rare architecture, Michigan’s Thumb is a region where history, legend, and the unknown come together in fascinating ways.
My question for you is, have you heard of any of these 5 things before? And what other strange things about Michigan do you know that some people may not? Drop them in the comments below.
MENTIONED LINKS ⬇️
→Haunted Places In Michigan (Part One): https://youtu.be/rWCec9UaBtE?si=gTi9RYgmnF_MnIar
→Haunted Places In Michigan (Part Two): https://youtu.be/yIQOm3xAEoo?si=7j5M0JOnuJSmRe2w
→Haunted Places In Michigan (Part Three): https://youtu.be/li6DCbG9K24
→Haunted Places in Michigan (Part Four): https://youtu.be/anJrnwlkhL0?si=CezIHMV9Ni2-AxwX
→Haunted Places In Michigan (Part Five): https://youtu.be/ltEZdERycw0
→TOP 10 CREEPY Legends About Michigan: https://youtu.be/yn99U2KvTN4
If you’re not too scared to move to Michigan, I help people all over the world move to, within and out of the state of Michigan, and I love it, so if you ever need anything don’t hesitate to reach out I’m happy to be a resource. Until next time.
Cheers,
Andrew
Andrew McManamon is a Michigan REALTOR® with Signature Sotheby’s International Realty and provides real estate services to Buyers, Sellers and Investors throughout SE Michigan including Livingston County, Oakland County, Washtenaw County, Genesee County & beyond. Andrew has become one of the pillars of Michigan real estate. Prior to his real estate career Andrew was responsible for managing a senior living facility in Brighton, Michigan as a dining supervisor and an activities assistant. Andrew’s passion to help people is unlike any other, and he continues to strive to be the best resource he can be. Andrew graduated from Cleary University in Howell, Michigan with a double major in business and marketing, and currently resides in Brighton, Michigan.
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