Michigan DNR Paranormal Investigation Event

There are lots of spooky events this time of year: ghost walks, haunted houses... but a paranormal investigation hosted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources? That really caught my eye.

When I think of DNR events I think of things like birdwatching and mushroom identifying - but ghosts? Yep, you can learn how to investigate the paranormal with the DNR at an event coming up.

Fayette State Park, Facebook

Here's how it's described:

Ever wonder what a paranormal investigator does? Learn how to become a member of a paranormal team that looks into apparitions, hauntings and other otherworldly things, and participate in a real investigation during A Paranormal Event at Fayette State Park in Garden Sept. 20-21.

It appears the event has been going on since at least 2019!

Fayette Historic State Park is located in Garden, Mich., on the shores of Big Bay de Noc – on Lake Michigan between Snail Shell Harbor and Sand Bay – on the southern side of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Michigan DNR

It does sound like a good place to explore the supernatural as it's a literal ghost town!

There are 150 year-old structures at the park's historic townsite, a once-bustling industrial community that manufactured charcoal pig iron between 1867 and 1891. According to Detroit Paranormal Expeditions:

The town itself was home to nearly 500 residents, many of whom immigrated to Michigan from northern Europe and Canada. At its peak, Fayette was home to everything from a hotel to an opera house.

Michigan DNR

I imagine it can get pretty darn spooky at night, and that's when the "Paranormal Event" takes place!

The experience, which appears to be cohosted by the Michigan Advanced Paranormal Society, will occur at various times Sept. 20 and 21, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m

You do need to pre-register and select a time to participate, which you can do here.

While the event appears to be free, there is an option to donate funds for improvements at Fayette State Park.

The DNR says you should meet promptly at the historical site and dress for the weather. It's a good idea to bring a flashlight too.

Note that a recreation passport is needed for vehicle entry into Michigan state parks. Want to make your paranormal adventure into an overnight affair, you can camp at the park too!

50 Haunted Michigan Locations

Below is just the tip of the iceberg—a list of fifty Michigan hauntings that have been "reported" in cemeteries, houses, woods, jails, businesses, neighborhoods...if you can name it, there's probably a haunting for it.

Take a look at the list of fifty Michigan hauntings below and come to your own conclusions.