Northern Michigan Haunted Houses & Spooky Outings: 2026 Guide |
Six places to find Halloween scares, with 2026 admission prices, dates and booking links. |
Image credit: S.S. City of Milwaukee / Manistee’s Ghost Ship website. Venue photograph; photographer not identified on the source page. |
October’s scare season has arrived, and Northern Michigan has more than one way to get into the Halloween spirit. You can head into a multi-attraction haunt in Kalkaska, climb aboard a haunted car ferry in Manistee, or choose a shorter outing built around a neighborhood display, lighthouse, general store or museum.
This guide covers six haunted attractions and spooky outings in Northern Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The first two are full-scale haunts; the others offer different formats. Prices and event listings were checked October 6, 2026. Follow the linked organizer or ticket page before leaving home, especially when choosing a timed admission.
1. Screams in the Dark — Kalkaska
At Blackwood Hollow, the main route combines Blackwood Manor, Trails of the Lost and Pandemonium. The 2026 ticket page lists admission from $20; midway activities, including escape games and axe throwing, require separate tickets. Budget for the experience you actually want rather than assuming every activity is included.
Find it at 5548 M-66, Kalkaska. Friday and Saturday online admission uses 30-minute arrival slots; arrive 15 minutes early, and remember that a slot does not guarantee immediate entry. Sunday and no-scare admission are walk-up only. Check the 2026 ticket calendar for your night. A separate November 1 Black Out event starts at $30. The official website also provides entrance directions.
2. Manistee’s Ghost Ship — Manistee
The S.S. City of Milwaukee becomes a haunted walkthrough aboard a historic vessel at 99 Arthur Street. General admission costs $15 or $20, depending on the night, and includes the entire attraction. Buy general admission at the ship; online fast passes cost $25 or $32. Children six and younger are listed as free for general admission.
The official FAQ lists Friday and Saturday October hours of 7:30–10:30 p.m., plus October 25 from 7:30–10 p.m. For a gentler visit, Scaredy Pants on October 31, 3–6:15 p.m., is $5 per person, with lights on and scares off. The ship has steep stairs and is not wheelchair accessible. Review the admission details and ship rules before buying.
3. Dead Ends on Spruce — Traverse City
This residential outdoor display at 315 South Spruce Street has never charged admission, according to organizer Nate Taylor’s September comments reported by the Record-Eagle and republished by CNHI. Donations have been accepted but are not expected.
Traverse City Tourism lists October 1–31 dates. However, reporting also describes city concerns about traffic and the display’s scale. Current nightly visitor access could not be independently confirmed. Treat this as a conditional stop: check fresh organizer updates first, respect the residential setting and follow any posted access instructions. |
 Photo by Soly Moses on Pexels. Illuminated ghost decorations in a yard; illustrative stock photograph, not one of the listed Northern Michigan attractions. |
More spooky outings: tours, lunch and family fun
4. Haunted Lighthouse Tours — Northport
Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum’s ticket calendar lists tours on October 16, 17, 23 and 24, from 6–8 p.m. Admission is $17.59 including ticketing fees. This is a scheduled lighthouse tour rather than a conventional haunted-house complex.
The museum is at 15500 North Lighthouse Point Road, within Leelanau State Park. Choose a date on MyNorthTickets and consult the museum website for visiting information.
5. Haunted General Store + Lunch — Horton Bay
Horton Bay General Store & Inn hosts this daytime event at 5115 Boyne City Road on October 31, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Advance tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for ages 6–17 and free for ages five and younger. Checkout lists an additional $1.20 on an adult ticket and $0.60 on a youth ticket.
Lunch and a nonalcoholic beverage are included. The front porch offers G-rated games for little ones. If tickets remain, door prices rise to $25 for adults and $15 for children. Ticket and beverage sales support the Boyne City Schools food pantry. Reserve through the official event page.
6. Haunted Museum — Alpena
The Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center offers a free, all-ages event October 23, 5–8 p.m., at 500 West Fletcher Street. Activities include trick-or-treating and games; entering the haunted ship/museum is optional.
That optional route gives families a way to participate without committing everyone to the scares. Read the Friends of Thunder Bay event listing or Pure Michigan listing before visiting.
Pick the outing that fits your group
For a traditional scare night, start with Kalkaska or Manistee. For a specific date on the calendar, consider the Northport tours, Horton Bay lunch or Alpena museum event. Check the selected night’s availability, final checkout total and access details before making the drive. |
16 Comments
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Seeing Manistee and the S.S. City of Milwaukee together in the credit helps me picture where Ghost Ship is. I would have missed that connection from the name alone.
Nice to see the S.S. City of Milwaukee photo credited to the Ghost Ship website. Since the photographer isn’t identified there, it makes sense not to guess.
I don't mind the photographer being listed as unknown if the source page doesn't name them. Saying that plainly is better than guessing who took the picture.
Agreed, and thanks for noticing. The source page identifies the venue but doesn’t name a photographer, so we’ve kept the credit clear without guessing.
I’m more interested in the Ghost Ship schedule than the price breakdown. A clear list of dates for each type of session would make planning easier.
I'd check the Manistee Ghost Ship website before making plans. Since the photo comes from their page, that seems like a sensible place to confirm current visitor details too.
Nina P.Good call. I'd check the hours before driving over, especially if it's a weekday.
Does anyone know if the S.S. City of Milwaukee website has more photos of the ship? This credit made me curious about what the venue looks like inside.
It's good that the source is listed, but I wish the photographer were identified too. A venue photo still takes someone behind the camera.
I appreciate seeing the S.S. City of Milwaukee named in the photo credit. It makes the Ghost Ship image easier to place, especially for people who might not recognize the venue.
The lights-on option sounds more my speed than a regular Ghost Ship night. I’d look at the calendar first, then decide if the timing works.
Does anyone know whether Dead Ends on Spruce is open to visitors this season? I’d confirm that before making it part of a trip to Manistee.
Good point, seasonal availability can change, and we haven’t confirmed whether Dead Ends on Spruce is open this year. We’d check with the venue directly before planning a visit.
kim_87Good call. I haven't seen any dates for this season yet, so I'd check before making the drive.
I’d want to confirm the price right before buying tickets. The breakdown helps, but it’s easy to miss a separate session when you’re deciding which night to go.
The separate lights-on session at Ghost Ship is good to know about. I’d still check the current calendar before making plans, since the available nights could change.