Since I started coming up to Grand Haven many years ago, I stumbled across this cemetery by chance when I was reading up on this history of Grand Haven on Google. If I hadn't read about the local haunting legends that surround this cemetery, I probably would have not known of its existence.
This 40-acre cemetery sits a little off of Lake Michigan, not far from Grand Haven City Beach and the State Park. If you actively look for it, its not hard to miss; however, the key words here are "actively look". If don't seek this hidden gem out, then you most likely won't find it.
The grounds of this place are immaculate! You can tell that the city of Grand Haven keeps this place in tip-top shape and it shows. There's an endless array of immaculately carved headstones and monuments of many generations of families that are worth checking. There are also even more immaculate mausoleums scattered throughout the grounds here. If you're into photography this place presents an array of opportunities for pictures, especially in the fall where the grounds explode with fall colors.
What's more fascinating about this place (at least to me) is the local legend of the haunting of the founder Grand Haven, William Ferry. Long story short, William Ferry and his family's resting place that sit at the top of the hill in cemetery were very badly vandalized in 1940, with the emphasis of the vandalization being put on Willam's sarcophagus. Since then there have been reports of a "blue man" at night by random cemetery goers. Apparently the "blue man" is William's spirit as he is now watching over the cemetery.
There's quite a bit of stuff on google about this legend if you take the time to look. If you're feeling more adventurous you might even consider spending an evening there and check it out yourself. Be warned, that if you don't have permission to be there after the gates closed, you will be fined and ticketed by the Grand Haven Police.
Personally, I've spent three or four evenings up on the hill and while I didn't see the "blue man", I did end up having what I would consider a paranormal experience on two occasions...one of which scared the ever-living shit out of me.
With that being said, if you're looking for a bit of a ghost adventure or if you're looking to just check out a really nice cemetery, you'll want to check this place out day or night as you never know what you might find. read more