As The Raven Dreams Podcast - State By State Ep 01 - Strange & Scary Things In MICHIGAN

Episode Date: June 5, 2025

Today we have 5 Strange things you can find in the great state of Michigan - All write-ups today are researched by Tom K. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like or rate the podcast, and leave me a comment with your thoughts if the platform your own supports it! Scary story episodes 2 to 3 times a week (New stories On Wed/Fri, Comps/remasters on Sundays) If you have a story to submit, would like to find where to listen to the podcast, or want to find me on social media platforms, all of that info can be found at https://www.astheravendreams.com You can also send stories into my subreddit (r/theravensdream) or email them to me at [e-mail] Want to check out some ATRD Podcast Merch? ➤ https://teechip.com/stores/astheravendreams Or for signed merch ➤ https://ko-fi.com/AsTheRavenDreams I wrote a novel, "The InsQomniac's Experiment" by Raven Adams! Check it out on amazon (Or you can email me for a signed copy!) Join Patreon to get early access and support the Podcast! ➤ https://www.patreon.com/AsTheRavenDreams Check out my gaming channel with my pal Ghost_Ink ➤ @superNefariousBros On YouTube Disclaimer ➤ Episodes include a content warning for language and sensitive/disturbing content. Listener discretion is always advised. ALL Audio and visuals on this podcast are copyright of AS THE RAVEN DREAMS / RAVEN ADAMS and may not be duplicated, in any format. Bless This Mess. -Time Stamps- 00:00 ➤ Like the video if you enjoyed! 01:17 ➤ The Waheela 06:48 ➤ The Prehistoric Forest 12:18 ➤ The Fairy Doors Of Ann Arbor 16:34 ➤ The Singing Sands Of Bete Grise 19:26 ➤ Hell, Michigan ----- #TrueScaryStories #AsTheRavenDreams #Michigan #RedditStories And Remember; You are loved, you are important, and you are valid. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Viaray, the voice that we love that we love. Hey there, friends. Before we get into today's episode of the podcast, I have to say something that I have been saying more recently, more and more frequently as of recent. That didn't make any sense. You'll get what I mean in a minute. This episode is a little different from my normal content. And eventually I'm going to be able to stop saying that. I probably don't even need to say it anymore, but I'm still saying it because, well, just in case. This one is just for fun.

I'm going to keep the middle-all ads to a minimum, just one ad after the first part of it. It's just a collection of some strange things about the state of Michigan. Again, if this doesn't interest you, I totally understand. More new, you know, normal content, scary stories coming up here three days from now. So, yeah, that'll be coming up soon. But anyways, it's just a strange thing episode, just a strange things in Michigan. Might do a few more of these as time goes on. I have another one planned at least.

And they're just kind of for fun. Again, if you don't like it, I understand. This one isn't for everybody. It's just a fun episode. Anyways, hope you do enjoy if you listen. If not, see you again here soon. Until next time, my friends, much love and enjoy. First story, the Wahila.

It just wouldn't be a proper video. without at least one scary creature mentioned, now, would it? The Wahila is a wolf-like creature that is said to be as large as a bear. It is said to inhabit Northern Michigan, Ontario, and Alaska. Three and a half to four foot tall at its shoulders, the Wahila is said to have shorter legs than front legs, and its footprints are said to show wide-spaced toes. It's built more heavily and larger than other wolves in the area.

I think this is one of the most interesting cryptids I've come across in a while, and it's very frustrating that I've not been able to find many stories relating to it. However, here is what I was able to learn about this fascinating bear dog. The creature is prominent in Native American lore of the region, and is often portrayed as an evil spirit that kills people by removing their heads. Given its reputation as something of a headhound, It should come as no surprise that it's said to be native to the Nahani or Headless Valley. Although it's not just natives who have claimed to have had encounters with this apex predator.

An auto mechanic by the name of Frank Graves reported seeing the beast and described it as a wolf on steroids. Later on, Graves would be quoted as identifying the creature as a timber wolf. It's been theorized that this creature is an amyphosyanid, or perhaps a dire wolf, but again, these are just theories. It is also said that the Wahila is a solitary predator, never traveling in packs. Possibly due to its size and the lack of any natural predators, the creatures don't feel the need to find safety in a pack. The dark origin of the name Wahila allegedly comes from a problem. pre-colonial account, in which three trappers had a fatal encounter with the phantom-like giant white wolf. A popular story surrounding an encounter with the Wahila tells of a hunter

out in the wilderness where he encounters a monstrous white wolf with glowing eyes. Unsettled by this looming creature, the hunter continues about his business, only to come upon the headless corpse of a fellow trapper nearby. Most stories and sightings of the Wahila come to us from Canada, specifically the Nahani Valley. There are accounts of a hunter tracking and attempting to shoot a Wahila, only for the beast's dense white fur to have protected it from the projectile. And while Canada may well be the beast's home in native land, there have been sightings of the Wahila in Alaska, Michigan, and even the Kansas City area. From the distant pre-colonial days, all the way up to the 21st century, there are still sightings of these solitary beasts in two countries.

A bear dog, a dire wolf, right now it's difficult to classify exactly the Wahila might be. It does seem to be one of the more plausible, or explainable of many of the modern cryptids, that have taken up residence in modern lore. After all, people thought the platypus was a mere myth, but now we all know otherwise. This is actually a very interesting creature that I was saddened I could find so little on. So, I'm going to make a request on behalf of my friend Raven here, and ask you, dear audience, to send us, specifically Raven,

any stories you may have about possible Wahila sightings. I agree with this. As an aside, during my research into this particular creature, I was looking deeper into the Wahila sightings in the Kansas City area and immediately realized that the Wahila sightings that were actually being referred to in the KC area are Wahilah Sea Mountain Bikes. So, beyond one mention of a sighting in the Kansas City area

in the same breath as those of the actual Wahila referred to in the stories, of the bloodthirsty dire wolf slash bear dog from the Nahani Valley and Michigan. The sightings in the Kansas City area circa 2020 in fact refer to the bike, which, if I may add here, is a slightly humorous way to end this write-up about the Wahila and definitely reflects how it's important to do thorough research on things like cryptids,

and not just accept small summaries from websites or the search engines AI system because I will also tell you those systems are not orthodam. Anyways, that's the Wahila, an interesting cryptid of Native American lore that would be terrifying to encounter in the middle of the woods. It's never too early to plan your summer story in Europe with WestJet, from rolling countryside to cobblestone streets.

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along came a little tourist trap among a sea of tourist traps, called the prehistoric forest. At the time, it was one of a great many such gimmicky little spots along the highway. A visit to the park would have consisted of first a safari train ride through the forest. Along this adventure, one would have been treated to fiberglass sculptures of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, very accurate ones, I'm sure. Next, along in your foray through the park, you would have walked along with a tour guide who would have taken you for a close encounter

with some of the exhibits previously seen along the train ride. They would have explained the creature's habit, habitats, and diet. Then, there was the second train ride through an area called the Land of the Lepricon, where one could explore the myths, legends, and beliefs held by the early Irish settlers of the area. A third area was one where you could get your souvenirs. play games, and even go on your own fossil hunt in a designated digging area. Other attractions were a volcano which smoldered and spilled smoke into the sky. In the 80s, a 400-foot water slide was added as the once thriving stream of tourists began to dry up in the 80s, and the park's popularity waned.

In 1981, the price of admission was only $2.75 per adult, and $1.75 per child. As the 80s went by, one by one, the various attractions closed down, and it was ultimately sold to new owners in 1997, but would barely limp along until closing for good in 2002. Without question, one of the most popular of the park's attractions were the fiberglass figurines, of which there were 15 dinosaurs, existing alongside cavemen nestled along the tropic waterfalls and the man-made volcano. Going back to the 1970s, these statues were often the target of local mischief.

In 1985, three of the statues, including the Neanderthal man, were stolen from the park and later found in front of Saline High School. After the park was closed, a similar prank was pulled off in 2010, when some of these same statues appeared on the roof of a school in nearby Anstead. heavy equipment was required for their removal and returned to the defunct park once more

some of the more recent acts of vandalism have not been quite so harmless or in good fun in 2010 2011 and 2012 during the same weekend in November acts of property damage had been carried out when several statues had their heads or limbs smashed or busted off after noticing the pattern in the vandalism

the owner of the abandoned park placed numerous motion-activated cameras around the park, and this was how they managed to capture their repeat offenders. It was a group of 13 teenage boys and two of their fathers. They were in the area for a yearly track meet and had made it kind of a tradition to deface and damage the fiberglass statues in the fading prehistoric forest, which lays a five-hour drive from the still open and operating dinosaur gardens. I do have to say that, given the park has an entire section called the Land of the Lepricon,

I was hoping to find more crazy stories about people going out and exploring this abandoned park, just for a laugh. But remarkably little is written anywhere about the Irish myth-themed area of the park. One thing is for certain. This park is remembered more for the dinosaurs and prehistoric theme than its leprechaun theme. In 2018, it was noted that the waterfall and cavern are experiencing structural issues and have been deemed unsafe. And there have been requests for it to be demolished. In both 2019 and 2021, the current owners have stated that they want to refurbish and reopen the park.

But no concrete dates have been announced for when such a reopening may happen or when the refurbishing might begin. At multiple times, it has been listed as for sale, most recently at a price tag of 269,000, which, if I may add here, is the price of a small house. So, if you have a quarter of a million dollars lying around and ever dreamed of owning a dinosaur-themed park, it might just be your lucky day. Until then, this once great American tourist trap

and its fiberglass statues will continue to sit alone in the Irish hills. Albeit, under the watchful eyes of security cameras, while the forests and elements slowly reclaim the prehistoric forest. Story 3. The Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor. I do hope that scary fairy godmother will forgive me for writing this one, but it's just too darn interesting, whimsical, even.

Who would have thought it, but Ann Arbor is home to an entire world of urban fairies. Yes, fairies. Scattered throughout Ann Arbor are tiny little doors about six inches high that open to a miniature world within. Beyond these doors are other tiny doors and even tiny windows that will magically light up sporadically as tiny denizens carry out their daily lives. This would certainly be odd to discover, maybe a bit unsettling,

but I feel it's much less scary than, say, a murderous bear dog prowling around. It all started back in the olden days of 1993, when Jonathan B. Wright began renovations on his home. During the remodel, his young daughters began discovering these little six-inch doors in various places around the house. The first one was found in a remodeled closet. Upon opening the door, they found a staircase with railing that led up to another tiny door. Once the family's fireplace had been built, the girls found another door that opened into a

tiny room with a tiny fireplace of its own. There was also another tiny door that opened, revealing a landing with a checkered black and white floor. Their placement is as whimsical as the very things that dwelt on the other side of these miniature doors, and the urban fairies that dwell within. Upon completing the remodel of his kitchen, a tiny door was found with a tiny set of windows that looked out into the Wright's breakfast area, leading one to wonder if maybe the Faye counterparts didn't, in their own way, enjoy a nice breakfast with the Wrights as part of their own little daily routine. By 2005, Wright, now a full-blown ferriologist, was documenting two dozen of these six-inch doors that were popping up all over the city. In the Ann Arbor Public Library,

For instance, the little folk have made a home out of a bookcase and volumes of fairy tales. Then there's the gift shop known as the Peaceable Kingdom, in which the fairies have set up their own elaborate little store full of all the things that a thriving fairy community may need, nay, demands. Pennies, acorns, sweets, and all manner of shiny loot. Michigan Theater houses another tiny gem. A private fairy theater complete, with the working screen.

If fairies or fairy lore is your thing, then I would strongly advise you check out Wright's website, urban-fairies.com. It has some pretty cool pictures curated throughout the site, as well as some encounters, history, and lore. I don't think it's been significantly updated in quite some time, but if nothing else, it's a very intriguing little time capsule to explore. I think as far as strange things to have in your city,

this would be one of the more desirable things to stumble across. Not that Fay can't be mischievous or bothersome, but it would, for the most part, seem that the fairies of Ann Arbor are mostly content to just live and let live, with some of them even modeling their miniature world to resemble or even reflect the larger human world around their own. I personally think that, maybe these tiny rooms, tiny theaters and shops, could be the boundary.

And beyond the oft-locked doors on the other side of these tiny rooms could be the fairy realm. But until someone shrinks themselves down or receives some kind of formal invitation, we will probably never fully understand the true culture of the urban fairy. Or why they have chosen Ann Arbor as a kind of Tieternan Nag. Story 4. the singing sands of Bay de Grie. Originally named Bay Degris, meaning the Bay of Sandstone, Bay Decree, Grey, is a nature preserve situated on the Kiwanan Peninsula and is truly a picturesque place.

A popular tourist spot with beautiful beaches along the Great Lakes, but there are legends about these beaches, stories about these sands, and a phenomena that makes these sands. sing. As with so many things, the story behind this dates back to native stories about a woman who lost her husband, or love her, to the waters of the Great Lakes. And to this day, her voice lingers in the sand as she calls for her lost love, hoping he will at its long last follow her voice and return home. I'm not really sure what could cause such a phenomena as this. They say that when you press down on the sand with your palm, that the sand will sing, and that it will

bark if struck. I've honestly never heard of anything like this before, and I'm certainly curious to hear these sands. However, don't think that you can collect some of the sand to take home and have its serenade you each night. They say that once the sand is removed from the beach, that it loses its singing abilities, or properties. However, you want to couch it. which is kind of a bummer. I think everyone would be better for having this random dish of singing sand in their home. It's a very strange sentence that Tom wrote in this, and I kind of have to agree with him on that.

A wonderfully simplistic little legend, perhaps, but when you think about the phenomena with the context of just how picturesque Bay degree truly is, the magic they weave together is a bit... Hetty, intoxicating, even. the romance and tragedy behind the separated lovers coupled with the serene beauty of the area and only then factor in the singing sands it truly becomes a kind of beautiful story with a phenomena

that's honestly not at all scary but certainly piques one's curiosity we're all thinking it so i'll just say it with the singing sand totally slay at karaoke night that was tom's joke not mine i just want to it on the record. I guess since it can't sing once it's removed from the beach, we'll never be able to find out. But perhaps a nice reminder that not all strange or unexplainable things are necessarily scary or malevolent. Story 5. Hell, Michigan. We all have that oddball friend that draws a kind of delight from the macabre or the darker humor to be found in life. For some people, I am that friend. But in Michigan, there's an entire town of people who absolutely relish in the darker side of things.

If you want to visit a truly odd town, then my friends, all you need to do is go to hell. Michigan, that is. For those of you that don't know, there is actually a town in Michigan named hell. And the residents of this town relish in the town's name. and the macabre association to the infernal. This town is also up for sale. That's right, my friend, you can buy one square inch of the town for the low, low price of, you guessed it, $6.66 per square inch.

So, for quite a reasonable sum, you could actually own Hell's half acre. And, of course, a town, such as Hell, has quite the set of creative business. owners. You can stop in at Screams Ice Cream and eat at the crematory, where you can finally figure out just what a chance in hell a Popsicle actually has. You might also enjoy the famous or perhaps infamous Grave Digger Sunday. It may be a bit of an odd place, but by all accounts, its denizens are quite friendly and good-natured about the damned name of this town. Beyond all the gimmicky shops and businesses aimed at those tourists, that brave preditioned to find out what hell is like.

The town also pays host to lots of far more practical activities than eating ironically named sweet treats and t-shirts that might be a bit too on the nose. Apparently hell is quite scenic and offers numerous chances to escape into the wilderness via hiking trails. If you're more of a fishing type, then you can rent everything you can. could possibly need for a weekend on the water, including kayaks or canoes, if you'd rather not wander into the woods. For the wilderness lovers, though, why not book yourself a nice campground? I guess hell truly does have multiple circles, and some of those circles are much nicer than others.

I'd almost be the one to suggest changing the name to the first circle of Hell, Michigan, but I suppose that's a bit on the wordy side. Anyway, let's look at some of the more interesting and unique things about this quaint and wholesome little town. So, it turns out that Hell is completely unincorporated, located in Putnam Township, Livingston County. Hell has no defined boundaries and no population statistics. I would like to state that that's kind of ironic. So Hell has free reign in Michigan. Always good to know.

Also located here is... Damnation University, from which you can purchase a diploma. In addition to the lighthearted jokes, owning a square inch of hell, it is also possible for visitors to become the mayor of hell for a day, for a small fee, of course. Have you ever wanted to lock in your love and throw away the key? Well, why not do it at the locks of love bridge that spans the Hell Creek River? Because nothing screams romance like padlocking your love to a bridge in hell, and then throwing the key into the river so it may never escape.

What better way to proclaim your undying love than by forever attaching it to the infernal damnation of hell? Surely the people who do this have a high success rate in their relationships. For all we know, the 50% of couples that don't get divorced may have sealed the deal in hell. Maybe that's the secret. If you've ever wanted to send your friends and loved one that long-awaited postcard from hell, well, you may as well do it while you're in town. Hell knows when this chance will arise again, after all.

I know there's at least a couple of people that I would like to send one of these postcards, too. At least one of them would just shake their head and say, yeah, not surprised. There is a theory as to where the name originally stemmed from. It's entirely possible that it comes from the early German settlers to the area who said the area was Zo Shan Hill, or so beautifully bright. But only part of the phrase stuck. Go figure. Perhaps it was the old Iceland-Greenland subterfuge or someone thought if they called it hell,

then people would just keep moving on. Being completely honest, I think maybe hell ain't so bad after all. At least in this context. Hey there, friends. I know that this was a very different episode from what my content normally is, and that's kind of what I wanted it to be. This episode is in addition to other content, so please don't feel like you guys are losing out on an episode because you're not. This was an extra one for the podcast and channel, so.

I don't intend to do these kinds of things constantly, frequently, even. Semi-frequently, not even once a month, maybe. This was more so an episode or an idea, a topic that a friend and I wanted to research and do just kind of a write-up on. And yes, like I said, I know it wasn't necessarily scary stories, and there will be more scary stories very soon, I promise. And there always will be. But I wanted to do something that was more fun. Fun in, I guess, or fun contextually.

Like, it's not necessarily fun, but you know what I mean. It's interesting stuff. Just something we wanted to research and do audio on. And it's kind of, yeah. So hopefully you guys did enjoy this. If not, I totally understand. If you'd like to not listen to this one, I get it to. even though this is at the end, so if you hear this, she already did.

But really, it was just for fun. And this wasn't anything serious. It was just a bit of a step away from the scary stories for just a moment. And, like I said, will not be a constant, regular, frequent, semi-frequent, anything like that. Just maybe once a month that most. And yeah. Also, we'll not take the place of any content we've already have planned, so don't think you're missing out on other stories, like I said. But if you did enjoy it and you're on a platform that allows content,

I think that's mostly just Spotify. Leave me a comment down below and let me know. If you absolutely hated it, well, just let me know that too. That's fine as well. I do want to ask, though, if you're on a platform where you can rate the podcast, do consider doing that. However, you wish to rate it, honestly. Don't give me a five-star because you think I'm asking for it,

because I'm not. I'm asking for an honest rating. Leave me a comment if you can. Send me a story if you got one. Go to ashtherravendreams.com. There's a big button to send your story in my way. Check out the novel I wrote. which is called the Insomniacs Experiment. You can find it on Amazon right now.

I don't have signed copies available at this point in time. Currently in the midst of a coming up move, and my place is an absolute disaster right now because we're downsizing to some extent. We're trying to reduce our clutter in life. So, other than that, I just hope that you are having a wonderful day. Hope I see you again here very soon.

But until then, remember you are loved, you are valid, you are important, much love, and of course, sleep well.