Someone started it, then they told it to someone, then that someone told another friend of a friend…who had already heard it from a friend three months ago….
Seven Gables Road is an excellent example of an urban legend at its finest. This was a story I was reluctant to post for years, but seeing this website is a collection of the “strange and unusual” in Michigan, it should be here. This story has been circulating the dark shadows of late night campfires and midnight tales for a long time and it can safely be classified under gold ole’ fashioned Michigan urban legend. It’s the sort of tale that seemingly has no basis in fact, but nevertheless, leaves thrill seekers spooked. This is definitely one of those areas where people go with the intent of finding something “scary” and anything that happens; whether it’s a twig snapping or an owl hooting is a sure sign there’s a ghost nearby.
This story has been circulating the dark shadows of late night campfires and midnight tales for a long time and it can safely be classified under gold ole’ fashioned Michigan urban legend. It’s the sort of tale that seemingly has no basis in fact, but nevertheless, leaves thrill seekers spooked. This is definitely one of those areas where people go with the intent of finding something “scary” and anything that happens; whether it’s a twig snapping or an owl hooting is a sure sign there’s a ghost nearby.
VERSION 1
Supposedly, and according to existing stories, there used to be an old house at the end of Seven Gables Road, a road that dead ends off of E. Dexter trail in Dansville, Michigan, Ingham County. There is now only walking trails and a rusted old gate where this “home” used to be. At some point, a story got started that is told exactly the same way on each and every web page out there, thanks to everyone’s perfected use of the cut and paste technique
Now here’s where the legend gets really dumb. This was the only curse the “witch” could come up with. The story is your classic “witch” who lived in the old home and cursed Seven Gables Road. The really lame thing about this version is the witch’s actual curse, which makes me believe this story got started not with an old house that used to sit on the property, but with the old gate/fence itself at the end of the road. If the only thing that has existed near that property for decades is a lonely, rusted old gate that leads to apparently nowhere, it needs a story to illustrate why you shouldn’t cross it right?
:: A Poorly Written Re-enactment of the Witch::
“I will curse this road because I am a witch! Therefore, anyone who hears a scream, and then jumps over this here fence….will DIE!”
::End Scene::
Really? That’s all she had? Because if it’s a remote, fairly quiet area, the odds of hearing someone scream and then immediately crossing this fence seem unlikely. But hark! It was the witch who was foiled by her own curse! She was outside, heard a baby scream, felt the need to be nice, and ran in the direction of the sound, therefore jumping her own fence of doom! She died two months later. It wasn’t a very fast acting curse.
So naturally, twenty-five years later, a family moves into the home of the witch. As if the events were inspired from the Amityville Horror, the man of the house goes insane, kills his family, burns the house down and then kills himself. Most stories say he hung himself. One story out there even goes on to say each dead family member was hanging from one of the gables of the house.
VERSION 2
The second version is a little more “short and sweet,” and is more in the classic style of ghostly legends. There was a “witch” who lived on Seven Gables Road. She, of course, hated the world and cursed her land and naturally haunts the property to this very day. If people dare to venture onto the land and hear a scream, it’s a warning to get out of the area or death will follow.
Now, this photo was displayed on a public Facebook group page dedicated to Seven Gables Road enthusiasts who have a love of the story. It was supplied by the head of the Ingham County Genealogical Society, Rodney Jewett. But this photo displays a house worthy of a better ghost story than the one that’s told. It’s lovely and has all the great embellishments of the perfect creepy and haunted house. So is this truly the house that inspired the legends? Who knows. Here’s a link to the Facebook group where this photo can be found.
In her book, Paranormal Lansing, author Nicole Bray talked to a local who had stated the area once had a Michigan “rattlesnake infestation” which was a theory as to why there were numerous stone foundations on the road as people were forced to abandon their homes and move elsewhere. Naturally, there seems to be a constant argument as to which foundation belonged to the “witch’s home.” A story like this could also generate a “cursed land” vibe that over time, mutates into something totally different.
We here at Michigan’s Otherside have gotten a few emails about Seven Gables Road over the years. Mostly from people who had heard about the legend and decided to go out and check it out.
**Of course, the above are the versions I am familiar with and like all urban legend, it changes from area to area and person to person. If you grew up with a different version of this story or have had an experience in this area, please feel free to write and share your story to be on this page.
MORE URBAN LEGENDS TOLD ABOUT SEVEN GABLES
READER SUBMISSION
A friend of mine heard the legend and went to check it out with a group of people. Everyone was arm in arm as they stepped over the gate and began to walk down the path. About 10 minutes later, they heard a scream and ran back to the gate. Once again, stepping back over the gate arm in arm all at once. When they got into the car and drove off, they looked at some of the pictures and only one really stood out. It was of one of the friends posing for the camera but it looked as though he had wings…. and it wasn’t windy or too cold outside.
Later in the week, after I saw the picture, I decided I wanted to check this place out for myself thinking they messed with the picture. When we got there, it was like any other creepy place. We stepped over the gate and walked a little bit and began to take some pictures. Everything around seemed very calm. The only thing we heard was heavy breathing that could have been from an animal or from one of us. To me, the only thing that I thought was interesting was that we were the only car tracks in the new snow but over the gate, were so many footprints and they were not just on the path. The footprints were going down into the wooded area and up into the fields.
So I was just wondering if you guys have checked this place out or are going to and what your findings were or if in fact, it is just legend?
READER SUBMISSION
At the end of seven Gables Road,(found off Dexter trail and Meridian) there is a gate that leads to an old home said to have been burned down with the family of six hung by the gables of the house. The killer then killed himself and set fire to the house. A young girl is said to be playing in the trees. It is also said that someone was mysteriously choked by a force unseen. Many have drowned there due to the hidden lake that is on the way to the ruins of the home.
READER SUBMISSION
Hey all, After hearing about this place about 2.5 years ago, I ventured out on a nice summer day. There’s not really much to see in this area, but there is some beautiful state land just behind the “gate”. I walked all around this area and had no experiences, but I am not particularly “sensitive.”
If you live in the area (Dansville off of I-96) it is a nice place to visit, but probably not worth a long drive.
READER SUBMISSION
Having lived next to Dansville Game area when I was a child, I played and walked this area since the early 1960’s. Seven Gables Road was a graveled dirt road starting at Ewers Road, passing nearby Ewers Lake out to Dexter Trail Road. All that is left of this road since the mid-sixties ends at that gate on Seven Gables Rd. The entrance on Ewers Road is one of the parking areas for hunting on the state owned land managed by our Department of Natural Resources. Many farmers sold out to the DNR before and after it was closed. Up until the 1970’s, it was a trail you could drive until the DNR blocked it off. Now and today, there are Bobcats in the area. When they snarl, the sound going through the trees will remind you of a woman’s scream. The Boy Scouts from the Lansing and Kiwanis chapters use to camp in the summer in this area walking the trail of the old road and camping near the lake. As a teenager who passed for 21, I used to bring alcohol to the scouts who were classmates of my neighbor who attended Resurrection grade school and Lansing Catholic Central. We as locals could not resist the temptation of telling ghost stories that we made up of our local area. – Vaughn R.
If you want a creepy adventure and if you’re in the Ypsilanti area look up the Co-Ed murders. My friends and I “Ghost hunt” and we went to the locations where the killer dumped the girl’s bodies. We got evp’s of girls crying, pictures, it even had the sensors on my car going off. The barn where he killed them is gone and you can’t explore the grounds legally – KIA bought the land and fenced it off.
Went there tonight around 10:15. This was the first time I have been. I have an EVP App on my phone. Not far after crossing the gate the meter went nuts and the most guttural terrifying voice made a growling sound. Then came the name Caroline And then Elias. As I was leaving it said Jim and Inside and then it really went crazy and said OUT, OUT as I went back over the gate.
Whether you believe or not is was very scary.
I have been to 7 Gables rd. before it was creepy to me. I just stayed in the car. I was more scared because there was a black car already there but there no one in it, so my dad and a friend got out of the car and went next to the gate which was mostly red and had a few brown rust spots on it. My dad took a picture next to the gate, then got back into the car and showed me the picture. When I looked at it, I saw something white in the wooded area but when I looked over towards where I had seen the white thing and tried to point it out two my dad and our friend, but they didn’t see it, so I thought that it was because I’m just a kid. When I was at work with my dad, one of the customers said that they go camping every year where the house was and now it’s just pavement but they are still alive and he has heard the scream several times too.
Wait a minute, so if you go out there, is there a chance that you’ll accidentally get shot by a hunter? I’m really interested in this for the haunted reasons, but not for the hunting reasons.
I’d be cautious during hunting season, but I’m not entirely familiar with the area. Perhaps someone else will see this comment and chime in.
Yes going out there during hunting season is a good chance to accidentally get shot, but if you wear orange you should be fine. I have heard a few different versions of the curse and haunting. I am also a big-time hunter and have covered 100% of the land there and know it well. The house foundation is not near the DNR gate and I don’t believe that DNR gate is the cursed gate. You do have to watch your step out there off the DNR trail there are some swamps and a hidden stream that looks like it’s just muddy swamp. It’s only about 3 to 5 feet wide and looks easy to step across but there are spots you sink to your neck in just a step! It happend to my father and was some funny sht. You can catch the occasional group with a fire partying out there and there is a big owl that lives very close to the foundation that I have spooked up a few times. Lots of deer, coyote and other critters to make noises too put a little scare into you. And if you never heard a fox scream, well you’re in for a treat :-p. Good luck and have fun out there. Just be safe and try not to go during Oct Nov Dec cuz you’re scaring my Buck lol.
I’ve been their many times great for hunting camped many times theirs no house left you can tell where the well was that’s about it
Where exactly is the house foundation. A few of us went looking yesterday and couldn’t find it.
I have been to the Gables a few times and the house location isn’t at the gate it is about a half a mile down the trail. Very ominous out there. The foundation is all that is left of the house, but you can definitely tell it’s a house foundation. The last time my friends and I went out there was by far the creepiest. There was about six of us and as we walked along the path we heard something in the woods. I yelled out and asked if the person was hunting; no reply… I asked again and there was a reply the person answered “No. ARE YOU?” We decided that we should head back after that. We would walk and hear footsteps along side of us in the woods, we stopped it stopped we moved faster it moved faster. Never could figure out what or who it was until a few months later a boy Richard Holland had went missing and his body was found in this “State Game Area” to this day I feel it in my gut we walked in on someone hiding that body.
Thanks for sharing your story. Let’s hope that’s NOT what you guys were walking into! Eeeek!
I heard of this story but never went there. What I heard was a witch cursed the house and there was a husband and wife with two kids and one day the Husband went ‘crazy’ and decided to kill his wife and kids then put the body in the basement and poured cement over the body so no one could find it, Then he tied himself to the bed and lit the bed on fire with him on it.
I’ve been to seven gables and we took the kids hiking around to find the burned down house (we didn’t tell the kids obviously of the story) but we took pictures and I randomly took pictures of the scenery. The sun was setting and we were heading back when I heard a child giggle. I turned to my youngest son and asked what was funny. He just replied I didn’t laugh Mom. When we got home I was looking at the photos I had taken and if you zoomed in on one, plain as day stood, a boy with a brown vest and brown knickers with a white shirt and hat. You could really make out the face but he just seemed out of place in time…
Chilling!
I’m 33 and have gone over the fence every year to hunt. Started when I was 12. It’s state hunting land now. So yeah, if this helps. LOL
Thanks for commenting:)
I myself have been over the gate many times and if you listen before you cross the gate, it’s quiet except for the crickets. Cross over the gate and walk down the trail and about .25miles-.5miles you can hear dogs barking off in the distance. Don’t be alarmed, they aren’t coming after you. But I have, and so have quite a few of my friends that were with me that all grew up in a small town 10-15 min down the road of Mason, MI have seen white orbs and black shadowy figures in different areas of the woods on the left, right, in front, and behind us.
In the middle of the woods, we heard footsteps. We shut the flashlights off, stopped to listen and nothing but yet saw something lurking in the woods… Definitely got scared turned the flashlights back on and started looking around and the objects would just vanish. Yea, you could say our minds were playing tricks or our eyes played tricks, but 6 of us all saw the exact same thing and most of us took pics with our phones, got back to our vehicles and started looking through the pics everyone took. This is the crazy messed up part, every phone had at least one pic if not more of different areas of the trail/woods that had something in them that was not seen by the naked eye.
There was a separate incident at least 5 years later. I was with my gf, turned off Dexter Trail Rd onto Seven Gables Rd and I’m usually not into the superstitions, except for an all black cat crossing your path than something bad usually happens. Well with me, as my luck would have it, anytime an all black cat crosses my path, at some point something goes bad. In this case, driving down Seven Gables Rd and we get to where the paved road meets the dirt road, and out of nowhere off to our left is this all black cat (From what I saw with my high beams on) that crosses the road off into the field on the right. When we both saw this black cat I stopped the car immediately (this cat was a good 10-15 feet in front of us). So after the cat crossed, I drove to right about where the cat crossed and slammed on the brakes.
The reason for this causes chills, goosebumps, and the hairs on my body to stand on end. When I slammed on the brakes there was a black figure with no face directly in front of us almost at my front bumper that appeared out of nowhere. She saw it as well, so I threw the car in reverse, and it was at that moment when I got chills and goosebumps, and felt every hair stand on end plus I got super cold backing up and also felt like my whole body tensed up. I couldn’t move nor talk. I backed up so fast that I passed the few driveways off of Seven Gables Rd trying to hurry up and get out of there because I have never experienced anything like this before, but from the things I have read and watched, it was all bad news for this couple here, especially for me.
I didn’t know what was going on with me (as in my body) or why I couldn’t move or talk while turning around. When I did finally turn the car back around going towards Dexter Trail Rd coming up to the stop sign, I blacked out (no we were not drinking nor on drugs). My gf at the time had to get my attention as I was just going to ignore the stop sign and drive over Dexter Trail into the field or a tree. Thank goodness for her reaction. My anxiety and blood pressure went really high as we were on Dexter Trail driving away from Seven Gables Rd. I was trying to explain what I was feeling and what I experienced to my gf and she had a really bad feeling that the black object that you see in scary paranormal movies and videos, was trying to take its role on me. I am a person that is really sensitive to these kinds of things. Here it is 9 years after this incident. I tell this story the same way every time and still get chills, goosebumps, and the hairs on my body stand on end. Even writing all of this through most of it I would get those feelings. Believe me or dont, just know I have no reason to lie.
Brian, wow! Thank you for sharing your experience. I just keep hearing stranger and stranger things about this area.