Seul Choix Point Lighthouse – Haunted Lighthouse in Gulliver, Michigan

Seul Choix Point Lighthouse stands as a lonely sentinel on the remote shores of Lake Michigan, its beacon cutting through fog and darkness for over a century while harboring spirits who refuse to abandon their post. This isolated stone tower has witnessed countless shipwrecks, tragic deaths, and years of solitary keeper existence, creating layers of paranormal activity that make it one of Michigan’s most authentically haunted locations.

Historical Background

Year Built: 1895

Original Purpose: Navigation lighthouse to guide ships through the treacherous waters of northern Lake Michigan and warn of the dangerous limestone shoals

Significant Events: The lighthouse’s second keeper, Captain Joseph Willie Townshend, died at the station in 1910 under mysterious circumstances, collapsing suddenly in the building after complaining of severe chest pains and appearing unusually agitated in his final days. During Prohibition, the lighthouse became an alleged smuggling point for Canadian whiskey, with rumors of violence and murder associated with bootlegging operations that used the isolated location’s storage areas. In 1926, a massive storm destroyed several ships within view of the lighthouse, and keepers reported hearing the screams of drowning sailors for weeks afterward, unable to save them from the violent waters.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The most persistent phenomenon is the overwhelming smell of cigar smoke that appears throughout the lighthouse, particularly in the keeper’s quarters and tower, despite no smoking being allowed for decades. Visitors and staff report footsteps pacing the tower stairs at night, doors opening and closing on their own, and the sensation of being watched by an unseen presence.

Objects mysteriously move from their designated places, with tools and kitchen items frequently found in different locations than where staff left them. The lighthouse keeper’s bedroom experiences dramatic temperature drops, cold spots that move through rooms, and many witnesses report seeing the full-bodied apparition of a man in early 1900s keeper’s uniform watching them from windows or standing in doorways before vanishing.

Ghost Stories & Reports

Captain Joseph Townshend – The Eternal Keeper: The ghost of Captain Townshend is the lighthouse’s most famous resident, and his presence permeates every level of the structure. He appears as a bearded man in a dark keeper’s uniform, often spotted in the tower room adjusting the light mechanism or standing at windows gazing out at the lake, and witnesses universally report the strong smell of his favorite cherry-blend pipe tobacco announcing his presence moments before he manifests.

Staff members have reported extended interactions with Townshend’s spirit, including feeling their hair tousled by invisible hands, finding their work mysteriously completed overnight, and hearing a male voice humming old maritime songs. The captain appears protective of the lighthouse, with activity intensifying when maintenance or changes are made to the building, as if he’s inspecting the work to ensure his station remains in proper condition.

The Woman in White: A female apparition in a long white dress appears on the beach below the lighthouse, particularly during foggy conditions or storm warnings. Local legend identifies her as the wife or lover of a sailor who drowned within sight of the lighthouse in the 1920s, forever watching for his return, and those who encounter her describe an overwhelming sense of grief and loss that brings them to tears.

The Bootlegger’s Victim: In the basement storage area, a malevolent presence allegedly connected to Prohibition-era violence manifests with aggressive energy. Visitors report being touched roughly, pushed, and experiencing sudden panic attacks, while EVP recordings have captured threatening voices telling people to “get out” and “leave it alone,” suggesting someone died violently in this area and guards whatever secrets remain hidden there.

The Drowning Victims: The spirits of sailors who perished in shipwrecks visible from the lighthouse appear as dark figures on the water or standing on the rocky shore. Witnesses describe seeing multiple shadowy forms reaching toward the lighthouse as if still seeking rescue, and on anniversary dates of known shipwrecks, people report hearing desperate cries for help echoing across the water despite no boats being in distress.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

The Keeper’s Bedroom on the Second Floor: This intimate space where Captain Townshend spent his final night alive generates the most intense paranormal encounters in the entire lighthouse. The temperature in this room drops to near-freezing even in summer, visitors report feeling an oppressive presence pressing down on them making it difficult to breathe, and many have fled after seeing the full apparition of Captain Townshend lying in the bed or standing beside it staring at them with hollow eyes, while the overwhelming smell of cigar smoke becomes so thick it causes people to cough despite no visible source.

Can You Visit?

Open to the Public? Yes – operates as a museum and historic site

Entry Fee: $5 for adults, $3 for children (ages 6-12), children under 6 free; Lighthouse tower climb an additional $2

Tour Availability: Self-guided tours available daily from Memorial Day through mid-October, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Special guided paranormal history tours offered on select Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM from June through September ($15 per person), and overnight paranormal investigation experiences can be booked through Gulliver Historical Society for $75 per person (minimum 4 people, maximum 12).

Photography Allowed? Yes, throughout all areas of the lighthouse and grounds

Visiting Hours: Daily 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Memorial Day to mid-October); grounds accessible dawn to dusk year-round; special event hours vary

Best Time to Visit

Late September through October produces the most documented paranormal activity, with the anniversary of Captain Townshend’s death (August 1910) also generating increased supernatural encounters. Evening tours between 8:00 PM and midnight offer the best chances for spirit interaction, as activity dramatically increases after dark when the lighthouse most closely resembles its operational era, and investigators claim Captain Townshend’s spirit becomes more active and communicative during foggy conditions that mirror the atmosphere of his keeper days.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Museum director Marilyn Fischer documented over 200 unexplained incidents during her tenure, including multiple occasions when the lighthouse door locked itself from the inside while she was alone in the building, trapping her until the lock mysteriously released. She personally witnessed a coffee cup slide across a table and fall to the floor with no one near it, captured photographs showing unexplained mists and orbs that appear only in the keeper’s bedroom, and has heard footsteps climbing the tower stairs countless times when the building was confirmed empty.

In 2015, a family visiting from Wisconsin captured video footage that gained national attention, showing a shadowy figure clearly visible in the tower window moving past the glass, filmed while all visitors were accounted for on the ground level. The lighthouse was locked and no staff members were inside at the time, and analysis of the footage by paranormal experts found no evidence of manipulation or natural explanation for the figure.

Overnight investigators consistently report intelligent responses during EVP sessions, with spirits answering direct questions about lighthouse operations and identifying themselves by name. One group in 2018 captured audio of a voice saying “Joseph Townshend, keeper of the light” in response to asking who was present, followed by the distinct sound of boot steps on the tower stairs that matched the cadence of someone conducting a routine inspection.

Local Legends & Myths

The Keeper’s Warning: Local sailors and fishermen claim that seeing Captain Townshend’s ghost in the lighthouse window signals an approaching storm, and his apparition has allegedly saved lives by warning boats to seek harbor. At least three fishing crews have reported seeing the ghostly keeper frantically waving from the tower minutes before unexpected squalls struck, giving them time to reach safety.

The Smuggler’s Gold: Legend tells of a cache of gold coins and Canadian whiskey hidden somewhere in or near the lighthouse by Prohibition-era bootleggers, protected by a curse that brings misfortune to treasure hunters. Several people who have attempted to find the rumored stash report being plagued by bad luck, mechanical failures, and threatening paranormal encounters until they abandoned their search.

The Phantom Light: Even during years when the lighthouse was officially decommissioned and dark, ships reported seeing its beacon operating on foggy nights. The Coast Guard investigated multiple reports but never found the light operational, leading to theories that Captain Townshend’s ghost maintains his eternal watch, still protecting sailors from the dangers he couldn’t prevent in life.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Michigan’s Otherside Paranormal investigated Seul Choix Point in 2012, capturing compelling evidence including a Class A EVP of a male voice saying “Still on duty” in response to asking if the keeper was present. The team recorded dramatic EMF fluctuations that seemed to respond intelligently to questions, captured thermal imaging showing a human-shaped heat signature in the keeper’s bedroom when no living person was present, and multiple investigators reported being touched, having their names called, and smelling cigar smoke that appeared and dissipated without natural cause.

The television show “My Ghost Story” featured the lighthouse in a 2013 episode after multiple witness testimonies and documented phenomena convinced producers of its authenticity. The production crew experienced unexplained camera malfunctions, captured audio of footsteps and voices, and filmed orbs of light moving intelligently through the tower that appeared to interact with the crew, with the episode becoming one of the series’ most compelling investigations.

Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association has documented paranormal activity at Seul Choix Point since the 1970s, maintaining files of hundreds of witness reports, photographs, and audio recordings. Their research indicates that Captain Townshend’s spirit shows a consistent personality – helpful, protective, and occasionally playful – with activity patterns suggesting an intelligent haunting rather than residual energy, as the spirit appears to respond to questions, assist with lighthouse operations, and interact purposefully with visitors and staff.

Professional medium Cindy Keeler conducted multiple sessions at the lighthouse between 2016-2020, claiming direct communication with Captain Townshend’s spirit who expressed contentment with his eternal assignment but concern about changes to the lighthouse structure. Her sessions, documented by paranormal investigators, produced specific historical details about the keeper’s life that were later verified through archived records, including the names of family members and details about his daily routines that were not publicly known.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The tower stairs are steep, narrow, and can be slippery in humid conditions – visitors with mobility issues, heart conditions, or fear of heights should avoid the climb to the top. The 78-step ascent has resulted in several minor injuries over the years, and staff recommend sturdy footwear and caution when ascending or descending.

The rocky beach and shoreline can be treacherous with slippery limestone surfaces, sudden drop-offs, and dangerous waves during storms. Visitors exploring the grounds are warned to stay away from cliff edges and avoid the beach during high wind or wave conditions, as Lake Michigan’s undertow in this area has proven deadly.

During overnight paranormal investigations, participants must follow strict safety protocols including buddy systems and prohibited areas. The basement and certain storage areas are off-limits due to structural concerns, and all participants sign liability waivers acknowledging the risks of exploring a historic structure in darkness.

Cursed or Haunted Objects

Captain Townshend’s Logbook: The lighthouse keeper’s final logbook, which contains his entries up until three days before his death, is kept in a secure display case after it allegedly caused disturbances when handled. Former curators reported experiencing vivid dreams of drowning and ship disasters after reading the logbook, and it emanates a cold energy that can be felt even through the glass case, with some visitors reporting feeling nauseated or dizzy when standing near it.

The Original Foghorn Mechanism: Parts of the original foghorn system, now stored in the museum building, are said to activate spontaneously during foggy conditions despite having no power source. Staff members have documented at least 15 instances of hearing the distinctive foghorn blast when the mechanism was disconnected and secured, always occurring during conditions when the lighthouse would have historically sounded the warning.