This Michigan Hotel Opens Its Most Haunted Rooms For Paranormal Tours Just Before Halloween
Spirits in one famous hotel tower are said to tug blankets and even waltz on the dance floor. That’s a lot of nerve for a guest who never checked in. Now the hotel is opening its eerie rooms to the public for a few nights.
These rooms usually stay off-limits. For a short window before Halloween, guides lead small groups through haunted halls and share tales of strange footsteps, flickering lights, and doors that move on their own.
I like how this Michigan landmark leans into its spooky side instead of hiding it. Plenty of grand hotels brag about thread counts. This one brags about shadowy figures in the stairwells.
I can’t imagine a better way to kick off spooky season. The real question is simple. Would you book a room on the most active floor afterward?
Your Guides Know Where The Strange Stuff Happens
Good ghost stories need a good storyteller. For this event, the hotel teams up with Tours Around Michigan, a local group that knows how to set the mood.
Guides share chilling tales and historical anecdotes as they move through the building. They also bring up recent supernatural occurrences, not just old legends from a century ago.
That mix matters. History gives the stories weight, while the newer reports keep things feeling fresh and a little too close for comfort. You might glance over your shoulder more than once.
The tour is designed to unveil the hotel’s hidden history along with its ghostly side. So even if you’re a skeptic, you’ll walk away knowing far more about the building than most people do. Think of it as a history lesson with goosebumps included.
A practical tip is to wear comfortable shoes. This is a walking tour, after all, and older hotel halls can stretch farther than you expect.
Also, stay near the front of the group if you love details. Guides often share small facts in passing that are easy to miss from the back. Those little extras are usually the ones you remember most.
The Doors Usually Stay Locked, But Not This October
Ghosts of the Grand takes place inside Amway Grand Plaza at 187 Monroe Avenue NW in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, on October 28 and 29, 2026. Monroe Avenue brings you straight into the hotel district, with the Amway Grand’s historic brick Pantlind section and taller glass tower making the property easy to pick out from the surrounding downtown blocks.
Once you reach the hotel, head inside toward the Pantlind Lobby rather than wandering through the newer tower. The fountain in the lobby is the key final landmark, because the Ghosts of the Grand check-in point is set in the nearby Sunburst Lounge.
Plan to arrive about 30 minutes before the tour time printed on your ticket, then check in at the Sunburst Lounge near the fountain. From there, the one-hour indoor walking tour departs directly through the hotel, so there is no separate outdoor meeting point to find.
Meet The Ghost Story Everyone Asks About
Mary Monko is the name that comes up again and again. She was a former staff member at the hotel, and her story stretches back to 1914.
According to the legend, she was involved in a terrible elevator accident that year. Her spirit is believed to remain within the hotel to this day.
That’s a heavy tale, and the tour treats it as part of the building’s long past. It’s one of those stories that makes you look at old elevators a little differently. You may find yourself taking the stairs, just in case.
The hotel says it has dozens of first-hand accounts of what it calls high strangeness, odd activity, and ghastly apparitions. Mary’s story is only one thread in a much bigger web.
I believe that’s what makes this place so interesting. The legends aren’t vague or borrowed from some generic haunted house script. They’re tied to real years, real workers, and a real building in Grand Rapids.
If you want to get the most from the tour, come with questions ready. Asking about specific stories like this one can lead to extra details you won’t hear otherwise.
The Old Pantlind Floors Seem To Get The Most Action
Footsteps in an empty hallway. Doors opening and closing on their own. Lights that flicker for no clear reason.
Those are the kinds of reports tied to the original Pantlind Hotel section of the building. The older floors and stairwells come up often in the spooky accounts.
Some people have described a feeling of being watched in these areas. Others have claimed to notice shadowy figures and hear voices when nobody else seemed to be around.
The historic ballroom level and upper floors carry their own rumors of lingering spirits. So the creepy stuff isn’t limited to one tiny corner of the property.
It makes sense that the oldest parts would hold the most stories. The Pantlind opened in 1913, and buildings with that many decades behind them collect plenty of tales. Every creaky stair seems to have an opinion.
Here’s a fun way to approach it. Pay attention to how the mood shifts as the tour moves between spaces. Grand architecture can feel beautiful one minute and a little unsettling the next.
Bring your phone camera, too. Plenty of ghost hunters like snapping photos in dim hallways, hoping something unexpected shows up later.
Somebody Up In That Glass Tower Loves To Dance
Not every haunted tale comes from the vintage side of the hotel. The 29-story glass tower, completed in 1983, has its own share of odd claims.
Spirits there are said to clean ashtrays and tug on blankets. Some stories even say they waltz on the dance floor, which sounds like the politest haunting ever.
Honestly, a ghost that tidies up is a pretty decent roommate. The blanket tugging, though, might be a little harder to sleep through. Nobody likes losing a tug-of-war at midnight.
What I enjoy about these stories is the contrast. A sleek modern tower doesn’t scream haunted house. Yet the legends follow the building right up into the glass.
This also shows how the hotel’s spooky reputation covers more than one era. You’ve got a 1913 landmark on one side and a 1980s tower on the other, and both seem to have restless residents.
If you stay overnight, think about which side you’d rather sleep in. Some guests may prefer the historic charm, while others want those big views from the tower. Either way, the stories come along for free.
Start With Small Bites And A Peek At Your Future
Before anyone heads into the dark halls, the evening kicks off in the Sunburst Lounge. Guests get a welcome drink and small bites to start the night.
That warm-up time is more than a snack break. You’ll also have chances to interact with a seer, medium, or tarot card reader.
So you can get a reading before you go looking for spirits. That’s a pretty fitting order of events, if you ask me. Might as well find out what the cards say first.
This part of the night sets the tone. It lets everyone relax, meet the group, and get in the right mood before the guided walk begins. Nerves tend to calm down with something tasty in hand.
An important note is that the tours are for guests 21 and older. Plan your group with that in mind, and leave the kids with a sitter for this one.
A smart move is to arrive early. That gives you more time in the lounge before the tour starts.
You’ll have a better shot at a reading without feeling rushed. And you won’t be the last one sprinting to catch the group.
Brave Enough To Sleep On The Spooky Floor?
Here’s a bold option. Guests who book an overnight stay can ask to be placed on a floor with frequent reports of paranormal activity.
Requests depend on availability, so nothing is guaranteed. Still, it’s a fun twist for anyone who wants the full experience.
Picture finishing the tour, then heading upstairs to a room near the very halls you just heard about. That’s either thrilling or a terrible idea, depending on your nerves. Light sleepers, you’ve been warned.
The Amway Grand Plaza offers rooms in both the historic section and the modern glass tower. That gives you choices, whether you want old-world style or sweeping city views.
Staying overnight also means you won’t have to drive home after a late evening. You can simply walk to the elevator. Okay, maybe take the stairs if Mary’s story stuck with you.
My tip is to make your floor request when you book, not at check-in. Mentioning it early gives the hotel the best chance to work with you.
And maybe pack a nightlight. You never know who might want to waltz past your door at two in the morning.
The Rest Of The Hotel Is Seriously Hard To Leave
Ghost hunting works up an appetite. Luckily, the Amway Grand Plaza has multiple on-site restaurants, plus a coffee shop and in-room dining.
Big names are part of the lineup, including Ruth’s Chris Steak House and a Wolfgang Puck restaurant. So you won’t need to wander far for a good meal.
The amenities keep going after dinner. There’s an indoor pool, a hot tub, and a fitness center for anyone who likes to stay active on a trip.
Celeste Salon and Spa is on site too. A little pampering might be just the thing after a night of jumpy nerves and spooky tales.
Don’t skip the Pantlind Lobby, either. Its classical architecture is a big part of why this place feels so grand in the first place. It’s a lovely backdrop for photos, haunted or not.
Practical perks help as well. The hotel offers complimentary wireless internet, valet and self-parking, a gift shop, and 24-hour security.
That last one might bring some comfort at night. Then again, security can’t exactly check a ghost’s room key. You’ll just have to trust the spirits to behave.
Downtown Grand Rapids Keeps The Fun Going After Dark
Location is one of the best things this hotel has going for it. You’ll find the Amway Grand Plaza at 187 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, right in the middle of downtown.
The Skywalk connects the hotel to Van Andel Arena. That’s handy when the weather turns chilly, and late October in Michigan can definitely turn chilly.
DeVos Place Convention Center sits close by as well. Plenty of other downtown attractions are nearby, so a haunted night can easily stretch into a full weekend.
The history adds another layer. Amway Corporation bought the old Pantlind in 1979, then reopened it as the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in 1981 after major renovations.
In 2012, it joined Historic Hotels of America. That’s a pretty fancy title for a building with so many ghost stories. Clearly, the spirits have excellent taste in real estate.
I’d suggest planning a little extra time around your tour date. Grand Rapids is a lively city, and October is a lovely time to explore it.
Just remember where the paranormal action lives. When the sun goes down, the halls back at the hotel are waiting for you.