THE STORY
Reported Haunting
The Hippie Tree is said to collect the restless spirits of former patients from the nearby Traverse City State Hospital. Local legend claims that walking around the painted tree in a particular manner can open a portal to hell beneath its tangled roots.
This fallen willow stands in the woods near the former Traverse City State Hospital and has been covered with layers of brightly colored paint. According to local folklore, the tree became a gathering point for the troubled spirits of people once confined at the hospital. Visitors report otherworldly encounters and an oppressive energy around the tree. One legend claims that circling it according to a particular ritual will open a supernatural gateway beneath its roots.