THE STORY
Reported Haunting
Lake Tacoma on Belle Isle is tied to the Old Woman of Belle Isle legend, in which motorists are said to encounter a decaying elderly woman who appears near the water or roadway and tries to lure a passenger away.
Lake Tacoma is a real body of water on Belle Isle, Detroit’s island park. A long-running local ghost story known as the Old Woman of Belle Isle describes an elderly or decaying female apparition appearing near the lake or bridge area and attempting to draw a passenger from a vehicle toward the woods. Versions of the ritual and exact encounter vary, so the story is presented as urban legend rather than documented history.