Felt Mansion celebrates spirits of Halloween

Spooky Tours, trick-or-treating precede “Glitz. Glamour. Gatsby” fundraiser and Christmas events.

Participants capture their first impressions of the “Hauntings & History Nights” at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave., on Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025.

Derrick Bassett-Alee gave his final advice to the ghost-hunting crowd amid the flickering of candlelight and shadows from carved pumpkins:

“Be courteous to our spirit friends,” he said to the about 30 people in the pews of the chapel at the Felt Estate on Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025, as part of the first sold-out “Hauntings & History Nights” event at the Laketown Township estate. The rental manager of the historic 25-room mansion looming on the hill just outside the humble one-room church had one more piece of advice about the apparitions the curious crowd armed with flashlights and phones was hoping to see.

“And don’t take them home!”

Flashlights guide ghost-hunters down the steps linking the Felt Mansion and the Carriage House during the “Hauntings & History Nights” at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave., on Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025.

The crowd laughed as they rose after a video introduction about the history of the century-old mansion and the other-worldly experiences around Agnes, wife of estate founder Dorr Felt, and Adrian, the caretaker who collapsed from a fatal heart attack in the Carriage House, about the moving carpet, spectral lights, shadowy forms and zig-zagging orbs in the ballroom.

Check out a video of the event at https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQOu-cygKJr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Holden Bassett-Alee, rental manager and ghostly doorman dressed in black for the evening, pulled open the dark curtain and the participants gasped as they saw the mansion bathed in eerie lights in a rising mist across the open field.

The church bell pealed through the night and echoed through the still dunes.

“Awesome!” one spirit-seeker said, gathering friends for a selfie. “One more. I looked so serious.”

The popular “Hauntings & History Nights” have all sold out through next week – no openings are available — but the mansion offers other family-friendly events throughout the Halloween season.

The journey through the spirit world began at The Chapel at Shore Acres, left, before leading participants to the mansion during the “Hauntings & History Nights” at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave., on Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025.

Spooky Tours and trick-or-treating

Spooky Tours are available Monday, Oct. 27, through Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 4-8 p.m. No ghost stories, gore or jump-scares, just a few creepy decor touches to embrace season.

Adults are $15; Seniors (60 and over) $13; Children (8 and older) $8; Children 7 and under are $5. Advance purchase tickets are available but not required. Cash, check, and credit/debit card accepted at the door.

A video by Patty Meyer, who led the restoration of the Felt Mansion and served as director of the estate for 22 years, explained the mansion’s history and her experiences with the paranormal at the “Hauntings & History Nights” at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave., on Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025.

Indoor trick-or-treating for children is 3:30-5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. This is a no-cost event, but donations are encouraged.

Have the children in their costumes and explore the mansion while collecting candy and other goodies. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources from Saugatuck Dunes State Park will offer carnival games in the party tent.

Once inside the Felt Mansion, a volunteer greeted visitors and answered questions during the “Hauntings & History Nights” at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave., on Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025.

About the mansion

The tours touch on paranormal happenings around the property at 6597 138th Ave. and use the ghostly season to raise awareness of the unique history of the township park.

Construction on the mansion began in 1925 by Dorr Felt, inventor of the Comptometer, the first machine that could do all four math functions — add, subtract, multiply and divide. The building was finished in 1928.

Felt’s wife, Agnes, died in 1928, only two weeks after the house was complete. Dorr died two years later.

The third-floor ballroom at the Felt Mansion is an active spot for reported paranormal activity. Above, participants in the “Hauntings & History Nights” at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave., check out the site on Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025.

The property went on to serve as a minor seminary for the Augustinian order (attended by Pope Leo XIV), a state prison, and a Michigan State Police post before the property was purchased by Laketown Township.

Today, following years of restoration by the Friends of the Felt Estate, the mansion is a top cultural, educational, and event destination, welcoming thousands of visitors annually.

Participants walk into the basement at the Felt Mansion during the “Hauntings & History Nights” at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave., on Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025.

A Centennial Celebration

The Felt Estate is marking its centennial with a fundraising gala linked to the 1925 release of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.” The anniversary will be celebrated at the “Holiday Unveiling: Glitz. Glamour. Gatsby!” from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Participants will don 1920s-inspired attire and step back into the glamour of the Jazz Age to celebrate the season with live entertainment, period-themed experiences, and festive holiday décor. Jeanette Watts will teach fabulous flapping moves of the Foxtrot and Charleston.

Tickets are $115 and include roaming appetizers, two drink tickets, and a commemorative ornament to take home. There will also be a silent auction and raffle for a weekend stay at the mansion. All proceeds will support the mansion’s restoration.

For more information or tickets, visit https://www.feltmansion.org/unveiling

December will see the holiday tours and Winterfest from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6.

For more information, visit www.feltmansion.org

Two toothy pumpkins decorate the exterior of the Felt Mansion during the “Hauntings & History Nights” at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave., on Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025.
A cloudy night during the “Hauntings & History Nights” at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave., on Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025.
A portrait of Agnes Felt in what was her room is displayed during the “Hauntings & History Nights” at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave., on Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025.
From the outside of the Felt Mansion, a portrait of Agnes Felt looks down from the second-floor room during the “Hauntings & History Nights” at the Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave., on Friday night, Oct. 24, 2025.