Spooky Bruce Mansion Tours Return, Opening 150-Year-Old Thumb Landmark to Visitors

The reputedly haunted Second Empire house near Brown City now advertises daily self-guided Bruce Mansion tours, overnight investigations and private-event rentals.

BURNSIDE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — For years, people drawn to the Bruce Mansion near Brown City could do little more than view its tower from the road — and were warned not to trespass. Scheduled public access is now available.

The 150-year-old house at 5977 N. Van Dyke Road now advertises 90-minute daytime visits, overnight paranormal investigations and private rentals through the Bruce Mansion website. This marks a change for one of the best-known spooky landmarks in Michigan’s Thumb, which returned to private use after earlier ghost-hunting events.

The change comes with an important distinction. The daytime option is listed as a self-guided “walking investigation,” not a docent-led museum tour. Visitors should expect time inside the house rather than a formal history program.

Bruce Mansion Tours Start at $19

The mansion’s current tour page lists daytime admission at $19 per person. Visits run 90 minutes, with about 30 minutes allowed on each of the mansion’s three floors.

The site says daytime sessions are offered daily. Entry times begin at noon and continue every 30 minutes, with the final group entering at 7:30 p.m. The booking page labels the experience self-guided and presents it as an option for both first-time visitors and skeptics.

That wording may matter to history travelers. The site does not promise a guide, a scripted historical presentation or access to the cellar. Anyone expecting a conventional house-museum tour should ask what interpretation is provided before making the drive.

Overnight Teams Get Nine Hours Inside

Groups seeking a longer visit may book an overnight investigation from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The listed rate is $100 per person, and guests are told to bring their own paranormal equipment, pillows and blankets.

The site says teams receive access to all three floors and refers to groups of up to 10 people. Its wording about the “base price” and per-person charge is not fully clear, however. Groups should confirm the total cost and head count before paying.

The mansion also accepts requests for weddings, parties, photo shoots and other private events. Those bookings are individually scheduled and priced.

A Major Change From Earlier Reporting

Regular booking represents a major shift from the mansion’s recent status. Our earlier report on the Bruce Mansion told readers that the house was privately owned and asked visitors to remain on public roads. A 2019 WDIV report was later updated with a similar notice stating that tours were unavailable.

The mansion was not always closed to the public. Paranormal groups previously held limited investigations there, including events covered by ThumbWind in 2022. The current setup is broader because it advertises daily daytime sessions as well as overnight access.

The official site does not state when regular public booking began. Its terms carry an effective date of June 16, 2025, but that date alone does not establish when the daily schedule started. For that reason, the safest description is that public access is now being advertised — not that a formal grand reopening occurred this week.

A Second Empire House From Burnside’s Lumber Era

Scottish immigrant John G. Bruce had the mansion built in 1876, when the small Burnside community was tied to the Thumb’s lumber economy. A local history of the property identifies Bruce as a merchant and longtime local postmaster.

The house is a strong rural example of Second Empire design. Its tower, bay and dormer windows, exterior brackets and elaborate trim create the imposing profile that has made it a local landmark. Inside, earlier reporting documented a grand mahogany staircase and substantial original woodwork and flooring.

Local histories report that the house survived the 1881 Thumb Fire, which devastated communities across the region. The mansion later passed through several owners while much of old Burnside faded around it.

Those facts give the building significance apart from its paranormal reputation. It is an unusually ornate survivor from a Thumb settlement that no longer has the prominence it held during the late 1800s.

Bruce Mansion’s Ghost Stories Remain

The attraction’s website openly markets the mansion as haunted and cites frequent reports of paranormal activity. Past investigators have described unexplained voices, footsteps, shadowy figures and other incidents inside the house.

Such reports are personal accounts, not verified proof of ghosts. The same caution applies to the darker stories linked to former owner John Walker, including a supposed death in the tower and a tale involving a body buried on the property. Earlier reporting identified those details as local legend and noted that Walker’s official cause of death was not recorded.

What Visitors Should Know Before Booking Bruce Mansion Tours

• Address: 5977 N. Van Dyke Road, Brown City, MI 48416, along M-53 in Burnside Township.
• Daytime visit: 90 minutes; $19 per person; noon through a final 7:30 p.m. entry; self-guided.
• Overnight investigation: 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.; $100 per person; bring equipment and bedding.
• Private events: Weddings, parties and other uses are available by request with custom pricing.
• Waiver: The site’s terms and conditions require participants to sign a liability waiver.
• Age policy: Services are described as intended for adults. Minors must remain with a responsible adult.
• Refunds: Purchases are generally final. No-shows and cancellations made within 48 hours are not eligible for refunds, according to the posted terms.
• Special events: The site’s event page had no dated listings as of Aug. 14, 2026, although its FAQ refers to recurring paranormal vendor weekends. Confirm any event before traveling.
• Contact: The contact page lists 586-205-7268. Other portions of the site display 586-339-7176, so online booking or the contact form may be the clearest first step.

The return of Bruce Mansion tours does not make the privately owned property open for unscheduled entry. Visitors should have a confirmed booking and follow the owner’s rules while on the grounds. A house long viewed from outside can now be seen from within — creaking floors, original woodwork, tower stories and all.

Editor’s note: Tour details and prices were checked Aug. 14, 2026, and may change. ThumbWind has not independently tested the booking process or paranormal claims.

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