Guidebook and photos of what to do in and around the Detroit metro area. Eloise asylum, Garden City Park, Detroit Riverwalk and Belle Isle are all Michigan musts.

1. W H A T T O D O I N A N D A R O U N D T H E M O T O R C I T Y
LET’S GO TO
DETROIT

2. ELOISE: ASYLUM FOR THE DAMNED
• Started as a poorhouse in 1830s
• Evolved into massive institution with more than 10,000
residents during Great Depression (2,000+ over limit)
• Transformed into mental hospital with TB tents on the
sprawling property that had a farm, trolley and
graveyard
• Overgrown and fenced-off graveyard holds more than
7,000 lost souls (that make the ghost meter go nuts)
• Located in Westland, Michigan
• More photos and info at MichiganRadio.org and Friends
of Eloise Facebook page

4. B U I L D I N G O N L E F T I S A B A N D O N E D , O N E O N R I G H T H O U S E S C O U N T Y
O F F I C E S O N L O W E R T W O F L O O R S
ELOISE ALLEYWAY

12. Another Eloise building, this one
formerly for Alzheimer patients

13. Portal to hell on Eloise property

14. Close-up of Eloise
portal to hell

16. F E N C E A N D O V E R G R O W N B R U S H I S A L L Y O U S E E O F T H E C E M E T E R Y ,
W H I C H I S A B O U T ½ M I L E D O W N T H E R O A D F R O M M A I N C O M P L E X
ELOISE CEMETERY

17. T H E G H O S T M E T E R W E N T N U T S A L L T H E W A Y D O W N T H E E L O I S E
C E M E T E R Y S T R E T C H , A N D T H E N L A T E R A T A N A D J A C E N T C E M E T E R Y .
GHOST METER GOES NUTS

18. N O T E T H E G H O S T L Y G L O W B E H I N D D A D ’ S H E A D
( N O , I T I S N O T M E R E L Y S U N L I G H T - H A H A H )
GHOST BEHIND DAD

19. Another non-sunlight
ghostly glow (oooo!)

20. Random house across from
cemetery that kind of has a
haunted look

21. House at some nearby “museum” that was supposed to house Eloise
artifacts? “Museum” grounds were open only on Saturdays for
about five minutes. It was Tuesday. We also think we had the wrong
“museum” but were hungry and sick of driving around.

22. L U N C H I N T H E N E A R B Y P A R K I S A M U S T A F T E R E L O I S E , W I T H B L A C K
S Q U I R R E L S ( A K A S Q A U E S ) T H A T L I K E B B Q S U N C H I P S .
GARDEN CITY PARK

23. Squae we dubbed “bench boy”

24. REVAMPED DETROIT RIVERFRONT:
DETROIT RIVERWALK
• New rules prohibit sleazy clothing, blasting music
and, after 6 p.m., unaccompanied minors under
age 18.
• A Michigan state park graces half the walk, which
was transformed into natural habitat
• Seemingly random artwork pops up along the walk
• One of the art pieces was a disgusting painting of a
dead deer trailing blood (not pictured)
• Another was a painted car hood by our pal Tyree of
Heidelberg Project fame (pictured)

29. Gotta get a brick for Sawyer!

34. Little Free Library with
little free books!

43. Pet me!

50. BELLE ISLE
• Had dirty diaper strewn on lawn when visited in 2010ish
• State took it over in 2014, now charges a fee for entry
• No more dirty diapers!
• Has aquarium, some kind of zoo and annual Grand Prix
• Mom and pal used to walk 8 miles from home in Detroit to go
watch Dad play baseball when they were young sweethearts
• Massive fountain is showpiece, commissioned to be built by
money left by rich jerky guy after his death
• Stipulation for building fountain was including a giant statue of
rich jerky guy next to it
• Ghost of “Woman in White” supposed to appear if you drive
up to specific bridge and honk three times
• Ghost didn’t come, but guy on bike looked at us weird

58. Don’t forget to stop by this once you’re off Belle Isle!
(and finish off your Detroit trip with a Buddy’s pizza
or dinner at Mexican Village)

59. Check out more fun
stuff at
ryngargulinski.com
PHOTO: Me and folks at
2015 annual family
picnic.
THANKS FOR
VIEWING!