Is This Really Michigan’s Worst Tourist Trap?

Just like every state, Michigan is full of 'must-see' destinations.

Ask any Michigander and they might tell you to visit Holland during Tulip Time, the Upper Peninsula for fall leaf peeping, and Frankenmuth during the Christmas season. These Pure Michigan traditions might seem a little cliché, but there's a reason so many people flock to those places.

Tourist Traps in America

However, one place you may want to avoid—I'll leave that for you to decide in the end—is an attraction that's been dubbed one of the "worst" tourist traps in America.

The publication Cheapism released their list of the Tourist Traps to Avoid in Every State, and there's a good chance you've heard of the one they listed for Michigan.

Tourist Trap to Avoid in Michigan

Michigan's "worst" tourist trap is the Mystery Spot in St. Ignace, near the very bottom of the Upper Peninsula.

Cheapism alludes to the fact that the Mystery Spot "leans heavily on kitsch". Even pointing to a one-star Yelp review that said, "The mystery is why did I pay for this?"

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But, no matter what Cheapism might say, the Mystery Spots is one of those Michigan 'must-see' destinations—whether you think it's tourist trap material or not.

What Is Michigan’s Mystery Spot?

Discovered back in the 1950s, the Mystery Spot seems to make gravity a bit wonky. There's all kinds of "optical contradictions and physical sensations that are hard to believe." Take a look at THESE PICTURES that date back quite some time, by the looks of it.

Besides the famous (or infamous) gravity defying area, there's also zip lines, a maze, mini golf, ice cream, and a gift shop. So there's plenty to do.

Plus, it has a rating of 4.4 stars out of around 2,900 Google reviews, so they must be doing something right.

So, is the Mystery Spot a tourist attraction? Yes. Is it a "tourist trap"? We'll leave that for you to decide.