Food and 'Spirits' at the Fenton Hotel Tavern & Grille

When Christopher Bailey talks about visiting the Fenton Hotel Tavern & Grille, he comments on the "wonderful food” and how renovations that the restaurant’s owners, Nick and Peggy Sorise, completed in 2006 have given the building an upscale, modern feel.

Then, he’ll tell you about the ghosts.

Bailey is the research director of Grimstone, a scientifically based paranormal research organization with main offices in Warren and Lansing. Since Grimstone originated 15 years ago, it has conducted investigations across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. The organization has undertaken three investigations at the Fenton Hotel Tavern & Grille as well as supported fundraisers for the establishment by leading haunted tours of the property.

“There wasn’t a time we were there that something didn’t happen,” said Bailey.

He said on one occasion, there were 64 guests touring the building and 47 people reported seeing, hearing or feeling something. Eight of them reported (at different times throughout the event) having their hair pulled in the same spot of a particular room.

"We’ve also had equipment jerked out of our hands, seen objects move by themselves and witnessed the apparition of a young woman," Bailey said.

Bailey added that after one of the visits, an investigator reported seeing an apparition of a black cat at his house that he had never seen before. For a week or so, it would leap up onto the counter, bat coins around and then disappear.

"We didn’t think it was linked to our investigation in Fenton until a few weeks later when we talked to a college student who was gathering information about the hotel for a paper," Bailey said. "During her research, she had come across numerous reports of the apparition of a black cat reported on the premises.”

While Bailey was preparing for another fundraiser at the restaurant, one of his investigators reported a problem on the third floor. He walked down the hallway to check things out and came across a section of the floor where he described feeling “as though he were walking on a water bed.” He left the area for about 15 minutes. When he returned, the floor was back to normal.  

So far, Bailey has not experienced anything “personally disturbing” at the Fenton Hotel, even though he describes much of the activity as “kinetic,” or the moving, changing or touching of people or objects.

Grimstone posted an online report about the investigations of the property which lists the following: glasses flying off bar shelves, crying of a child in the sealed upper stories, voices caught on EVP (recorded electronic voice phenomenon), traveling cold spots moving through rooms and halls, tactile contact to individuals (stroking, pinching and hair pulling) and “spooklights” traveling the hallways.  

“The hotel was a stop along the train route to Flint; there were a lot of transient people coming in and out of it, so it’s difficult to determine why the hotel is haunted or who’s doing the haunting,” said Bailey. “We’re not exactly sure who the female apparition is. But during our research, we came across reports indicating that years ago a female staff member who worked at the hotel became pregnant by a male salesperson staying there. She ended up committing suicide.”

Bailey believes that renovations over the past few years could be connected to the recent increase in activity.

"Renovations and remodeling can sometimes stirs things up,” said Bailey, "especially if spirits feel that you’re switching around their home without their consent.”

With the recent slew of paranormal investigation programs such as Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures and Paranormal State, there seems to be a heightened interest in haunted locations.

Peggy Sorise receives at least one call every two weeks from people asking to investigate the Fenton Hotel Tavern & Grille. For that reason, the owners have moved away from promoting the restaurant’s supernatural reputation.

“This is an old building with 155 years of rich history,” she said. “Over the years we’ve had a number of people come in and get certain feelings. But we’re a family-run business. Fortunately, business has been good, but sometimes we’re overwhelmed by how busy we are. … Investigators often ask to check out the third floor, but we have offices up there and can’t afford to give up the time and space. There’s also the issue of insurance and liability.”    

The Fenton Hotel Tavern & Grille is located on the corner of Grange Hall (Main Street) and Leroy Street. Hours are 4 p.m-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3-8 p.m. Sunday.  The menu includes a mix of fresh fish, Angus steak and pasta dishes, as well as “comfort” food such as soup, salad, sandwiches and pizza. The drink menu consists of draft beers from popular breweries across Michigan and wine from Fenton Winery, among other unique selections. Reservations are not required but are encouraged on weekends.