The Traverse City State Hospital, now the Village at Grand Traverse Commons, is a site of numerous paranormal claims, including reports of disembodied voices, unseen forces, significant changes in air and energy, and ghostly apparitions. A prominent legend centers on the "Hippy Tree" on the grounds, believed by some to be a portal to hell and a site for alleged evil events. These stories fuel local legends and are often the focus of haunted tours of the property's historic buildings. Visitors have reported hearing disembodied voices, particularly near the "Hippy Tree". Some individuals have experienced feelings of unseen forces and unexplained sensations on the hospital grounds. Drastic shifts in air temperature and energy levels have been reported by people exploring the area. Sightings of ghosts have been reported by visitors to the site. The "Hippy Tree," a large, graffiti-covered tree on the hospital grounds, is a central focus of the hauntings. It is rumored to be a portal to the underworld and a place where evil events have occurred. One tale recounts a patient escaping the hospital in the 1950s, committing a murder near the tree, and the victim's body being found in an underground spring.