Nick Groff is one of the most respected names in television and beyond when it comes to the paranormal. He has had incredible experiences in some of the most haunted locations in the world. As a friend to Arrow in the Head, we’ve shared some very exciting experiences with Nick including a couple of wild and spooky moments that we’ve managed to capture on camera. Thus, we’ve decided to work with the television host and producer extraordinaire so he can share his knowledge and insight on all things that go bump in the night. With this bi-monthly column, we plan to delve into everything from urban legends to ghostly apparitions, to his take on some of the coolest genre flicks ever. This is Nick Groff Investigates…!
What do you picture when you think “haunted house?” For me, the first thing that comes to mind is what we see in the movies, whether it’s Amityville, The Conjuring flicks or the Neibolt House in IT. However, sometimes spooky occupants find themselves in a place that looks about as lovely and charming as you could ever imagine. This was my first thought when Nick Groff sent me photos of a place that he had investigated. Some of you may be familiar with The Willis House Inn. This cozy estate located in Willis, Michigan is run by Sherry Barry and Donald Waldrup, and it looks like the perfect place to escape the insanity of the outside world.
If you check out the official website for the house – which I suggest you do by clicking here – you get the sense that it’s a bit of a home away from home. Even the little write up about how both Don and Sherry came upon the property is delightful. Yet with a history this fascinating, you know there must be a few secrets hidden inside these walls. And yes, if you happen to get the chance to stay there, it’s very likely you’ll experience something yourself. At the very least, the owners who have made the location their home for a few years now, have their own haunted tales to tell.
Reading over the history on the site, it really does impress me the amount of care taken to give guests the perfect experience. From what Nick has mentioned, it sounded like a brilliant place to not only investigate – offering the perfect atmosphere for ghost seeking guests – but you can also have an excellent meal and take a dip in a luxurious bath. Nick wasn’t about to pass up on any of these terrific opportunities. With a rich history and a gorgeous location, The Willis House Inn looks to be an extraordinary place to visit. This is true whether you are in the mood for an investigation into the unknown, or simply want a nice place to get away from it all.
I’ve claimed this before in this column, and it's certainly true here, but this is one place that I’m a bit envious I haven’t had the chance to explore. Thankfully, Nick has a few stories of his own regarding this gorgeous Bed & Breakfast. So once things get back to normal and we can all travel safely again, perhaps this haunted home is worth a few nights where you can learn more about its haunted history, and of course enjoy a bit of comfort in this stunning locale. Here’s what Nick had to offer about spending the night in The Willis House Inn.
“[This is ] one of the coolest locations I’ve loved sleeping at while investigating! The owners of the Willis House Inn were incredibly nice, made me homemade food and talked about their haunted experiences. The location has a ton of history and a mysterious story about an exorcism taking place in the basement of the house. Supposedly the negative entity was confined to a box and buried in the dirt of the foundation. I was extremely fascinated to learn more and investigate!
I had the BEST homemade food! I decided to sleep alone in the haunted bedroom to see what would happen. The family told me a ton of interesting experiences they had while sleeping in the room and now don’t like to stay in it. After undergoing a hypnosis experiment to try and further the investigation, I decided to take a bath in the haunted bathroom! I couldn’t pass up one of the most epic tubs ever (see picture above)! I also wanted to feel vulnerable to the spirits in the house so I got naked and in the tub I went.
I left the cameras rolling throughout the night to try and document any weird activity in the room while I slept. I can’t wait for everyone to watch this “Nick Groff investigates” episode! The energy of the house definitely was unique. With ongoing renovations, I could tell the activity could possibly have been triggered by it. I captured some cool evidence. I definitely want to return to further the investigation and have some more home cooked meals! Much love to Sherry Barry and Donald Waldrup for the hospitality!! Miss you both!!”