East Bay

Michigan's ghost towns are copper and iron towns of the Upper Peninsula, plus lumber camps the pine barons abandoned.

East Bay Charter Township is a charter township of Grand Traverse County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 11,589 at the 2020 census, up from 10,663 at the 2010 census. It is one of three charter townships in Grand Traverse County, and is the second-most populous township in Northern Michigan, behind neighboring Garfield Township. The northern portion of the township is adjacent to Traverse City and is part of that city's urban area. The southern portion remains largely rural, with many small lakes. East Bay Township is the location of Traverse City State Park.

The on-the-ground condition of East Bay is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to East Bay is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for East Bay is roughly 44.7014, -85.5206 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.