Mystery Hill defies gravity — and the demise of roadside attractions

Adrian native Nathan Wakefield purchased the iconic Mystery Hill roadside attraction
Childhood memories inspired Wakefield to preserve the longtime Irish Hills landmark
Wakefield plans to introduce live performers and a pop-up carnival to enhance the roadside attraction

Growing up about 20 miles south of the Irish Hills, Nathan Wakefield was a regular visitor to “southern Michigan’s vacation land.”

The region along US 12 was filled with roadside attractions, where kids like Wakefield could climb towers, traverse a prehistoric forest and see blacksmiths and saloons in scenes that mimicked Western films.

Today, most of those roadside stops in Jackson and Lenawee counties have disappeared, casualties of changing tourism preferences and a steady decline in traffic after I-94 diverted motorists from what had been a primary route between Detroit and Chicago.

A performer entertains a crowd of children and adults gathered outdoors beneath trees during a community carnival, as audience members clap and watch the show. — Nathan Wakefield, the new owner of Mystery Hill, performs an act during a pop-up carnival at the roadside attraction in Onsted. Wakefield hopes to preserve the attraction’s 74-year-old legacy while also expanding it. (Ella Miller/Bridge Michigan)

One of Wakefield’s favorites still stands, though, and this year, he bought it: Mystery Hill, known for its gravity-defying house, and the three acres it sits on.

It’s an attempt to encourage “generational nostalgia,” the Adrian native told Bridge Michigan, noting he did not want the attraction to go the way of others that have fallen into disrepair or long ago closed.

“I’m just elated to be a part of this ongoing legacy,” Wakefield added.

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Mystery Hill is one of the few remaining roadside attractions in the Irish Hills, a region that still attracts tourists for its natural beauty and the Michigan International Speedway.

A child points at colorful animal illustrations on a "Global Wonders" display while an adult stands nearby, with a large decorative skull in the foreground. — Cathy Moore, 76, left, and Harrison Holloway, 8, both of Eatonton, Georgia, check out signs during a carnival held at Mystery Hill, a roadside attraction in Onsted, Michigan on Saturday, July 18, 2026. The family spends summers at nearby Devils Lake. (Ella Miller/Bridge Michigan)

The area was once home to Frontier City and Stagecoach Stop, roadside attractions that had a bank, blacksmith, general store, jailhouse, livery stable and saloon, all popular establishments featured in popular Western films.

They closed in 1974 and 2007, respectively.

@bridge.michigan
Growing up about 20 miles south of the Irish Hills, Nathan Wakefield was a regular visitor to “southern Michigan’s vacation land.” The region along US 12 was filled with roadside attractions, where kids like Wakefield could climb towers, traverse a prehistoric forest and see blacksmiths and saloons in scenes that mimicked Western films. Today, most of those roadside stops in Jackson and Lenawee counties have disappeared, casualties of changing tourism preferences and a steady decline in traffic after I-94 diverted motorists from what had been a primary route between Detroit and Chicago. One of Wakefield’s favorites still stands, though, and this year, he bought it: Mystery Hill, known for its gravity-defying house, and the three acres it sits on. It’s an attempt to encourage “generational nostalgia,” the Adrian native told Bridge Michigan, noting he did not want the attraction to go the way of others that have fallen into disrepair or long ago closed. Mystery Hill is one of the few remaining roadside attractions in the Irish Hills, a region that still attracts tourists for its natural beauty and the Michigan International Speedway. Take a look inside the house of illusions. Read the full story at bridgemi.com
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With new technology increasingly competing for attention, roadside attractions that remain viable “offer full-body experiences like putt-putt golf or go-kart racing” — things people “can’t do virtually,” said Michelle McLemore, one of the historians for Cambridge Township in the Irish Hills.

“At Mystery Hill, you can … go inside, explore the building to see and feel the craziness with the gravity,” McLemore said.

Prehistoric Forest, a dinosaur-themed amusement park in the area, also met its demise in 2002 and was left abandoned until 2019, when Sandra Crabb, who grew up in Dearborn, purchased it with hopes to restore the park.

The restoration never happened, and now, the Irish Hills Print Co. is operating on the property, according to the Cambridge Township Clerk.

One of the reasons Mystery Hill was able to stand the test of time is that it doesn’t have as much overhead as some of the other roadside attractions, McLemore said. “They don’t require as many people to employ … or a bunch of food vendors,” she added.

Close-up of a weathered black gargoyle statue with pointed ears, sharp teeth and an intense expression.

Close-up of the painted eyes and nose of a weathered human-like figure, showing cracked paint and worn details.

Taxidermy foxes and cats displayed together in a museum exhibit.

Close-up of the painted face of a giant figure, highlighting its green eyes, long nose and weathered surface.

Taxidermy deer and coyote displayed side by side in a museum exhibit, with the deer's antlers and the coyote's open mouth in focus.

Mystery Hill is filled with oddities and unique statues. (Ella Miller/Bridge Michigan)

Nearby Bauer Manor, along US 12, had served as a fine-dining restaurant where customers could enjoy a “fancy” meal while overlooking Evans Lake. It closed in 2003.

Unlike many of the roadside attractions he remembers from childhood, Mystery Hill remained remarkably well preserved, something Wakefield noticed immediately when he returned for a visit last year.

“I left thinking, ‘Wow, it’d be nice to own something like this,’” he recalled. “I’m surprised it’s in such good condition. I’m glad somebody swooped in and kind of kept the legacy going.”

That somebody was Dirk Dole, of California, who purchased Mystery Hill in 2022 and added an oddities museum and a gemstone mining experience.

“He’ll buy these roadside attractions, fix them up, and flip them, and then sell them to locals that are really passionate and can run them,” Wakefield said.

“Between my business acumen as well as my show business background, it just felt like a total perfect match.”

Visitors examine a museum display case while a costumed performer leans in to look, creating a playful moment inside the exhibit hall. — Saria Braska, of Spencer, Ohio, left, Darcy Putsley, of Ypsilanti, center, and Jimmy Putsley, of Ypsilanti check out a display inside Ward Hall’s Strange Oddities museum at Mystery Hill, a roadside attraction in Onsted. A pop-up carnival was held to celebrate the new ownership and brought hordes of people looking to experience the attraction. (Ella Miller/Bridge Michigan)

A carnival performer balances a sword upright on their face during an outdoor sideshow performance. — Nathan Wakefield, the new owner of Mystery Hill, swallows a sword during a pop-up carnival at the roadside attraction in Onsted. (Ella Miller/Bridge Michigan)

A performer gives a thumbs-up as a child participates in a stage magic trick during an outdoor carnival show. — Kaylynn Flippo, 17, of Morenci, left, pulls a sword from the mouth of Nathan Wakefield. (Ella Miller/Bridge Michigan)

For the past 15 years, Wakefield has worked as a professional sideshow artist, performing stunts like lying on a bed of nails, juggling and eating fire. He said he wants to bring experiences like that to Mystery Hill.

“I’ve seen this firsthand: So many people show up with their kids or their grandkids, and they say, ‘Man, I remember coming here when I was a kid, and so I just had to bring my kids or my grandkids to check it out,’” Wakefield said.

He plans to continue operating the famous gravitational house tours that have made Mystery Hill a destination for generations, but he also hopes to transform the property into a broader family entertainment destination.

His emphasis on nostalgia and family experiences aligns with messaging from Pure Michigan, the state’s tourism arm.

“As new generations of travelers are looking to both create new memories and revisit familiar stops when planning their vacations, attractions like Mystery Hill in Irish Hills add to the unique yet nostalgic experiences that are waiting to be discovered throughout Michigan’s two peninsulas,” said Vice President Kelly Wolgamott.

A visitor sits in the Mystery Hill high chair illusion while a staff member demonstrates the gravity-defying exhibit inside the attraction. — Sankar Bhattacharja, 70, of Naperville, Illinois, left, tries out a chair illusion during a tour led by guide Finn Gerschwiler, 15, of Onsted, in the gravitational house at Mystery Hill, a roadside attraction in Onsted, Michigan on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Bhattacharja and his wife drove four hours just to experience the attraction. (Ella Miller/Bridge Michigan)

Mystery Hill is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Admission for a guided tour is $15.95 for adults and $9.95 for children ages 4 to 12. Visitors can also try gemstone mining, with mining kits ranging from $8 to $32. A package that includes both the guided tour and the Prospector Gems mining experience costs $22.95 for adults and $16.95 for children.