The Paulding Light
After a train engineer was hit by a train, he still wonders the area in the form of a light. The light can instantly change colors, disappear and appear quickly, and change directions swiftly. Witnesses claim that it will react o the headlights of a car as well. Some accounts occurred during daylight hours under normal circumstances, with no apparent light-producing object nearby.
I have actually seen this! Its totally real! It was really creepy, because my family and I went to see it. My family went to see one night but i didn’t go with them because it sounded really scary. But the next day I went with them and it was during the daytime. The light wasn’t there at first but then it appeared. Its at the top of a hill, it used to a road but the rain water washed it out so now there’s a little stream running across the road. We wanted to see it up close so we started to walk up the hill, we had just passed the little creek when it started to rain. Up until this point I had been looking at the light but when it started to rain I looked away to talk to my dad, when I looked back the light was gone. Every one that we talked to that day said that every time they tried to walk up there and see the light it would vanish. Once we got back to the cars the light appeared again. The light actually does change colors, I’ve seen it changed to red, yellow, and orange. I think that maybe it turned green but it was when I was like 12 and now I’m almost 19. I know it wasn’t a traffic light becuase there were no roads up on the hill or even close to it.
Comment by Nicole | 09.22.2005 | 5:26 pm
I have actually seen this! Its totally real! It was really creepy, because my family and I went to see it. My family went to see one night but i didn’t go with them because it sounded really scary. But the next day I went with them and it was during the daytime. The light wasn’t there at first but then it appeared. Its at the top of a hill, there used tobe a road but the rain water washed it out so now there’s a little stream running across the road. We wanted to see it up close so we started to walk up the hill, we had just passed the little creek when it started to rain. Up until this point I had been looking at the light but when it started to rain I looked away to talk to my dad, when I looked back the light was gone. Every one that we talked to that day said that every time they tried to walk up there and see the light it would vanish. Once we got back to the cars the light appeared again. The light actually does change colors, I’ve seen it changed to red, yellow, and orange. I think that maybe it turned green but it was when I was like 12 and now I’m almost 19. I know it wasn’t a traffic light becuase there were no roads up on the hill or even close to it.
Comment by Nicole | 09.22.2005 | 5:27 pm
What intersection/crossing is it near?
Comment by Neil | 09.23.2005 | 11:29 am
Damn it, Neil, why don’t you just find a job? You have too much time on your hands. Nicole doesn’t want you to know where the f**king place is! Give it up!
Comment by Chris | 10.1.2005 | 5:17 pm
ive seen it come over are car
Comment by damon | 10.4.2005 | 3:10 pm
Neil and Chris u r not supposed to have conversations on this leave it to aim, will ya?
Comment by Lucy | 10.26.2005 | 7:05 am
I have seen this it is real I have seen it twice and both times it has completely amazed me it changes from blue to yellow to orange to green and other colors to. Also my Uncle and Cousin went to see it and my cousin is 30 now so he was like 20 and they stayed after everyone else went home and they shut off all the lights and the car and everything and waited then they started to see things moving in the woods and carring shovels and stuff he still says its one of the scariest expiriences of his life.
Comment by Erin | 10.30.2005 | 6:53 pm
Defenently true,I’ve seen it many times
Comment by Big Cody | 11.12.2005 | 6:47 pm
The light is located in Watersmeet, MI. It is located off of Robbins Pond Road. Kind of interesting, back in the mid - 80’s I was a waiter at PowderMill Inn in Bessemer, MI. One morning I was serving breakfast to a group of individuals out of Chicago, IL who were actual ghost busters. They told me they were in the area to investigate the light. I told them I had been there but was very skeptical of it’s origin, thinking it was just actually tail lights from autos. They were there for three days running tests and experiments and finally told me they could not figure it out. Very interesting. You be the judge.
Comment by Stephen | 12.28.2005 | 3:53 pm
Thank you, I think I will be the judge. After reading this story, I believe that it is a fake. There are too many scientific exlanations for the happenings, and the people’s stories of what happened. It’s all too vague, with little or no detail. It’s probably all a lie, and not a good one at that.
Comment by thayet59 | 01.10.2006 | 12:38 pm
My family is from near by Iron River, I have been to the Paulding light about 100 times and usually always see it. I believe that it is VERY REAL. I’ve been there in the worst of storms, all times of night, whatever. I’ve attempted to walk down the “powerline trail” and it goes away. Its a really neat place to go!! (Plus, not far away is the $Casino$!!) I just think its real, once you go there I guess you will understand….
Comment by ashley | 02.3.2006 | 12:15 pm
I was raised in the U.P. and have spent many nights checking out the paulding light.sometimes their is a dim light that turns as bright as the sun sometimes one and sometimes two,and they seem to walk the the road and as it passes by it is for an instant and then it is gone.We have tried to chase it,sometimes it appears to be low to the ground but it is actually alot higher in the air than it appears.if you look through a field scope it looks like a rasberry spinning,and if you go to the bottom of the hill on old 41 around the bend there is a swamp just to your left on a clear night look up into the sky and you will see the same object spinning.i don’t think it is haunted but it is definetly cool.sometimes its there sometimes it’s not, but don’t be disapointed just go back to see it is truely one the great wonders of the world.you actually think you are seeing things.and try explaing what you have seen to people and they think you just smoked a joint.Its a great place rock and roll man!p.s. the cops in the u.p. are nasty, dont have an old empty beer can or you know what kind of seed from the previous owner of your vehicle that was over looked back in the 1970 or you will pay a big fine and sit in the **** house for nothing.remember this go to iron county vacation and leave on probation oh yea and watch out for the iron county witch hunt takecare
Comment by uncle fester | 02.15.2006 | 6:53 pm
It’s true i’v seen it I was with my dad and we went up there to see the light closer and it disappered
Comment by becca | 02.16.2006 | 11:20 am
Yes, “The Light” is on Robins Pond Rd, up near Watersmeet. My friends and I stopped there after playing
at the casino. It was very weird and spooky. The light bounced around like it was a light off of a lantern. It chnaged colors and moved in and out, fading bright and dim, then to nothing. We thought we would walk up the hill to see if it was someone playing a joke, they would have left footprints on the ground. As we were working up the hill, the light seemed to move towards us some much it freaked us out. We ran back to the car, turned our brightd on and it disappeared for a few seconds, then reappeared. It also seemed to responded to light.
Comment by mudpuppy | 03.11.2006 | 1:09 am
Has anyone considered that it might be swamp gas? uncle fester said that there was a swamp nearby; maybe the gas is reacting to some light source somewhere. It would help explain why it reacts to headlights. Though, I’m not sure if swamp gas does react to light. I’ve heard it does, and it can change colors.
Comment by Rynoah | 04.2.2006 | 3:37 am
i would really love to see where this place is located at!!
Comment by rebecca halladay | 05.5.2006 | 1:07 pm
I heard that there were toxic chemicals or something radioactive in a barn nearby that was causing the lights.
Comment by Stephanie | 05.13.2006 | 5:39 pm
The light is real!!! everytime I went to see it to prove it was **** it was there, and it always scared the hell out of me!!! Just the feeling you get from looking at it makes you feel so strange. If you dont beleieve and you want to go see it. Never fails!!
Comment by Elizabeth | 05.14.2006 | 11:36 pm
The Paulding Light is not real. You are all a bunch of butt-holes.
Comment by Big Bill | 05.20.2006 | 5:31 pm
Lacey,
Get off the drugs. The light you saw was a reflection in the rear-view mirror.
Comment by Big Bill | 06.6.2006 | 4:20 am
I looked up this site because I am interested in the paranormal. I hope to visit many of the places listed here. Once I have visited the areas in MI I will travel to other states. I think it is a good idea to keep personal comments about others and their experiences to yourself. Your comment on the location, once you have visited, is certainly of interest and worth consideration. If you haven’t been there, you don’t have the right to level nasty comments. Even if you have, we would appreciate it if you would keep the comments to the object at hand, not regarding others who post here.
Take care, and keep watching - this life is bigger than most of us will ever know.
Comment by Waynesliljeanne | 06.11.2006 | 5:42 pm
I’ve been there several times. I live 40 minutes from there, right in WI by the border. It’s definately a creepy place. You sit and watch the light and it changes colors. When it turns to red, it’s scary. One time, it rushed at us. When you walk down the hill and go past the creek, you can no longer see the light. You keep walking and walking, and nothing, but when you go back and pass the creek again, you can see the light. Some people also hear voices.
Comment by amanda | 07.23.2006 | 11:42 pm
Hi. This summer, my sis and I drove up to Watersmeet to see the Paulding Lights. We arrived to the site about 9:30 when it was dusk. We found a place to stand, and waited with about 20-30 people. Everyone was excited, and many had witnessed the lights before. When it was very dark out, I saw the light over the tops of the trees. It started as a small red light..and the color would change from red to white to green. Sometimes, it would disappear altogether. Then, after we had been there for about 1/2 hour, the light turned white…grew larger and appeared to move towards us at an alarming rate of speed. The light got brighter and larger and seemed to stop a short distance away. The light was BRIGHT WHITE, but, did not hurt to look at. However, I could not tear my eyes away from it. As fast as it approached, it moved away again. We waited around, and maybe 15-20 minutes later, the same thing happened. It was amazing. We hung around about another 15 minutes and called it a night. I don’t know what causes the light. But, it was really cool to watch. It’s well worth the trip.
Comment by kitkat | 07.26.2006 | 11:05 pm
It never ceases to amaze me how the masses of people who want to believe in something will believe it no matter what. I was at the Paulding Light last week and determined that it was car headlights on I-45. I discovered this by accident, the notch in the top of the trees where the light appears is exactly the same shape as the notch at the top of the hill on I-45 several miles away. I had to pull over because I remembered seeing this notch before; yah last night while looking at the miraculous light. It was a good time though, met lots of gullable people.
Comment by Skeptic | 08.14.2006 | 12:15 pm
Hello I have been going to the Paulding light for over 40 years. I have tryed to track it down by going into the woods, fallowing the power lines and looking for swamps. It is none of that. I have seen the light over 20 times. The first time I was 12 it scared the heck out of me. I have had the light come to with in a few yards fo me. Move from the powerlines to the middle of the road and huver. we stood still and it stayed their for several minutes. Then when someone moved it disappered. This is back when it was not well known and we would be the only ones there.I have looked at the reports from National Geograghic,Time Mag. and the special abc did on it back in the 80’s
I also understand the US gov did a study on it and came up with nothing. I have walked and 4 wheeled the area looking for clues and have come up with none.
A friend of mine’s father was stationed up their in the 40’s with the then Special forces. They would drop troopers for training in that area becouse it was like the terain simallar to Germany and he saw it then. He has no theary on it but he and his squad did see it.
I was just their this past fall. It was a mad house a circus act. People racing back and forth throwing beer cans and bottle out of their car windows. The light would come out and someone would put a green lazer on it. I left with great dissapointment and sadness. I am going back in the dead of winter in hope that no one is there. I am going to take video camras and try to catch it. If any one has any info on that and the haunted house in land ‘o’lake please Email me At elkebaa@netzero.com I would love to hear your comments and thearie’s
Art
Comment by Arthur A. Belke Jr | 08.20.2006 | 1:16 am
hey big Bill shut the **** off u, if u dont belive in anything then dont read ok so yeah! this is a freakie story
Comment by sweetie | 10.13.2006 | 6:17 pm
I have seen the light and honestly it is quite freaky! I believed there was some supernatural presence there but that has all been debunked. If you google the Paulding light there was a group of paranormal researchers who found that a highway to the east of the light was actually causing this phenomenon. Every time cars would pass a certain part of the road, either there headlights or taillights were causing the light to happen. Even though I know its not ghostly, it is still very intresting to see. Go to the town of Watersmeet and ask anyone there. They will tell you were to go.
Comment by Justin | 10.31.2006 | 6:38 pm
It can’t be swamp gas because I have been there in teh winter months and I still see it. Wouldn’t swamps freeze over. Especially in da U.P. eh
Comment by Jake | 11.1.2006 | 5:01 am
hello i saw a scary house before
Comment by jena | 11.2.2006 | 12:48 pm
This is rediculously crazy creepyness on its best…..
My girlfriend and I didnt know how to get to the main entrance…. so we found a road that lead to it…. Which was at the bottom of the hill…. Sat there for almost an hour I was about to give up and sleep. But all of a sudden she said whats that light! it was right behind the drivers window right up against it and when i looked it went back…. I yelled what the ****, and said you fuckers are dead. I thought it was other teens goofing around. We turned on the lights and i was going to chase them but she stopped me…. I’m a pretty fast kid and there was no way i was going to be able to catch that. On top of that it looked like there was a train or something outlined behind him. The light was like a darkish yellow. I called a friend and he asked me if i saw it waving around like someone running with a flash light? I had to say no because it went in a straight beam. fast. when it was by the window when i looked back on it, the light looked like a lanturn. If I would have thought about it first off, i think i would have reacted differently, since i didnt react as i should have this is the 2nd Most SCAREY experience in my life! I’m 18 and my friends and I have done some scarey stuff.. The most scarey was going to an old insane isilam that is half broke down and creepy. walking up and the owner of the property walks to the end of his porch with a shotgun, while lighting in the background to cast a black look with the shotgun barrel, I dont think i ran so fast (world class speed… haha)
Comment by Nate | 11.4.2006 | 4:04 am
I live in Watersmeet and have taken many people to see the Paulding Light. It is alot of fun to build up the suspense and get my visitors really scared. There are lots of stories that are told and people claim strange experiences when watching the light. Most are as real as your imagination. One overcast day I drove down Robbins Pond Road out of curiosity. There was alot of trash, beer cans, etc. lying around and I decided to pick everything up as I had a few trash bags in my truck. I happened to look up from my chore and saw a bright white light! I had my digital camera and tripod and started taking pictures. The light would come and go and change from white and red. I thought I saw an automobile with my telephoto lens. Looking at a map of HWY 45 it shows that the road does make a big bend. I drove out to 45 and did find the hill and notch in the trees that a previous viewer described. Later when I downloaded my pictures on my computor and enlarged them I definately saw that the light was the headlights and tailights of vehicles going up and down the hill! Mystery solved!! ps don’t tell anyone…..
Comment by yooper | 11.4.2006 | 9:55 am
The paulding light probably cannot be explained as distant car lights. There are just too many people who claim to have seen a larger, bright object, often times, moving in a strange form. In fact, out of all the ghost light spots, I’ve never seen as many people witnessing such a phenomena. But the paulding lights are not the only lights that are truly unexplainable. In Norways town of Hassdalen, there is a light phenomena that has baffeled researchers for years. Enigmatic forms of light have been captured on video tape many times by investigators. Go here for pics and video….http://www.hessdalen.org/index_e.shtml
Comment by john | 11.16.2006 | 7:15 pm
This whole thing has the classic makings of a folk tale.
However, there are far too many inconsistant supernatural explanations - mail carrier, brakeman, miner, etc, none of which have any historical documentation to support it. Theories about magnetic anomalies and glowing plasmas are unlikely, as every aircraft gauge and camper’s compass in the area would at the very least notice something.
There are numerous embellishments to the tale, of course - Ripley’s offering money, inconclusive government studies…again, none of which can be substantiated in any way beyond hearsay. (although if anyone can find me an actual firsthand citation, I’d appreciate it)
And the real kicker - while “eye witnesses” say they’ve seen it since the turn of the century, nobody bothered to write it down or mention it until 1966, when a carload of teenagers reported it to the local sheriff. One would think that, if this were a well-known local phenomenon, local teens would already be aware of it, and it would have been reported at least once in a half century. That this first reporting coincides with the rerouting of M-45 is likely not coincidental.
During the night, both the faint glow of nearby Paulding and the pitch darkness of the U.P. night makes it nearly impossible to judge distance, horizon and perspective, and any sort of moving light would be difficult to gauge direction or position upon. However, during the early twilight, one can clearly see head and tailights of autos on 45 in the distance, at the exact location in the “sky” that the lights appear. Since moving further down the powerline right-of-way would change the perspective and view to the highway, it explains why anyone looking closer than the designated lookout doesn’t see anything.
Nonetheless, it’s an interesting optical effect, and worth going to see if you’re in the area. I’ve gone a few times now.
Sadly, last time I visited, the lookout area had been utterly trashed - the guardrail ripped off, the sign removed, garbage everywhere.
Comment by Eric | 11.27.2006 | 5:48 pm
I am interested in finding out how to get to the Paulding Lights I am from not so spooky Eaton Rapids Mi can someone please direct me in the direction for a decent scare? thank you
Comment by Alicia | 12.28.2006 | 6:04 pm
About the paulding light if you want to see it up close there is a DNR road about a quater mile north of the dead end road you see it from. Go down that road stick to the left when the road takes a sharp right turn, stop about thirty yards. There is a trail you can walk that will take you to the top of a hill. To the east you should be able to see the spot from which everyone goes to see the light, its probly five football fields away. On this hill is where everyone else see’s the light appear. there is a drop of to the west. Sit there and be quit and the light will appear. what happens after that can oly be explained by experiencing it yourself. oh yeah and don’t go to that casino down the road, cause I lost over two grand there. gambbling sucks
Comment by jace | 01.1.2007 | 5:45 am
I cant bleive it till I see it although I do bleive in ghost there is just 2 many fake stories made up by people who want 2 get atention.
Comment by pinky | 01.15.2007 | 3:43 pm
I looked at Microsoft Terraserver and I beleive the lights are just cars on Rt. 45
Comment by Tommy | 01.18.2007 | 11:22 pm
I grew up about 2 hrs from the light but have never made it there to chekc it out….I have seen pictures of the site where it can be viewed and I guess my biggest question is, everyone blames swamp gas and car light but what about the power lines right next to the site where the lights are seen? Power lines can omit enough energy to make a flourescent light flicker just ebing held in someone’s hands underneath them, how do we know that the powerlines arent omitting some energy causing some kind of reaction with some other particles in the air at that location? Im just searching for an explanation before I go straight to it being a haunting….Any feedback is appreciated
Comment by jon | 01.23.2007 | 4:28 am
Ok…let me tell you, I live in Michigan and this stuff doesn’t ever happen. It’s a bunch of ****! People just say it soit will get published on dumb websites like this one!
-Chelsea Tidwells
Comment by Chelsea Tidwells | 02.27.2007 | 3:30 pm
Just a few questions ~
Does anyone know if the lights were seen before US-45 was built? I googled it and apparently the route was constructed in 1934 with some alterations near Watersmeet in 1949 and 1953, which seem to have redirected the road.
Also, has anyone ever set up two teams on 45 and the spot where you can see the lights? Has anyone ever tried to document any link between actual cars going down the road and the appearance of the lights?
Comment by jocundry | 03.2.2007 | 1:35 pm
I would like to know if anyone knows any legends about it. I can only find 2 or 3 legends about it.
Comment by Tory | 03.6.2007 | 12:56 pm
Back in the late 80’s(or as some of us in our LATE 30’s call it.. the GOOD OLE’DAYS)we use to drive up to Land O Lakes and Watersmeet.Always hitting both,SummerWind(Haunted House)and then off to ” The Light.”I can honestly say I have exsperienced something “strange” at BOTH locations.But(what) exactely,is unclear.Both locations have stuck in my memory throughout the years.Back then,you were able to go to “The Light” and be confident you’d be the ONLY group of people there,as we were.I went a total of 8 times and that 8th time WAS the LAST!LOL Seven times I had gone to Watersmeet,Military Road and saw..NOTHING.But since SummerWind had burnt down by then,it was ALL we had left to our adventures.So the 8th time WAS the last.I AM to this day,a skeptic. However,I cannot deny what I,myself,exsperienced.We waited(like I had SEVEN times before)and it FINALY appeared before us.Described much like everyone else’s description.I had binoculars and the car was facing towards exiting the road so I was looking out the rear window in the car.It appeared as a yello/orange triangle in the binocs.Cool but not a big deal.It got to be a big deal when it started comming towards us.More yellowish white and BRITE! Sooo BRITE and SO close that it aluminated the Back of my friend’s vehicle and I mean BRIGHTLY.There wasnt a scardy cat amoung us UNTIL that moment.We TOO had problems starting the vehicle.The car was totaly aluminated(in the INTERIOR)and could plainly see eachother AND the sudden Fear.The car started after 2-3 trys and we speed out of there and that was the last time I saw “The Light.” A highway in the distance? Possible.But tell me HOW a cars headlights from MILES away could illuminate the interior and exterior of a Car?As a skeptic myself,it just goes to show there are forces beyond reason.Keep an open mind and go see it for yourself.I WILL be Back there one day again.- A Fellow CheddarHead
Comment by Summerwind | 03.26.2007 | 1:33 am
WE have seen this many times as we vist our home in Rockland. it has lit up the cab of my gmc truck as it came up the hill getting briter as it came closer. If you don’t beleve go see for yourself. It is good way to spend a night in Michigan U.P.
Charlie Beechler Rockland Mi.
Comment by charlie t. | 06.12.2007 | 10:37 am
It’s real! I saw it when I was camping and my family and I went to see it! It was freaky!!!!
Comment by Rachel | 08.3.2007 | 6:21 pm
I saw the light too. It starts out a small red dot and gets bigger, then suddenly turns white and really bright. It sways back and forth and seems to dance in circles, then just disappears. Every time it comes back it does something different. And it was appearing and disappearing about once every three or four minutes. It stayed bright for about two minutes. One time it showed up, it seemed to have blue and green mixed in the white light. (I was looking at it through binoculars.) It also showed up almost orange sometimes. I was with a group of people and all of us agreed that there was no way that this was headlights. Headlights don’t change colors like that. Also, the road that supposedly curves where you see the light doesn’t have enough traffic to coincide with how often you see the lights. We took M-45 there and back and didn’t see a lot of traffic. If this light is supposed to be caused by headlights, then you would think that there is a freeway there by the amount of times I saw the light! I just don’t think that there is any way that it’s headlights!!! As far as the swamp gas theory goes, how could it be swamp gas when the light shows up in the winter when the swamp is completely frozen?
Comment by Jenny | 08.20.2007 | 1:32 pm
ITS A LIGHT HOUSE NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR!
Comment by MIKE | 08.24.2007 | 10:17 pm
Those of you that have seen the lights that appear to be vehicle lights , you are correct, that is what you are viewing. we did altitude and gps wave points at the viewing area and also at the area where the lights apppear. we drove up to the point on Highway45 where the altitude and wave point concur. At that location we turned on our emergency blinkers on our vehicle. The rest of the team stayed at the viewing area and radioed back to us that they saw what appeared to be the paulding light blinking (our vehicle lights), but they also said they saw an opague green orb just a bit up from the stream on the abandoned road, it would come closer,then move from side to side and also change height from near the ground to about 6 or 7 feet above ground. it was only visible for about 5 or 10 minutes. We came to the conclusion that most of the light sightings are mistaken as vehicle lights, but occasionally something does appear on or near the immediate line of sight no more than 300yds away and sometimes very close. We took the time to clean up the garbage that some of the viewers left for other folks to pick up. It is a nice site to go to, many of the people we have met there have been there numerous times. We have been there 12times this year.
Comment by Gene | 09.28.2007 | 6:52 pm
To the person claiming that it is lights in “I-45″ you must be superman if you can see all the way to the Dallas to Houston area in Texas… Get real, and FYI, I drove through there today with a GPS unit, and MI 45 does not intersect the power line right of way to the north….
Comment by Ghost Watcher | 10.8.2007 | 10:43 pm
i have been there numerous times and have seen the light each time. sometimes it is red, green, or white.many times it appears to be swinging back and forth and actaully comes toward you. this phenomena has been reported on unsolved mysteries many times. there have been numerous scientists investigating this as well. yes, there is a road in the vicinity but it has been proven that that you can not see it from the hill where you stand. we were there once when people were seeing if it was tailights, they had radios and were talking back and forth with people who were standing on the hill. we could not see their tailights, so i definitely think something paranormal is going on. its a really cool experience, i recommend that you see for yourself
Comment by erin | 10.15.2007 | 10:29 pm
There is a simular place in Texas called Saratoga. Located in Saratoga TX. I have been there several times.
Comment by Jon | 01.15.2008 | 3:15 pm
This is totally fake. I went to see the Paulding light, and it was barely anything. There was just a small light that someone could probably turn on or off at any time. Anyways, I don’t think that this is real when I went to see it.
Comment by frank | 03.12.2008 | 2:13 pm
The Paulding light is crazy.. and its real. how could car light turn from red, to yellow, to green to white, swing back and forth, move forward and backward. give you the feeling that something is out there in the woods. weird things have happened there, cars not starting, weird ghostly pictures, green ooze from the trees and on the ground. it happens for a reason. and it is very sad that people go out there to drink beer, do satanic stuff, and just bother the light, with flash lights, and chasing it around. the Cops go out there every night in the summer. it never use to be that way. I say if your planning on making a trip. to respect the light. because then, the Light will “preform” better. Im glad no one really knows what it is. No one should ever find out either.
Comment by Tracy | 03.20.2008 | 12:43 am
Here’s the real deal: (also see FAQ below)
I first came across this phenomenon in the Summer of 2002. It was the first time I have ever seen something that I could not readily explain. I shot some video of it which you can download. I visited the place four times over the next few years, and started making interesting observations.
Upon internet research, I saw that the best way to look at this was through a good telescope on a clear night. Binoculars had no effect when I tried those. People on other sites have claimed that it is car headlights in the distance.
In July of 2004, we made another expedition. As twilight came, I set up my Meade 6” ETX scope. I was surprised and dissapointed as I zeroed in on the spot where the lights come from. Very clearly, you can see car headlights moving up and down the grade. it takes the average car a little over a minute to travel the hill. I noticed that late at night this was true. Most likely this is because of the few cars on the road. If there are more cars traveling together, then the light may be brighter or longer.
The red lights are easily explained. If there is no oncoming traffic and a car is heading away from you, you will see its faint red light. Now because the cars are so far away, all the light seems to becoming from a single point, which cannot be resolved with out high grade precision optics becuase of the distance. A car suddenly leaving view that was oncoming while there is another car heading the opposite direction will create that dramtic white to red and vice versa effect. It is a very unique phenomenon but relatively simple. My only question is why Ripleys or unsoled Mysteries couldnt figure out something this simple. (more about this in the faq section)
Q: I’ve seen blue and green lights too, how do you explain that?
A: Coming over a far distance so close to the horizon, the light waves will be distorted by air. Many colors are possible because of this. If you look at the moon, it is orange as it rises and sets due to atmospheric distortion. This is also true with stars, which are a better example. A star twinkles many different colors the closer it gets to the horizon.
Q: This was around before cars were invented!
A: Was it? I have heard that it was not until the 60’s that this was discovered. Also many origin theories are out there on this, I don’t think they are true
Q: Were railroad tracks there at one time?
A: Also debatable, I have not seen any hard evidence of this, not that it makes much difference. The road is supposedly dating back to the 1800’s and was authorized by Abraham Linkin during the civil war to prevent a British invasion
Q: I have seen big white lights in videos, how do you explain that?
A: This is due to the autofocus problems on the cameras. A great still of this can be seen of the Paulding Light video that Lionstar put out.
Q: Why are there no trespassing signs all over?
A: If I owned land there I would not want drunken teenagers or anyone else snooping around on my property waking me up and stuff
Q: The light moves back and forth, explain
A: Does it? not really. If you had a few cars going down the hill at once, the light would look much much brighter. Its this bright/dim effect that causes that. The wavy appearence is also because of atmoshperic distortions.
Q: Why couldn’t Ripleys solve it?
A: I don’t know. Frankly I beleive the story that they were there was just a rumor. I have not see hard proof. If it is true that they offered $100,000 to solve it and someone from Ripley’s is reading this, use the paypal button below to make your reward.
Q: What about unsolved mysteries? Same deal?
A: I think this is a rumor too, if anyone knows where i cna get a copy or see this episode, let me know
Q: Why would the Forestry department put a sign up?
A: They probably dont have the time or desire to investigate it, and hell it brings tourists there, cant complain about that
Q: I’ve seen shadows..ghosts…
A: This site is designed only to explain the light itself. It is a creepy and remote area, but only because we naturally perceive it that way. Shadows could be many of things, I have never seen them myself and I’d investigate if I did.
Q: Friends of ours in the valley couldnt see the light and it looked like it was right above them.
A: Light itself is hard to judge by distance. All you can do to judge distance is brightness. This can be manipulative, because some brighter stars are further away than dimmer stars. But anyways, the people in the valley are to low to see over the ridges where the light comes from. You can only see on the top of the hill.
Q: What road are we looking at then?
A: Believe it or not, but its 45 a few miles away! You never rrealize it and I didnt for awhile, but youre actually facing towards north at the end of robbins pond road! Those power lines you see hook up with 45 if you ever want to take that far of a walk.
Q: Car lights cannot be that bright over a distance
A: Under clear skies, easily, especially with brights. Also in the dark, your eyes are much more sensitive.
Q: I’ve heard sounds!
A: It’s a ridiculously big woods, who knows whats out there, and dont for get their is a stream a few hundred yards away from the top of the hill. Also, Im dealing only with the light itself.
Q: The paulding lights seem intellignet/sensitive?
A: Because a car is only in view or for about a minute, it can seem like it is reacting to things around you. The time varies with the number of cars. This is all coincidence.
Q: Ya. its lights, but thats not the real paulding light!
A: I have heard this a few times, that there is some other Paulding light that is real that comes around once every few years. Lets think of this by the odds. The Paulding light area is a very rare and unique situation. To have this enviroment exist is incredible. It is interesting that these cars seem to be from only one point. Now there is another “light” that just happens to be in this already unique spot? I think this is BS by the locals, also seems to be told more lately because of the fact people like me are figuring it out. Once again, I wouldn’t want to lose the legend and mystery if I lived in the area.
Q: I’ve seen 2 sets of lights, how is this possible if it looks like it comes from only one point?
A: Also, in cameras this is because of the lensing/autofocus. Also, atmospheric distortions or fog can cause this. The lights may be split by trees or other objects between you and the cars many miles away. Also, check to see if you are sober.
Q: (my favorite) Some lady told me that there are other lights or that these are real and she’s lived here forever……..
A: If I lived there I’d make it a point to freak people out, it would be fun, and once again, bringing in the tourists is good for business and gives watersmeet something to be famous for
Comment by Menendez | 04.17.2008 | 11:23 pm
It’s most likely not haunted. However, the state of Michigan has two of the strangest spots in the world, with cars being able to move up a hill, and tumbleweeds going in the opposite direction they should be. The upper peninsula of Michigan is known for that.
One wierd thing that always creeped me out about the place I went to was that there was absolutely no sound at all, not even an animal hence bug in sight. It could be something in scientific nature to explain that…however, I always get goosebumps from not hearing anything at all; it was as if you are deaf.
Comment by Aimee | 05.2.2008 | 11:03 am
I was there on Saturday May 10,2008 and seen it. I have been there many times over the years since I have a cabin in land o lakes area. My brothers and have explored the national forest roads near and around it. I dont know if its real…. But its there all the time so you explain it………. And hey for all of you who say if it cant be explained its not real. How many religous people have really seen GOD
Comment by Dougie | 05.13.2008 | 11:50 pm
If any one wants more info Im up in the area within 30 miles every other weekend so post on this site if you want more info and
Ill give you my own personal email or address. so please keep visiting the area. No I dont make any money its my vaccation area.
Comment by Dougie | 05.13.2008 | 11:54 pm