The Whitney

Get into the spirit of Halloween at The Whitney, a 52-room mansion completed in 1894 that is now an award-winning restaurant. Outside, it’s all turrets, archways, gables, gardens and rose-pink South Dakota Jasper stone studded with Tiffany windows. The interior decor — rare wood wainscoting and paneling, stately staircases, chandeliers, 20 fireplaces and the first elevator in Detroit for personal use  — reflects an old-world Victorian splendor. 

Lumber baron David Whitney Jr., once the richest man in Detroit, had a short stay in his mansion. He died just six years after moving into the home. His first wife died before the house was completed, and her sister became the second Mrs. Whitney, residing in the home until her death in 1917. (The first Mrs. W. is said to have been so upset that her sister got both her husband and her house that she moved in as well.)

Combine a four-course meal, Champagne and spirits by taking The Whitney’s Paranormal Dinner Tour or opt for the Late-Night Paranormal Tour, which includes a guided tour of the mansion and carriage house along with a Witching Hour Cocktail. Visitors can also take in the ambiance by making reservations for dinner at the restaurant or by grabbing drinks at the aptly named Ghostbar, a spectral space to enjoy a cocktail or two while listening to live jazz or guest DJs. 4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Michigan 48201, 313/832-5700, thewhitney.com