The Village at Grand Traverse Commons
1200 W Eleventh St., Traverse City, Michigan
Once the historic Traverse City State Hospital, the Village at Grand Traverse Commons is now a community that centers on design and the human experience. Home to residences, shops, and restaurants connected by trails and gardens, the village rethinks how America looks and lives.
Victorian-Italianate architecture—think tall windows, symmetrical facades, bracketed eaves, and prominent towers—is the characteristic style of the Village at Grand Traverse Commons; the grounds wind with gentle trails, gardens, and a bubbling creek. There’s also an indoor shopping center with more than 20 shops, restaurants, offices, and studios. Tours range from history-focused walking tours, excursions that take you down to the steam tunnels, and golf cart tours that zip you around the campus highlights.
You’re welcome to explore The Village independently or book a tour, which you can reserve online. Tours last 1–2 hours.
Several restrooms are available on the eastern side of the complex.
Community events happen here regularly, including a Saturday farmers market.
Some residents rent their homes on Airbnb, so you can stay overnight in the complex.
Most visitors to The Village at Grand Traverse Commons come by car; free parking is scattered across the complex. If you don’t have a vehicle, Traverse City has plenty of transport options, from buses to taxis and rideshares. It’s also a great place for a bike ride.
There’s no bad time to visit The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, and when to get there depends on what you’re looking for. Early morning is a great time to be on the complex’s trails; later is great for lunch and some shopping; and evening can be a fun time to book a tour or catch an event on the historic front lawn.
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons runs some fascinating—and frightening—tours. Take the Asylum Twilight tour to hear anecdotes from former employees, tour the basement of the former men’s ward, and wander the underground steam tunnels. You might even catch the asylum cottages creaking and groaning—a well-documented phenomenon.
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