Hell on Earth: The Frozen Reality of a Michigan Town

Most people use the phrase as an angry dismissal, but for a specific community in the northern United States, “going to Hell” is simply a matter of checking a map. While the name suggests fire and brimstone, the physical reality is often far colder. In January 2014, temperatures in this hamlet plummeted to -17 degrees, creating a literal scenario where Hell froze over.

This was not an isolated event; the town froze over again in January 2018 and January 2019, cementing its reputation. Local farmers in the past reported that chickens’ eggs cracked within minutes, while snow blanketed the five acres of commercial property that make up the town’s center. For the residents, this is just another day in Hell, Michigan.

Whiskey Payments and Sinking Barrels

The origins of this unincorporated community, located about 15 miles northwest of Ann Arbor, trace back to the 1830s. Two primary theories explain how the town received its moniker. The first involves German travelers who stepped out of a stagecoach, looked at the sunny landscape, and commented, “So schön hell,” translating to “So beautifully bright.”

However, a second account focuses on the town’s founder, George Reeves. Reeves operated a grist mill and possessed a habit of paying his local farmers with homemade whiskey rather than cash. When the farmers did not return home promptly, their wives would often complain that their husbands had “gone to Hell again.” When officials asked Reeves what to name the settlement, his response was blunt: “I don’t care. You can name it Hell for all I care.” The name became official on October 13, 1841.

Reeves was also a master of evasion. After the American Civil War, when tax collectors arrived to assess his operation, Reeves and his customers conspired to hide the whiskey. They filled barrels and sank them to the bottom of the millpond. Once the government agents left the area, the locals hauled the barrels back to the surface with ropes, keeping their supply safe and untaxed.

Impeachment and Damnation University

Today, the town offers visitors a variety of sanctioned activities centered around its unique identity. Those seeking power can pay $100 to become the Mayor of Hell for a single day. The term includes a full proclamation of authority, but the rule is short-lived; at the end of the day, every mayor is summarily impeached. For those looking for education, the town hosts “Damnation University”—or Damn U—which issues over 100 different types of novelty degrees.

A Town Up for Sale

Life in Hell involves more than just tourism; it also involves real estate transactions. On Friday the 13th in February 2015, John Colone, the unofficial mayor, placed the town’s main commercial assets on the market. He initially listed the property, which included the wedding chapel and the souvenir shop, for $1.3 million. When buyers failed to appear, he dropped the price to a thematically appropriate $999,666.

Despite the price reduction to $900,000 later, Colone continued to manage the town, stating that his efforts were for enjoyment rather than profit. Visitors drive hundreds of miles just to ask their spouses, “Hey, you want to go to Hell?”—a question that, in this specific corner of Michigan, requires only a tank of gas to answer.