The haunting of Factory One

October 31, 2025Newsletter Archives

Factory One, in Flint, Michigan, was built in the 1880s. It’s where visionaries William “Billy” Durant and Josiah Dort launched the horse-drawn carriage company that would eventually become General Motors, founded in 1908. 

Of course the building is full of ghosts. 

At least, that’s what some folks claim. Purchased by GM in 2013, the restored and renovated Victorian-era building is now a community event space. But according to some, a few of the original occupants remain. 

Unexplained noises, flickering lights, mystical orbs floating across security footage – it’s all been witnessed at Factory One. Many who frequent the building have heard footsteps in empty rooms. A security officer claims she heard her name whispered when nobody else was around. 

As a Halloween treat, today on GM News we bring you the frightful fable of Factory One. Whether you believe these ghost stories is up to you. But if you find yourself in Factory One on a cold, windy night, don’t be surprised to find you’re not alone. 

You’ve been warned. 

-- Bob Sorokanich, senior editor, GM News