Scripps Mansion

Scripps Mansion is a Norman and Tudor Revival style residence in Orion Township completed in 1927, featuring stone walls, expansive windows, and intricate woodwork throughout its interior and exterior design. The structure sits on what was once a much larger estate that included surrounding farmland.

William Edmund Scripps, son of the Detroit News founder and owner of radio station WWJ, established this estate in 1916 on property that would become the foundation for future development. The mansion itself was built in 1927 during a period of significant industrial prosperity in Michigan.

The estate once housed a collection of European paintings that reflected the family's refined taste in art and their support for cultural institutions. This collection became part of a major donation that enriched Detroit's museum holdings.

The property sits within what remains of a former sprawling estate surrounded by woodland and open fields. Since the building currently operates as a residential treatment facility, visitors should confirm access beforehand as visits may be restricted or require special arrangements.

The property is tied to aviation history through an airstrip where pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart tested an experimental glider in 1929. That same landing area is now used for radio-controlled aircraft, keeping alive an unexpected chapter of early aviation experimentation.