8 Most Eccentric Towns in Michigan
The midwestern state of Michigan, along the banks of four Great Lakes - Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior - is home to a plethora of attractions that label the towns they are in as being bizarre and even eccentric. While an abundance of great eccentricities are situated within the cities, such as the Raven Lounge, Detroit's oldest blues social club, it's the smaller towns in the state that possess some rather bizarre attractions. Below are eight of Michigan’s most delightfully eccentric towns, each featuring attractions that earn them that reputation.
Traverse City
Traverse City might have the largest number of bizarre attractions in the state, other than cities like Detroit, of course. From the Hippie Tree, decorated over several generations by locals, to the Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, comprising 25 acres of natural wonder, these attractions are unlike any others of their kind in Michigan.
One of Traverse City’s more unusual sights is the system of tunnels beneath the former Traverse City State Hospital, where visitors can tour underground passageways and twelve historic cottages constructed between 1885 and 1903. Originally designed to allow staff to move patients and supplies discreetly between buildings, the tunnels now offer a fascinating glimpse into the daily operations of a 19th-century psychiatric hospital.
Charlevoix
The picturesque town of Charlevoix connects Lake Michigan with Lake Charlevoix. It is also the main access point to several islands on Lake Michigan, including Beaver Island, which is home to the Beaver Head Lighthouse, a 46-foot lighthouse first built in 1852. Protar's Tomb is another attraction in the area, honoring Feodar Protar, a German medicine man who was well-loved by the locals. The Beaver Island Stone Circle is the area's take on Stonehenge due to its circular layout. It's an arrangement of large stones near the island's shoreline; it's considered to be one of the state's most mysterious stone formations.
Downtown Charlevoix is also home to several bizarre attractions, like the famous works of Earl Young. These “mushroom houses,” of which there are more than two dozen in total, were all created over a span of fifty years by Earl Young from stones that came straight out of Lake Michigan. Plus, inside the Weathervane Restaurant, guests can view a nine-ton stone, a cap to the restaurant’s dining room fireplace.
Leland
Approximately 150 miles north of Grand Rapids, the small town of Leland is home to some unique attractions that make it worth visiting. One of these is known as the “Tile Wall.” This fabulous attribute honors the men and women responsible for preserving Leelanau County’s heritage.
Another eccentric attraction is the famed Cottonwood Tree. Once 100 feet tall and having a circumference of twenty feet, the wood from this tree, which had to be felled for safety reasons in 2011, contributed to sixty different clones. A final attraction worth seeing is the wreck of the Francisco Morazan. Best seen just off South Manitou Island, this shipwreck is now a part of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Marquette
The picturesque town of Marquette, situated off the banks of Lake Superior, along the upper part of the Upper Peninsula, is home to the Superior Dome. This wooden dome, located on Presque Isle Avenue, is considered one of the world’s largest wooden domes. It is also quite close to Picnic Rocks, which is not only an awesome beach but also offers stunning views of Marquette Harbor Lighthouse.
The town of Marquette is also home to Lakenenland. This phenomenal outdoor sculpture park features over a hundred scrap-metal sculptures, including motorcycles, creatures, tractors, dinosaurs, and even a slot machine, all designed by Tom Lakenen. And, just down Rte-28, visitors can check out awesome views of Lake Superior, including some spectacular sunsets in the evening.
Petoskey
Hidden along Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan, the quaint town of Petoskey is home to several eccentric attractions. One of these is the Lake Michigan Crucifix, an eleven-foot white marble cross bearing a statue of the crucified Jesus Christ meant to honor those lost at sea. This fabulous phenomenon can be found just beneath the waters of Little Traverse Bay. It has been seen, at safe times of course, by thousands of visitors to Petoskey.
Two other strange attractions in Petoskey, the City Park Grill and the Historic Gaslight District, also bring visitors from all over. The City Park Grill, one of the oldest buildings in the city, is said to still have a cigar burn in the bar from the famous author Ernest Hemingway, who used to frequent the establishment. The Historic Gaslight District has been in existence for well over a century. One of the first establishments in the district was City Park Grill, which began as McCarty Hall in 1875.
Baldwin
The tiny town of Baldwin, along the western side of the "Mitten,” is home to the Brown Trout Sculpture. Located in a park by the same name, this 25-foot-tall trout sculpture is the largest of its kind in the world. Ivan Iler created it and unveiled it in 2018. And quite close to this statue, visitors can visit the Lake County Historical Museum, which showcases the local history through photographs, memorabilia, and artifacts.
The town of Baldwin is also home to two other attractions worth seeing. The Shrine of the Pines, situated to the south in the city, honors early 20th-century American furniture within a hunting lodge. And, if you decide to stay overnight, Ivan’s Campgrounds & Cabins offers both tent and R.V. camping, as well as the option to rent a cabin for the evening.
Sault Ste. Marie
Hidden along the northern edge of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the picturesque town of Sault Ste. Marie sits across the St. Marys River from Canada, directly opposite the larger city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. It is home to some great attractions, such as the Museum Ship Valley Camp. Housed on the actual S.S. Valley Camp, a decommissioned freighter, this museum is open from May through October with well over 100 exhibits.
Sault Ste. Marie is also home to the Tower of History, housing several Native American artifacts. The building also offers panoramic views of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, St. Marys River, and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Lake Superior State University, situated in Sault Ste. Marie also has a Snowman Burning Festival, a spring festivity created to do one thing: burn a giant snowman to usher in a good spring.
Ishpeming
Another eccentric town in the state, located in the Upper Peninsula, is the quaint town of Ishpeming, which is home to Da Yoopers Tourist Trap & Rock Shop. This fabulous establishment is the place to visit when you're in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The shop possesses the world’s largest chainsaw, named Big Gus, which is 23 feet long, as well as the world’s largest working rifle. There's also a wide selection of local art, souvenirs, and T-shirts available for purchase.
Some other attractions in the town of Ishpeming include the Cliffs Shaft Mine and Jasper Knob. While the Cliff Shaft Mine first opened in 1868, it is now a museum that provides insight into how iron mines operated in their early days. Jasper Knob is a unique rock formation in Ishpeming composed of jaspilite, a rock estimated to be billions of years old. You can get an up-close look by going on a hike in the area.
Eccentric Michigan Cities
Whether you want to see the largest working chainsaw or whether your interest lies more in exploring tunnels located beneath a mental asylum, the state of Michigan is the place to visit. From the largest brown trout sculpture in the world to the “mushroom houses” created by Earl Young, the attractions in the Great Lake State tend to inspire people to consider the towns they are situated in to be eccentric, to say the very least.
