Uncover Michigan’s Quirky Roadside Attractions in the Thumb

We encountered many folks who have come up to Michigan’s Thumb for their entire lives but have never seen these exciting and sometimes quirky Michigan Roadside Attractions along M-25. Sometimes, they are just off the road or tucked in out-of-the-way places. If you’re visiting Caseville, Port Austin, Bay Port, Gagetown, or Harbor Beach, make a slight detour and check out these roadside attractions. They don’t cost a dime and usually have a story to tell.

Michigan Thumb Roadside Attraction Map

#1 – A Tribute to Jenny, Quanicassee’s Beer Drinking Bear | M-25

In the 1900s, Michigan was known for its roadside attractions, which drew tourists to the area. An early attraction in the Thumb region was Jenny, the Beer-Drinking Bear in Quanicassee. Today, an unusual statue pays tribute to the bruin.

During the early days of the auto, Frank Vanderbilt invested in Quanicassee at the base of the Thumb. The name “Quanicassee” is of Native American origin, meaning “lone tree.” The entire area had been a fishing village, and the marshes were known for wild rice long before European pioneers’ arrival.

Vanderbilt started collecting wild animals for a roadside zoo. One of his early acquisitions was a female black bear. The cub was supposedly orphaned after a fire in the Clare area. Frank’s acquired young bear is truly unknown, but it became part of the saloon’s attraction. The bear was smart and performed for pieces of bread, milk, and meat. Frank named the famed cub Jenny.

Read the rest of the tale and directions to the unusual statue tribute to Quanicassee’s Beer Drinking Bear

#2 – The Auto Fountain at Bay Shore Grill | M-25

There is nothing like stuffing a water hose through an old car to make a fountain that makes a mini waterfall out under the hood. But hey, you now have one of the quirkiest roadside attractions along M-25. The folks at Bay Shore Bar & Grill did just that. It’s unusual enough to stop and take a look and click a selfie.

The bar itself is in an exciting location. Overlooking the Quanicassee river’s water offers a pretty neat view. If you have ever been to Key West, it reminds us of the famous Turtle Kraals restaurant that looks out over the Key West Bright.

#3 – The Emergency Ark Near Oak Beach County Park | M-25

A dilapidated barn from the late 1800s, carefully taken apart piece by piece, has been rebuilt by Detroit artist Scott Hocking as a huge wooden ark.

Originally conceived as an “Emergency Ark,” the project plays into Hocking’s fascination with mythic forms and structures from the ancient world.

“Many of Scott’s projects are in hidden spaces, where you can’t necessarily see them,” one enthusiast noted. “But this is enormous — and so visible. I drove in from the east, and could see right away the great presence it will have in that landscape.”

For directions and how to see other quirky roadside art attractions. Check out Barn Art in the Thumb.

#4 – Caseville’s Long Pier Out into Saginaw Bay | M-25

It’s one of the few break walls anywhere that encourages you to walk out and take a look at the bay up close. You can fish, walk and catch a cool breeze on this 1/4 mile sprig of concrete and stone out into Saginaw Bay.

Watch the boats come in and out in the early morning and late afternoon. However, if it’s stormy be prepared to get wet.

#5 – Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse | M-25

This Lighthouse ranks among the oldest lighthouses in Michigan. It is an active lighthouse maintained by the US Coast Guard remotely, located in Lighthouse County Park on Lake Huron near Port Hope, Michigan in Huron County. “Pointe aux Barques” means ‘Point of Little Boats,’ a descriptor of the shallow shoals and reefs that lurk beneath these waves, presenting a hazard to boats as they round Michigan’s Thumb.

See more about Pointe Aux Barques Lighthouse at Lighthouse County Park.

#6 – Port Austin Farmer’s Market Each Saturday | M-25

One of the states that the largest on-going farmer’s market has turned into a Michigan Roadside Attraction. Every Saturday, farmers, local artists, and artisans offer a unique blend of local flare for each weekend. Be ready to walk as parking is at a premium in this small town. Enjoy an early Bloody Mary at the” Bank” and proceed to get your weekend stock of fresh corn, vegetables,  local fruit, and an amazing assortment of local craftsmen offering clothing, rugs, collectibles, to furniture. The market is open each Saturday in the middle of Port Austin through mid-October.

#7 – Octagonal Barn Near Gagetown | M-52

The Thumb Octagon Barn is a unique barn in Gagetown, Michigan. It was built in 1924 by local businessman James Purdy. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources bought the bank’s property in 1991 to be incorporated into the adjacent Gagetown State Game Area. The farm buildings, including the octagon barn, had fallen into disrepair and were in danger of demolition. Local citizens banded together and organized the first Octagon Barn Festival in 1994 to raise funds to repair the barn. The Friends of the Thumb Octagon Barn was formed that year.

After the barn, historic farmhouse, garage, and electric power plant were restored, other buildings were moved or built on the old Purdy farm. It was moved to the site where a one-room schoolhouse and grain elevator. New construction included a schoolhouse museum, a large multipurpose building, a covered bridge, and a sawmill. A blacksmith shop is planned.

#8 – Sanilac Petroglyphs Near Cass City | M-52

The Sanilac Petroglyphs historic site is located near Cass City. Take M-53 to Bay City-Forestville Road and proceed east to Germania Road. Head south a one-half mile on Germania; the site is on the west side of the road. The carvings, known as petroglyphs, were discovered by residents after a fire swept through the area in 1881 and revealed rocks bearing the designs. Because they are made in relatively friable sandstone, geologists have determined that the carvings were made 300 to 1,000 years ago, dating back to the Late Woodland Period. The Bow Man, believed to represent a hunter, is the most well-known of the Sanilac Petroglyphs, rock carvings etched into a sandstone outcrop.

#9 – Sand Point Nature Preserve Near Bay Port – M-25

The Sand Point Nature Preserve is one of the most critical protected coastal lands in the Saginaw Bay Watershed and probably one of the most important in the Great Lakes. Through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the Saginaw Bay Herpetological Survey found Sand Point Nature Preserve to be the most biologically diverse site along the Saginaw Bay shoreline.

#10 – Bay Port Fish Market | M-25

This is one of the Upper Thumb’s tiniest lakeshore villages, but it overflows with history and sites unique only to Michigan. Home of the Bay Port Fish Company, operates between spring and fall, depending upon the weather, and has four boats: the Osprey, the Argo, the Patsy, and the Sunflower. Sometimes, you can see the Osprey and the Argo tied up in Caseville harbor. Fresh, smoked, and frozen fish can be bought from the retail store in Bay Port. The market is located a short drive from the center of the village in the historic Bay Port Fishing District.

#11 – The Historic General Store and Vintage Gas Pump at Kilmanagh | M-25

The restoration efforts of the Kilmanagh general store are showing great signs of progress. When this post was first published, many feared the iconic general store would fall in. The store and the town surrounding it were still life subjects for artists and photographers.

Today, the store and the iconic vintage shell gas pump have been returned to display—except it’s now stored inside. See Where in the heck in Kilmanagh! for details.

#12 – Huron County Nature Center | M-25

Our final Michigan Roadside Attraction in the Thumb is located midway between Caseville and Port Austin. The Huron County wilderness arboretum offers over 120 acres of woods, dunes, marsh connected by an intensive trail system. This offers a glimpse of the upper thumb as it appeared 100 years ago. Alternating dune ridges (now with mature growth) and wide pine areas, oak, fern, and huckleberry.

There is no charge to visit and walk the trails. Donations are welcomed.

#13 – The Lonely Chimney At Stafford County Park In Port Hope | M-25

Among all of Michigan roadside attractions, the “Lonely Chimney” at Stafford County Park in Port Hope, Michigan, is a poignant remnant of the region’s once-thriving lumber industry. Built in 1858 by John Geltz, this 80-foot chimney is all that remains of the W.R. Stafford Saw Mill, which was central to Port Hope’s development in the mid-19th century. The chimney stands as a symbol of the town’s survival through two devastating fires in 1871 and 1881, which destroyed much of the community but spared the chimney.

Located near Lake Huron, this historic site is now part of Stafford County Park. It serves as a local landmark of the region’s industrial past. The park, which offers camping and recreational facilities, has made the chimney a focal point, preserving this relic of Michigan’s lumbering era​

#14 – Birthplace of Supreme Court Justice Frank Murphy | M-25

Frank Murphy, born William Francis Murphy, was born on April 13, 1890, in Harbor Beach, Michigan. Murphy attended the University of Michigan and later earned his law degree there. He served in World War I, which shaped his commitment to justice and equality. Murphy began his political career as Mayor of Detroit and Governor of Michigan, where he gained a reputation for progressive policies. He also served as U.S. Attorney General under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, using his position to champion civil liberties during the New Deal era. In 1940, Murphy was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, serving until his death in 1949. On the bench, he became known for his passionate defense of individual rights, especially in cases involving racial equality and the rights of Japanese Americans during World War II.

The Frank Murphy Memorial Museum, located in Harbor Beach, Michigan, celebrates the life and legacy of one of the state’s most prominent figures, Frank Murphy. Situated at 142 S. Huron Avenue, the museum includes both Murphy’s birthplace and his original law office.

The museum is open for tours between Memorial Day and Labor Day, providing visitors with insights into Murphy’s personal and professional life. Highlights include his family’s Victorian Gothic Revival home, his law office from the early 20th century, and a collection of Philippine artifacts that Murphy acquired during his time in the Philippines. The museum also displays key historical items, such as the table used to sign the landmark document that created the United Auto Workers during the General Motors Sit-Down Strike of 1937​.

#15 – White Rock Roadside Park | M-25

White Rock Roadside Park, located along Michigan’s scenic M-25 in Huron County, is a historically and culturally significant landmark in the Thumb region. The park is named after White Rock, a large limestone boulder that has long been a fixture in Lake Huron. This rock served as a sacred site for Native Americans. It later became a boundary marker in the Treaty of Detroit (1807), which ceded large tracts of land from the Ottawa, Chippewa, Wyandot, and Potawatomi tribes to the U.S. government.

Today, visitors can see the rock from an overlook at the park, though the visibility of White Rock varies with the water levels of Lake Huron. The park offers a serene stop along the scenic drive of M-25, Michigan’s first designated scenic highway in 1940​.

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Related Stories on Michigan’s Roadside Attractions in the Thumb

• 14 of the Best Michigan Tourist Attractions in The Thumb
• Michigan Thumb Attractions Offer Family Fun
• Jenny, Quanicassee’s Beer Drinking Bear
• Michigan Roadside Parks – Jenks
• Cabin Roadside Art – A Unique Welcome

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