History Of Pointe Aux Barques Cottage Community in Michigan’s Thumb

The name Pointe Aux Barques was coined by French sailors and voyageurs in about 1760. The name literally means the point of boats, This is because the rock formations at the tip of the Thumb looked like the prow of a ship. It was also known as a hideout for sailors.

The year is 1912. An exclusive modern resort community is opened at the tip of Michigan’s thumb with direct train service from Detroit. For over 100 years it has been a resort community.

Michigan Maple Syrup from Battel’s Sugar Bush

We learned that it takes about 40 gallons of maple sap to produce one gallon of high-grade maple syrup.

Mark Battel and his family have organized and maintain over 400 taps with gravity and a vacuum-fed tube system that fills the collection kettles with pure Maple sap. Stop by their roadside stand and pick up some sweetness this season.