Interlochen, Michigan
Sponsored by Blue Vase Books
AInterlochen is one of those marvelous northern Michigan towns that it is easy to miss altogether. Interlochen was different even as a lumber era boom town. The majestic White Pine was king because its lumber was perfect for building houses and other structures but there was an abundance of other species as well. White Cedar was the best for shingles, elm was needed for making barrels, the bark of the hemlock tree was used to tan leather, oak was sought after by the furniture makers in Grand Rapids. The remaining hardwoods were used for wooden implements and fuel for heating homes and firing steam engines. There was such rapid development that tiny Interlochen was served by two different railroad lines. Some say the name “Interlochen” actually refers to the switch where the two railroad lines crossed. That switch allowed the railmen to move rail cars from one line to the other when required.
Interlochen could have dwindled away after the boom was over, but there were determined residents who loved the natural beauty of the region; in particular there were those incredible lakes. Contrary to the railroad switch idea, there is a school of thought that claims the town name, "Interlochen" translates as "between the lakes". The names Duck Lake & Green Lake are new names. The natives had different names for those lakes. Duck Lake was Wahbekaness Ottawa for "water lingers", Wahbekanetta, which translates as "water lingers again" was the name for Green Lake. These lakes were surrounded by dense forest. Before it was all harvested about 200 acres of the old growth pines and untouched forest were preserved at Pine Park. Today Pine Park is known as Interlochen State Park where you can camp among the old growth pines near sparkling lake waters and sandy beaches.
While on the subject of natural beauty there are trails
to explore. You could just enjoy a stroll along the beach at
one of the lakes or one of the trails at each campground but
there are a couple of other options. One trail that most day
visitors miss runs along the river with one loop that runs
toward the Music Academy. The trailhead is on Route 137 near
the Hofbrau; that’s one of the cool dining spots in town.
So, you pull over just past the restaurant in this little
spot that has room for a couple cars; across the street is
the trailhead. The trail is an easy walk and leads to some
historic sites among the towering trees. Another trail is
all about riding horses. The Lake Dubonnet Trail Camp is
part of the Shore-to-Shore Riding/Hiking Trail. It too goes
through Interlochen.
Interlochen has another unique attraction that draws
thousands every year, the Interlochen Center for the Arts.
In the 1920s an Interlochen resident, Joseph E. Maddy was
asked to take on a task for the Music Supervisors National
Conference. His assignment was to gather the most talented
high school musicians from across the United States. These
musicians would form the National High School Orchestra. The
Orchestra met in Detroit for the first time in 1926 and
again in 1927 and 1928. The result was the Interlochen Arts
Center.
So, you've got natural beauty, the arts, good food, and outdoor sports. Those alone are about all you need for a fun day trip, but there is more, another attraction that you don’t want to miss is the bookstore. Right there on the main intersection is Blue Vase Books. You just don't expect to find a shop like this in a tiny town in northern Michigan. When you walk in you are struck by how absolutely huge the place is, wall to wall books floor to ceiling.
There are big bookstores in other towns but Blue Vase Books has the prices. See, most of the 50,000 plus books on display are used books in excellent condition. You can expect to find some real bargains and nearly any author you are interested in. Not only are there tons of books at great prices, it is all so organized you’ll easily find what you are looking for. If you happen to get stymied, no worries, the staff somehow know where everything can be found.
