Charlevoix, MI

We left Petoskey Saturday morning at 9 AM and cruised to Charlevoix, about a 15 mile trip.

Charlevoix South Pier Light Station
( Lake Michigan in the backround as we are entering Pine River Channel into Round Lake and downtown Charlevoix)

To get into the marina at Charlevoix boats enter what is called the Pine River Channel.  This channel was originally a narrow meandering stream filled with logs and boulders that ran from Lake Charlevoix into Lake Michigan.  Early settlers found it impossible to take boats through the stream and instead portaged their boats and supplies across the land to get between Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan.  In 1870 the stream was hand cleared, widened and dredged so boats could traverse between the lakes.  

A double-leaf bascule bridge allows two way auto traffic from route 31 to cross the Pine River Channel.  It opens on the hour and half hour for boat traffic.

Bascule bridge
(looking back at the bridge after passing through Pine River Channel into Round Lake)

The Charlevoix Municiple Marina is just past the bascule bridge in a small lake called Round Lake.  Round Lake in turn opens into Lake Charlevoix which is a large lake some 13 miles long with maximum depth of 122 feet.  It has 56 miles of shoreline.  Many people have summer homes in the Charlevoix area because of the lakes.   Although the town of Charlevoix is small, it grows tremendously in the summer months due to tourism.

Charlevoix is known for some unique architecture.  Mushroom houses also sometimes called gnome homes or Hobbit houses were built by local architect, builder, and realtor, Earl Young (1889-1975).  Young was never formally trained as an architect or builder.  He only used local stones and boulders and most of his doors, windows, fireplaces, fences, and roofs are distinctive because of their curved lines.  Most of the 28 Young homes are privately owned although some are currently available for summer vacation rentals.  These houses are unique to Charlevoix.  Captain Keith and I took a guided tour of these houses via electric car.

Mushroom Houses
Those are all real stones (out of Lake Michigan), think of the weight of  the chimney and walls.

This house was built by Earl Young's daughter who was an artist and architect

Sunday Captain Keith played golf at the Charlevoix Country Club in the morning.  I did some quilting and shopping.  The afternoon was spent doing chores and then Sunday evening several "Loopers" gathered for cocktails and dinner.

On to Traverse City, MI on Monday.