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Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping started after a
10,000 mile “fact finding” camping trip by Richard and Rose Rogala. Originally opening as “Mackinaw
Campground” over 35 years ago with 19 sites. |
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This one room cabin in the north woods (with no
indoor plumbing) was the Rogala’s families new residence. Leaving behind
suburban comforts, Richard, Rose and their 3 son’s under the age of five
moved in to start work clearing brush and trees with hand tools. A 4th
son was to arrive soon! |
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Originally printed on pale yellow card stock
this card advertises campsites for $1.00 a night! Notice the “Tee Pee”
symbol and the old campground name, both which were appropriated by area
campgrounds. Is imitation the
sincerest form of flattery? |
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Richard Rogala bent the pipes, welded them into
picnic table legs at his workshop near Romeo, MI, and trucked them to
Mackinaw where he finished the assembly of the tables |
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Richard Rogala assembles a spinner made from
recycled auto parts in his workshop in southern, Michigan (where the
Rogala’s resided prior to moving lock stock and barrel to Mackinaw). |
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Tiring of shooing children off of his equipment,
Richard came up with the idea of installing some “retired” tractors on the
playgrounds. They were an instant
hit! |
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The tractors on the playground became such a
signature of the campground that they were featured on these vintage
postcards (when the campground was still called “Mackinaw Campground”). |
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Now with the lake at record lows – it is hard to
remember that the lake threatened to claim much of the campground’s
lakefront in years past – notice the posts extending out into the lake-that
was the road to the boat launch (its platform see barely above water level. |
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The lakeside campsites are no more in this
photo. You can see the water
crossing the road. Hard to imagine
– now with the waterline retreating so far out. |
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This is the same road that in the previous slide
was covered with water. The logs
have now been replaced by posts and tree planted to separate the sites. |
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Mackinaw in the 60’s and 70’s used to get a
generous dose of snow with the snowbanks sometimes reaching 2 stories tall.
See the shower buildings at the end of the road in the wooded area? |
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The lake freezes all the way across to the
Island most winters |
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Huge blocks of ice (in the foreground a piece
the size of a grand piano) are blown into huge heaps and can destroy
anything its path. |
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Looking out from the front office window after a
fresh dusting of snow. |
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See the campground sign on U.S. 23 as you look
north towards Mackinaw up U.S.23 |
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Among the many awards won by Rose and Richard’s
Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping was the State Award by the Keep America
Beautiful Association |
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When it comes to Michigan camping, everyone has
a favorite site, a magical place whose blend of stunning scenery, nature
experiences, campfire camaraderie, kid-pleasing activities and overall
ambience come together to spark memorable family getaways. The following 15
destinations, a mix of public and private campgrounds for tents and
recreational vehicles, surface repeatedly when seasoned campers name the
state's most family-friendly sites:
1. Mackinac Mill Creek Camping,
Mackinaw City. Views of the Mackinac Bridge and Mackinac Island, plus free
shuttle to ferry make this 600-site private campground a popular spot.
One mile of Lake Huron shoreline.
Heated pool.
Minigolf,
playgrounds and camping cabins.
Call (231) 436-5584 |
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Today, still operated by the Rogalas’, the
campground has 600 sites and a one-mile of shore line facing the Straits of
Mackinac! Despite regulatory and economic pressures the Rogala’s strive to
keep the land available as a campground for enjoyment of the people who
have made a visit to Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping a family tradition. (“Click”
to return home) |
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Notes