Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

50th Anniversary at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

June 20, 2014 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's 50th Anniversary is July 8th, 2014.
There will be live wood-carving demonstrations for Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's 50th Anniversary.

Wood carving demonstrations!

There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony and BBQ for Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's 50th Anniversary.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and a BBQ with brats and hot dogs!

Join us for the July 8, 2014 official celebration of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's 50th anniversary. Book a site or cabin and enjoy a parade through the park featuring The Lutheran Van Guard Marching Band, antique vehicles, and floats.

Then see live wood-carving demonstrations, live musical performances, ribbon cutting with the Mackinaw Chamber of Commerce, and a BBQ brats, hot dogs and refreshments.

The Grand Marshals of the parade will feature the very first campers to check in when the camp opened on July 1, 1964 - Malcolm and Phyllis Smith of Livonia Michigan.

Read more about Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's History.

The Lutheran Van Guard Marching Band will be performing for Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's 50th Anniversary.

Start the celebration with a parade through the park featuring The Lutheran Van Guard Marching Band, antique vehicles, and floats.

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's 50th Anniversary (1964-2014).

UPDATE: The Cheboygan Daily Tribune published an article covering our 50th Anniversary Celebration!


The first brochure for Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, circa 1964, then called "Mackinaw Campgrounds."

Here is the campground's first card. The name of the park was originally "Mackinaw Campground." Dad changed the name of the park to "Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping" when a park opened it town using our same name. Then the park opened down the street and called themselves Tee Pee so we had to remove the Tee Pee from all of our cards, posters and bumper stickers. Primitive camping was $1.00 a night in 1964. $1.75 for Modern camping, and $2.00 a night if you wanted newfangled electricity!

One of the original cabins at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, circa 1964.

This cabin still exists, it has been remodeled and you can rent it! Our family of 5 (later to be 6) lived here for the first couple years. Two of the boys in diapers (the years before disposables) and no indoor plumbing.

The very first gusts at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, circa 1964, then known as "Mackinaw Campground." From left to right: David Smith, Phyllis Smith (holding Denise Smith) and Vince Rogala (background).

Here is our very first camper Phyllis Smith. Her husband Malcolm is probably taking the photo. Both will return on July 8, 2014 to be Grand Marshals of our 50th anniversary parade. She holds her daughter Denise and her son David looks on. In later years both Denise and David worked at the campground. Lurking in the background pumping the camp's first well is 3 year old Vince Rogala, now General Manager of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping and The Mackinaw Club Golf Course.


For Immediate Release
Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, 9730 Us Hwy 23, Mackinaw City, MI 49701
Contact: (231) 436-5584

Michigan's Favorite - Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping Celebrates 50th Anniversary


Family owned Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping celebrates it's 50th year of operation this July with a parade through the park, and other special events.

On July 8, 2014 campers will enjoy the official celebration of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's 50th anniversary. The party starts off with a parade through the park featuring The Lutheran Van Guard Marching Band, antique vehicles, and floats. Other events include wood carving demonstrations, live musical performances, ribbon cutting with the Mackinaw Chamber of Commerce, and a BBQ. The Grand Marshals of the parade will feature the very first campers to check in when the camp opened on July 1, 1964 - Malcolm and Phyllis Smith of Livonia, Michigan.

"We did a lot of planning to make sure our 50th anniversary is special. We wanted to honor the memory of our parents. They dreamed of creating a campground in a beautiful natural setting where people could come to reconnect with nature and each other. The camp opened with just 17 sites renting at $2.00 a night. From the start, campers liked mom and dad's little place on the lake with a sandy beach. With a lot of work, little by little, year after year, our family has built the park into one of the largest and most popular campgrounds in the Great Lakes region," explained Vince Rogala.

Recipient of numerous awards and most recently named as The Favorite Campground in Michigan by viewers of TV 9 & 10, Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping features a mile of shoreline with campsites and cabins viewing the Mackinac Bridge, and Mackinac Island. Amenities include a heated pool, park store, arcade, modern restroom and shower facilities as well as sites for all types of campers (including the only Mackinac bridge-view campsites available anywhere). The campground operates Mackinac Lakefront Cabin Rentals, and gives guests discounts for it's 310 acre, 18 hole Mackinaw Club Golf Course.

To learn more about Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping visit www.CampMackinaw.com.

About Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping:

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping was opened by Richard and Rose Rogala on July 1, 1964 and today is still operated by their sons, Frank, Chris, Vince and Edward Rogala. To learn more about the history of the camp visit: The History of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/06/prweb11963574.htm


The Cheboygan Daily Tribune covers the 50th Anniversary celebration at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping.

The Cheboygan Daily Tribune covered our 50th Anniversary celebration here at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping. An excerpt from the article:

... The celebration kicked off with a parade featuring the Lutheran Vanguard Marching Band, antique vehicles, floats, and Grand Marshals Malcolm and Phyllis Smith of Livonia, the first campers to check in when the campground opened on July 1, 1964.

The parade made its way down to the waterfront, where campers enjoyed music by Denny Beach and Sam King, hot dogs and refreshments, log carving, and a demonstration by the Jack Pine Lumberjack Show.

Quinn Rogala, granddaughter of the campground's founders Richard and Rose Rogala, made a heartfelt speech, and the Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce was on hand for a ribbon cutting and the presentation of a plaque commemorating 50 years of camping.

"We did a lot of planning to make sure our 50th anniversary is special. We wanted to honor the memory of our parents," said Vince Rogala, general manager of the campground. "They dreamed of creating a campground in a beautiful natural setting where people could come to reconnect with nature and each other. ...

Read the full story here, or by clicking the image above.

Filed Under: News

New at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping for 2014

May 30, 2014 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Logo for Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's 50th Anniversary (1964-2014). Copyright (©) 2014 Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping and Frank Rogala. All rights reserved.This summer is Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping's 50th anniversary of operation!

Everyone is making their best effort to have the campground at its best in our 50th year anniversary, so we are replacing signs, putting new wood on tables and most anything needed to keep the place looking ship shape!

It was a long cold winter, but we still were able to accomplish a lot. We have doubled the size of sites on three roads in our full hookup section. These sites are now 50 foot by 50 foot! We hope to continue this trend until all of these sites are some of the largest full hookup sites available.

New planting of trees at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping. Copyright (©) 2014 Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping and Frank Rogala. All rights reserved.
Some of the new trees we planted this year at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping.

The harsh winter killed a lot of trees and bushes, so we have planted literally hundreds and hundreds of new trees.

We were able to put a fresh coat of red cedar stain on most all of our lakefront cabins - they look sharp.

Still to come, this week we will pave the road from the park store to the office. This will cut down on dust and the need to water that road and grading out potholes. We can't wait!

We have been through an upgrade of our camp management software, which caused a slowdown in our processing of reservations this spring (are you one of those people that had to wait for your reservation to be processed - sorry!!) as we were switching over. It was a big job, but now that things are rolling, we are caught up and we think it will be better than ever. It gives us the ability to see on a map where everyone is, so that, when possible, we can give our campers elbow room.

We are starting to replace our pool furniture with handmade wooden lounges and chairs. Everyone loved the sample ones we made so we are going ahead and hoping that by this time next year it will be 100% custom Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping furniture. All made by the same artisans that create our beautiful cabins.

Firepits at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping. Copyright (©) 2014 Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping and Frank Rogala. All rights reserved.
Popular fire pits made by "upcycling" old propane tanks which are sliced and filled with concrete and painted. All done onsite by our own Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping artisans!

We continue to add more and more of our popular permanent firepits that have been upcycled (by our onsite artisans) using slices of large LP gas tanks filled with concrete.

We remodeled two of our men's lake area restrooms, combining them into one large room and installed new woodwork and wooden decking around our Supersaver bathrooms in the wooded area.

After the long cold snowy winter, the water level in Lake Huron has recovered and now surrounds our boat launch. Though higher, the water probably won't be deep enough to launch any boats this season. Perhaps another snowy winter will restore the water levels and the function of our boat launch to normal next year!

We continue to upgrade and improve our Wi-Fi and added an additional 100 MB per second feed to the park for 2014.

Filed Under: News

Mackinaw City Voted Top Tourist Town in Michigan

September 19, 2013 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Mackinaw City voted as the top tourist town in Michigan.Mackinaw City was voted the top tourist town in Michigan by local parents and families. More than 2,000 parents with children ages 3 to 12 were surveyed for FamilyFun magazine's first travel awards. These parents were asked to select their favorite tourist destinations. The most popular tourist spots were divided into regions (West, Midwest, South and Northeast) and parents voted within their respective local area. The survey focused on rating destinations as fun, accessible and affordable.

Top Tourist Town in Michigan

Parents and families from the Northwest region chose Mackinaw City as their pick for the top tourist town in Michigan. They chose Mackinaw City as their favorite tourist destination for its combination of history and nature. Located on the Straits of Mackinac, between Lakes Huron and Michigan, Mackinaw City is the gateway to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Visitors come from all around to visit the historic Mackinac Island and to enjoy an array of all types of local attractions. There are plenty of museums, lighthouses, forts and campgrounds for families to enjoy together. Parents also said they come to Mackinaw for the Mackinac Island fudge, some of the best tasting fudge around! So tasty, in fact, we have an annual festival to celebrate the stuff!

Two more cities in Michigan made the top ten list for favorite tourist town, which are Traverse City and Frankenmuth. Of course, these Michigan cities they don't have our tasty Mackinac Island fudge!

Favorite Nature Escapes

Two of the top ten favorite family destinations were from Michigan. Winners for the Northwest region included both the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Sleeping Bear Dunes is located in Glen Arbor, which is near Traverse City. The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is located in Grand Marais, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Both nature escapes are about a two and a half hour drive from Mackinaw City, in opposite directions.

Favorite Tourist Attractions

Out of the top ten favorite tourist attractions from the Northwest region, FOUR were chosen from right here in Michigan! These include Colonial Michilimackinac in Mackinaw City, The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island and the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie.

Take a look at this virtual brochure rack to find even more tourist attractions, nature escapes and things to see and do in the Mackinaw City area.

Original story published by FamilyFun magazine:
Best Family Vacations: 2013 FamilyFun Travel Awards

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Mackinaw City, New for 2013

Top Rated Campground in Michigan

June 6, 2013 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Photo of logo for TV 9&10 News' Viewers Choice for Favorite campground in Northern Michigan.Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping has been voted as the top rated campground in Michigan! Our camp was chosen as the number one favorite campground in northern Michigan by TV 9 and 10 viewers in a recent news segment called "MiFavoriteThings." It's an honor to be recognized with such a title as we are always striving to provide the most enjoyable experience for all our guests. Below you can watch a video clip of the news segment that TV 9&10 aired after their recent visit to the camp during which they interviewed Vince Rogala, one of the four brothers who own and operate the camp.

Top Rated Campground in Michigan

9&10 News (WWTV) conducted a poll on their viewers' favorite place to go camping for their news segment "MiFavoriteThings." Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping was chosen as one of the top rated campgrounds in northern Michigan and featured during this news segment.

Vince Rogala of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping is interviewed and talks a little about the park and it's history.


For Immediate Release
Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, 9730 Us Hwy 23, Mackinaw City, MI 49701
Contact: (231) 436-5584

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping chosen as Favorite Michigan Campground


Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping has been voted as Michigan's Favorite Campground by TV 9&10 viewers. The top rated Michigan campground is a family operation that topped a list otherwise populated by Michigan State Parks.

In a poll of TV 9 & 10 viewers, Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, in Mackinaw City, MI has been voted as the "Favorite Campground in Michigan." This family-owned and privately operated campground tops a list thatwas otherwise composed of state parks (including Ludington State Park, Interlochen State Park, South Higgins Lake State Park and Aloha State Park).

"The honor was totally unexpected," says Vince Rogala, General Manager and one of the four brothers whose family built and operates the camp. "We work hard everyday to make our campground the best it can be, and it seems that people have noticed. We are coming up on our 50th year of operation, which is a big milestone for our family. Last week the phone rang and TV 9 & 10 told us we had topped the list and asked if they could come out to tape a segment about the park. We were surprised, and of course, very happy for the recognition, especially to be known as the "number one favorite Michigan campground." Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping has always been highly rated, if not the top rated campground in Michigan, but nothing like this has ever happened before."

The campground features one mile of shoreline on the Straits of Mackinac with views of the Mackinac Bridge, Mackinac Island, Round Island and Bois Blanc Island. There are campsites for every type of camper ranging from basic sites for tents up to modern full hookups for the largest RV's. A variety of camping cabins with knotty wood pine interiors include not only economical and basic cabins (that share camp communal restrooms and showers), but also lakefront cabins that have modern bathroom facilities. Amenities include a heated pool, park store, Wi-Fi, LP gas refilling, modern restroom and shower facilities (cleaned twice daily), miles of roads and trails for hiking and biking, three playgrounds, a free shuttle to Mackinac Island ferries, as well as free antique fire truck rides in the evenings.

For those on a budget: Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping offers supersaver sites which rent for as little as $13 in the peak season. Despite offering the cheapest, least expensive campsites available in the Mackinaw area, these economical sites allow access to all of the campground's facilities and are located in a wooded area.

One factor that might contribute to the campground's popularity is that Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping also operates the scenic and sprawling 310-acre, 18-hole Mackinaw Club Golf Course and offers its guests attractive discounts (guests can play 18 holes w/cart for $15 after 2 p.m.). Professionally designed by world renowned architect Jerry Matthews, the Mackinaw Club winds through natural wetlands and streams, along mature forests and rolling meadows. The 6,807 yard design finishes each hole with elevated greens of manicured bent grass. The course is designed for players of all ages and abilities.

"Our campers are our guests who many times become our friends. We are meeting third and fourth generation campers. I see families every day who are enjoying the camp with their children and who have stories to tell me about coming here with their parents when they were kids. Over and over again, I hear that this is their favorite place to stay. It is exciting to know we have been voted as the top campground in the State of Michigan, but for us it is enough to be able to share yet another beautiful summer on the Straits of Mackinac with all our old friends, and hopefully make a few new ones," explained Rogala.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/6/prweb10810969.htm

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Mackinaw Camping, Mackinaw City, New for 2013, YouTube

Story of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping now in HD

February 8, 2012 by Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

The story of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, has always been one of the most popular episodes on the camp's YouTube channel. Now that story, originally cut into parts, is being brought as a single episode which will now be in HD.

The story outlines the lives of the Richard and Rosemary Rogala family, and the journey that led to them creating one of the most popular campgrounds in the United States.

The couple took a 10,000 mile trip in a small van, with three small children (two of which were still in diapers, in the time before disposable diapers existed), to many of the nations most notable tourist destinations. After traveling through much of the United States and Canada, Rogala's picked a spot couple miles south of Mackinaw city that has become Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping.

Check it out for yourself and see if, as thousands of viewers already have, you find it inspirational. If so, please leave a comment and share it with your family and friends!


Ep. 1 & 2 - The Story of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Mackinaw Camping, New for 2012, YouTube

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • Next Page »

© Copyright 1998-2025 Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping & CampMackinaw.com · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · HTML Sitemap · Links