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Save the Date

Ladies' Night Out: Shopping and a Sneak Peek at Christmas at Crossroads Holiday Magic
Monday, November 15, 2010

Come and experience Ladies' Night Out for a shopping experience that cannot be duplicated in a mall or big box store!
(Click here for more info)

Save the Date
7th Annual, Huckleberry Hustle 5k Trail Run and Walk
Thursday, July 8, 2010

Enjoy a rustic run through Crossroads Village's maintained backwoods trails. The trail run ends at the historic 1912 Parker Carousel where you can hear the "happiest music on earth" as you take your free spin on the carousel, enjoy a cup of delicious berry lemonade and munch on a
tasty berry muffin. (more info)

Save the Date
Country Tea
November 27, December 4, 11, and 18, 2010.

A Country Tea is something of a cross between a formal sit-down function and a buffet because you are offering hors d’oeuvres-type finger foods in an elegant, seated environment. Crossroads Village’s Country Tea experience is filled with old village charm and is a true, historic Country Tea. Time: 1:30 pm.  Reservations must be made by the Wednesday prior to the tea date.

(click here to order online)

 

Collections and Candies

Kids love the Huckleberry candies they can purchase at the Attica Hotel Gift Shop. Collectors enjoy the large selection of turn-of-the-century reproductions and village memorabilia.

 

Hand-crafted Treasures from the Trades

From grinding grain to making brooms, printing signs to building toys, Crossroads Village is buzzing with skilled men and women who demonstrate the trades that were so essential to village life one hundred years ago.

Many sell their wares right in the workshop, like the iron fireplace tools and dinner bells crafted by the village blacksmith, and the brooms and brushes for purchase at the Fenton Carriage Barn and Broom Shop.

You’ll find toy trains and puzzles made by our toy craftsmen at the Durant Toy Shop. And you can select original designs printed by our 1860s printing press in the Manwaring Building and Print Shop.

Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad are located just North of Flint. Follow I-475 North off I-75 or I-69 to Saginaw Street – Exit 13.

Click Here for Driving Directions

If you are coming from the I-475 exit 13, please go north on Saginaw Road to the corner of Saginaw and Stanley Road, turn right.  Take Stanley Road 2 miles to Bray Road.  Turn right on Bray Road; Village is 1/2 mile south on left-hand (east)side at 6140 Bray Road, Flint.  FREE PARKING!

For road construction in this area, please click here.

 

 

 

 

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Make Reservations Here:

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Take Home a Keepsake

Like the small towns of the last century, visitors to Crossroads Village will find a well-stocked general store and post office, plus shops that specialize in everything from candy and kitchen towels to pretty dishes and flour ground at the Village mill.

Shop at the General Store and Village Post Office

The shelves of the General Store reach nearly to its 12 ˝-foot ceiling, and they’re filled with many of the same kinds of goods that families purchased in this very store 100 years ago. You’ll find three kinds of flour ground right in the Village at the Atlas Gristmill, plus jams and jellies, candles, kitchen towels and pretty dishes. There’s also a big selection of toys and gifts for every budget, so you can bring a bit of Crossroads



Need postcards, stamps or disposable cameras? Stop next door at the post office and stock up on supplies. Cards and letters sent from here will be stamped with the Village’s own postmark!

Especially for Train Fans

The Train Station Gift Shop is a train-lover’s dream with its bins of train whistles, engineer caps, books and games!

 

Daily Programs

 

May 29 – September 6 ~ Step Back into Time at Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad, Step back into time and participate in an active village where you can help with chores, learn traditional crafting skills and trades, and play the old fashioned way!  There is so much for the entire family to do! Registration is not required.  Time:  10 am to 5 pm.  Cost: Village admission.  Contact Kathi Whitcomb with inquiries:  810-736-7100 ext. 856.

 

May 29 – September 6 ~ Daily Chores, Lend a hand with the following chores: butter churning, sewing, gardening, clothes washing, and more!  Registration is not required.  Time: 10 am to 5 pm.  Cost:  Village admission.  Contact Kathi Whitcomb with inquiries:  810-736-7100 ext. 856.

 

May 29 – September 6 ~ Stanley School Program, Join us for some old fashioned classroom learning!  Take part in letter writing for the pony express, participate in one of two classes throughout the day, or join in for some recess fun!  Registration is not required.  Time:  various times throughout the day.  Cost:  Village admission.  Contact Kathi Whitcomb with inquiries:  810-736-7100 ext. 856.

 

May 29 – September 6 ~ Farm Life, See how the farm life was in the 1800’s by visiting Crossroads Village farm house.  Watch the farmers milk the cow, feed the chickens, wash clothes, help with the gardening, and learn about butterflies and hummingbirds.  Registration is not required.  Time: 10 am to 5 pm.  Cost:  Village admission.  Contact Kathi Whitcomb with inquiries:  810-736-7100 ext. 856.

 

May 29 – September 6 ~ Children’s Crafts, Children of all ages are invited to join us at the Stanley School to participate and enjoy crafts. Stop in and see what we are up to this week. All yours to take home!  Registration is not required.  Time: 10 am to 5 pm.  Cost:  Village admission.  Contact Kathi Whitcomb with inquiries:  810-736-7100 ext. 856.

 

May 29 – September 6 ~ Pony Express, ”The mail must go through” is the motto of the original pony express.  Come to Crossroads Village and see our pony express travel through the village.  Write letters at the school house to any one in the village; drop it off at the General store, and everyday at 3:30 pm, watch for River or Rain, our miniature horses deliver mail, the Crossroads Village Pony Express way. Delivery of Village mail is subject to change. Registration is not required.  Time: 10 am to 5 pm.  Cost:  Village admission.  Contact Kathi Whitcomb with inquiries:  810-736-7100 ext. 856.

 

Always Family Friendly!
2010 Summer Season May 29-September 6, 2010

Wednesday thru Sunday & Holidays - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

6140 Bray Rd., Flint, MI 48505


One Hundred Acres,
One Hundred Years of History!

The Attica Hotel at Crossroads Village

Imagine a village where the air smells like fresh pressed-apples and wheat straw and where a rocking chair on a porch seems the perfect place to linger on a warm summer morning.

Close your eyes and feel the smooth-worn wooden sidewalks that lead past Mrs. Eldridge’s house where cookies cool in the open window. Hear the hammer of the blacksmith making fireplace tools. Listen for the music of the C.W. Parker Carousel and the laughter of children playing outside the school house.

 

This is life as it was a century ago in the small towns scattered across Michigan, a time of ice cream socials, general stores and checkers at the barber shop. And this is Crossroads Village today — 35 historic homes, barns, shops and trades buildings moved from around Genesee County to this quiet clearing at the edge of Mott Lake where, once again, they play a vital role in village activities.

Sit a spell and listen to the musicians gathered on the porch of the Attica Hotel. Catch a live variety show at the opera house.  Enjoy the view from the amazing C.W. Parker Superior Wheel, and celebrate its 100th birthday!

Come spend the day at Crossroads Village and discover why our grandparents loved to talk about the good old days!

 


It is Morning in Crossroads Village

Tiny plumes of smoke rise from the boiler at the Master Cider Mill and drift silently over the wooden walks and dewy grass. Down the street, a woman walks among her gardens gathering flowers in her apron and waves to the gentlemen at the sawmill, who are turning huge logs into planks. There’s a game of checkers just starting at the barbershop, and musicians backstage at the opera house are tuning up their voices for the first show of the day.

 

The century-old grinding stones at the Atlas Mill are turning wheat into flour for the day’s bread, while a little girl learns to crochet and her mother admires a hand-made quilt. Eager passengers slide onto their seats in the wooden coaches of the Huckleberry Railroad as the conductor calls out, “All aboard!”

 

Most of the 35 buildings here were moved – brick, board and stone – to this magical place at the edge of Mott Lake. Many came from just a few miles away. In this peaceful setting, they have been preserved, furnished and put back into use, so you can experience first-hand what life was like in a small village in Michigan in the late 1800

All Aboard!

Climb aboard the Huckleberry Railroad for a scenic 40-minute ride through woods and meadows and alongside beautiful Mott Lake, and experience the "modern" way travelers crossed the country one hundred years ago!


The narrow-gauge railroad's collection of cars includes 11 original and replica wooden coaches plus a classic red wooden caboose.  And its all pulled by two restored coal-fired locomotives built by Baldwin Locomotive Works.  Engine #464 was nicknamed the Mud Hen and originally carried miners to Colorado on their quest for gold and silver.

 

Old Timers love to tell the story of the huckleberries that grew alongside the track and how passengers could jump off the slowly-moving train, pick a handful of berries and hop back aboard.

Around and Around You Go! Wheeeee...

Pick your pony and hold on tight! This herd of handsome hand-painted wooden horses and exotic dragon chariot will carry you back to a time when small-town audiences eagerly awaited the arrival of traveling shows, and the familiar tunes of a band organ filled the air on warm summer nights. Come experience the same exciting ride on this Charles W. Parker carousel that has been delighting families since 1912.

 

This is the only place in the world where you’ll find two side-by-side Charles W. Parker amusement rides restored and ready for you to enjoy! Step onto the 1912 carousel and hold on tight! Its herd of handsome hand-painted wooden horses will carry you back to a time when the familiar tunes of a band organ were carried into town on the slightest breeze and signaled one of the most exciting events of the summer…the traveling show had arrived! Just next door, step into a gondola on Parker’s 1910 “Superior Wheel” for a breathtaking treetops view of Mott Lake and Crossroads Village.

Your little ones will enjoy old fashioned fun when they ride the Mott Lake Flyer, Venetian swings and pony carts. These colorful vintage amusements offer plenty of pint-sized pleasure!

 


Spend a whole day in the Village

 

Talk with the villagers who run the shops, make the brooms, grind the grains, tend the gardens, sweep the porches, press the apples and do scores of daily chores that were all part of village life in the 1800s.  Lend a hand and learn new skills.  Turn cream into butter and help plant a 19th century garden.

 

Theater buffs, you'll enjoy the 20-minute magic show presented several times daily at the Colwell Opera House and included with your admission!

 

Work Alongside the Tradespeople

Try your hand at turning cream into butter. Draw water from a hand pump so it can be used to wash clothes and water flowers. Be a printer’s apprentice and set type on the hand press. Work with wood that was cut at the Village lumber mill.

 

Kids Love Our History Programs

The Village offers daily summer programs just for kids so they can see, touch and taste history and learn about the lives of pioneer children.

The Genesee Belle at Crossroads Village

The Genesee Belle

There’s a surprise waiting for you at the Village dock…the beautiful Genesee Belle! She’s a replica of the paddlewheel riverboats so popular during Mark Twain’s time, and you’re invited on board for a 45- minute excursion around Mott Lake throughout the summer and on weekends during Ghosts and Goodies in October.

You’ll enjoy cool breezes and scenic views of Bluebell Beach and the wooded shoreline. It’s likely you’ll spot great blue herons and other wildlife that call this area home. The Belle also offers lunch and evening cruises in the summer, and she can be chartered for meetings and special occasions. Many a happy couple has been married on the Belle! The lower level is enclosed and climate controlled for your comfort. For more information call the reservation office at 800-648-PARK , ext. 6.
or click here.

Summer Train Departures:
May 29 - 31 and from June 5 - September 6, 2010:
Weekdays (Wed, Thurs, Fri): 12:00, 2:00, and 4:00
Weekends (Sat & Sun): 12:00, 2:00, and 4:00

On selected and busy days additional trains may be added.

Genesee Belle Village Departures:
Not available until May 29.
Departure times from May 29 to September 6, 2010:
1:00, 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 Departure times exclude Wednesdays in July:
Every Wednesday in July departures are: 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00.
July 4th there will not be a 1:00 departure due to the parade.
During out Day Out With Thomas Event there will be an additional departures at 11:00 and 12 noon.

The Genesee Belle does not depart from Crossroads Village on Mondays and Tuesdays since the Village is closed on these days.

 

Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad Brochure
View/Download

See book view

See a map to the Village

See a map
of the Village

Download a PDF guide to the Village buildings
You'll need the free Adobe Acrobat viewer. If you don't have it you can download it here

Download Acrobat here 

 

Authentic Reenactors at Crossroads Village

Welcome to another year of memory making!

It’s time to make plans to visit Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad, and we have so much to share with you!

This summer, help us celebrate the 100-year anniversary of C.W. Parker’s Superior Wheel. Take a ride on this historic treasure, then enjoy a spin on Parker’s colorful Carousel. I guarantee that both generate plenty of laughter and happiness. Many people visit the Village several times a year to take part in all the programs and activities that are offered. You’ll find a schedule of events in our brochure and more details here on our website. If you plan to visit more than once, take advantage of big savings by purchasing an Annual Pass. We think it’s the best value in history!

If you have young children or consider yourself young at heart, you’ll be happy to know that Thomas the Tank Engine™ will return to Crossroads Village this August for the Celebration Tour.

After a brief break at the end of summer, we will welcome you back in October for a month of Halloween festivities, and we’ll close out the year surrounding you with thousands of sparkling lights as the Village celebrates Christmas at Crossroads Holiday Magic.

Take time to step back and experience Genesee County history. Enjoy the beauty, the peacefulness and the traditions of life in the 1800s. We look forward to seeing you at Crossroads Village!

Joe Krapohl
President,
Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission


The Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission has taken great care to enhance the accessibility of Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad with its dirt roads and uneven boardwalks by offering free of charge, on a first come, first serve bases, a limited supply of conventional (non-electric) wheelchairs. If a wheelchair is needed it is recommended that you bring your own especially on busy weekends.

Handicap Accessible

 

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Genesee County Parks & Recreation Commission

For Information and Reservations call:
1-800-648-PARK or 810-736-7100
(extension 6 for reservations)
Email: Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission  Fax: 810-736-7220
We accept all major credit cards.

Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission
5045 Stanley Road    Flint, Michigan   48506


Hours, admission rates and programs are subject to change