|
|
|||||
|
|
<< USE OUR ENHANCED NAVIGATION MENUS |
|
||||
|
Imagine a place where the air smells
like fresh pressed apples and wheat straw, and you can count on the
train whistle to tell you when it’s time for lunch.
This is life as it was a century ago
in the small towns scattered across Genesee County, a time of ice
cream socials, general stores and herb gardens by the kitchen door.
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 have an important role in village
activities.
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!
It’s an authentic journey back to a
time when huckleberries grew alongside the track and the coaches,
with their etched glass and leather seats, offered a bit of elegance
for travelers as they rolled through the countryside. Engine #464 was nicknamed the Mud Hen and originally carried miners to Colorado on their quest for gold and silver. Old timers tell us that huckleberries grew alongside the track and as the train clattered slowly through the countryside, passengers could jump off, pick a handful of huckleberries and hop back on board! Just think... the seat you choose might be the very same one occupied on a warm summer evening a lifetime ago by a rowdy cowboy, a lavishly dressed society lady, or even a U.S. Marshal!
Around and Around
You Go! Wheeeee...
This is the only place in the world
where you’ll find two side-byside 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.
Work Alongside the Tradespeople
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. At 1:30 every day, we hold a costume contest for kids who come to Crossroads dressed as a villager.
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.
Summer
Train Departures:
Genesee
Belle Village Departures:
Download
See
a map
to
the Village
...and
enjoy quiet walks down old time country
streets? Do you like taking part in the daily
activities of years ago?
Then I have just the place
for you. It’s close to home, it’s affordable, and
you can come back time and time again and
forget about life’s little worries for a day.
Come visit historic
Crossroads Village and the
Huckleberry Railroad. Stroll the boardwalks
and visit the many historic buildings
carefully restored to
preserve a piece of our past. Visit
quaint shops, and catch our recently-launched
old time radio variety
show that broadcasts live from
the opera house.
As fall arrives enjoy our
month-long celebration
of Halloween. Then come see the sparkling
display of lights when we celebrate the 25th
anniversary of Christmas at Crossroads.
My family makes Crossroads Village a must visit
every year.
Folks
young and old keep returning
to experience life as it was in the late 1800s,
to explore a village delightfully
stuck in a time when
butter came from the neighbor’s cow and
grain for bread was ground at the local mill.
Laughter comes easily here, and entertainment is
as close as the checker board at the barbershop.
Want to
get away? Come to
Crossroads Village in the heart of
Genesee County, where you can
get away right away.
Consider purchasing an annual
pass for unlimited admission
to the Village. We think it’s
one of the best deals of the
decade!
Welcome. And Welcome back!
|
||||||
|
[
Home ] [ Park
Events ] [ Pavilion Rentals ] [
Site Map ] [ Brochures/Contact Us ] [
Annual Pass
] [ Maps ] [ Links
] [ Privacy Policy ]
For
Information and Reservations call:
Genesee
County Parks and Recreation Commission |
||||||
Flint, Michigan 48506