Conway, Michigan is an unincorporated community in southeastern Emmet County, which is in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula.
Newly organized as a census-designated place in 2010, the community is in southeastern Little Traverse Township, although a small portion of the CDP extends into Bear Creek Township to the south.
Conway is at the northwestern and western shores of Crooked Lake, and just east of Round Lake, both of which are part of the Inland Waterway, Michigan's longest chain of lakes connected by rivers and other navigable waterways, which runs through Pickerel Lake and Crooked Lake, the Crooked River, Burt Lake, the Indian River, Mullett Lake, and the Cheboygan River, which connects to Lake Huron. Although Little Traverse Bay is only about a mile from Round Lake, the Inland Waterway does not connect to Lake Michigan. Around 4,000 years ago, sand dunes rose up around the area where Petoskey State Park now is, west of Round Lake, cutting off the connection. Used by Native Americans to avoid the strong waves around Waugoshance Point on Lake Michigan, Native American encampments were found all along the Inland Waterway.
Crooked Lake uses locks to connect Crooked Lake with Lake Huron at Cheboygan. A remnant of the post-glacial Lake Nipissing, Crooked Lake is a 2,300-acre body of water, with a maximum depth of fifty feet. It is adjacent to Pickerel Lake, to which it is connected by a channel. Fishermen take northern pike and walleye out of Crooked Lake.
The unincorporated community of Oden is situated east of Conway, on the northern shores of the lake.
The North Country National Scenic Trail, also known as the North Country Trail or NCT, is a 4,600-mile footpath from Middlebury in central Vermont to Lake Sakakawea State Park in central North Dakota, connecting the Long Trail and the Appalachian Trail with the Lewis and Clark Trail. As the NCT passes through Conway, it parallels the Hiawatha Trail, a paved bike trail that begins in Conway and ends at M-119 in Petoskey.
The chief route to and through Conway is US-31, which forms the eastern boundaries of the CDP in the south, then follows the lakeshore along the northern shores of Crooked Lake, turning northeast at Ponshewaing, an unincorporated community east of Oden. Other routes include North Conway Road, West Conway Road, Graham Road, and Powell Road. The unincorporated community of Oden is 2.1 miles east-northeast, Ponshewaing is 3.1 miles east-northeast, and Menonaqua Beach is 3.4 miles west, while Chalet Estates, a mobile home park, is 2.4 miles to the south. The city of Petoskey is 6.1 miles southwest, Harbor Springs is 6.6 miles west, and the village of Littlefield is 6.1 miles to the east.
It is uncertain who the first European-American settlers were, or when they came, but a family by the name of Bauer built a cottage on Crooked Lake, just north of the Iduna Creek, sometime in the 1850s. Originally, the settlement was known for the lake, as Crooked Lake. Built in 1870, the McFarlane Sawmill operated until 1907.
The name of the settlement was changed to Dodge's Landing in 1881, in honor of the Dodge family, who had contributed land for a church and school. However, when a post office was established on May 18, 1882, it was named Conway, in honor of Conway Dodge. Horace C. Miller was the first postmaster. That same year, the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad established a station in Conway.
The Lake Home Hotel was opened along Graham Road by John Hastings in the late 1880s, and the Hiawatha Hotel was built in 1900 for summer guests. Originally known as the Hiawatha Tavern, the name had to be changed during Prohibition, and later became the Hiawatha House. The Inland House was opened in 1879 by Merritt Blackmer. David Hastings bought it in 1908, enlarged it to three floors, added a boathouse, and renamed it as the Conway Inn. Under new management in 1914, it was renamed the Inland House.
With a year-round population of just over two hundred, Conway serves a larger summer population in the surrounding area.
The focus of this category is on the community of Conway, Michigan. Appropriate resources include websites representing the village itself, official or unofficial, as well as any individuals, businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, and events within the defined area of the CDP or the area served by the Conway post office.
Recommended Resources
Augustine Center Retreat House
The Roman Catholic retreat house may be available to individuals and groups for ongoing formation, education, and spirituality. Situated in Conway, Michigan, on the northern border of Petoskey, scheduled retreat opportunities are posted to the site, along with a gallery of photographs, an overview of the accommodations, rates, a telephone number, email address, and a contact form. Contributions and sponsorship levels and opportunities are available.
https://augustinecenter.weebly.com/
Ciderpress Club at Hearthside Grove
Located within the Hearthside Grover motorcoach resort south of Conway, Michigan, the private club is available exclusively to members and their guests, with owners at Hearthside Grove being eligible to join, and most rental lots at Hearthside Grove include club access because the majority of owners are club members. Activities and events are highlighted, along with a gallery of photographs, membership policies and a membership application, and a blog.
https://www.ciderpressclub.com/
With three locations in the Petoskey and Conway area, the storage business is headquartered in Conway, on the corner of US-31 North and Rosada Street, across from Crooked Lake, where its main office Uhaul truck rentals and a self-storage facility are located. Each of its locations is posted, with its office hours, telephone number, and a map showing its location in Conway. Auction schedules are posted, and self-storage tips are presented on the site.
https://conwaystorageonline.com/
Situated just south of the Conway, Michigan census-designated area, Hearthside Grove began as a KOA campground in the early 1990s. Still operated by the same family, the facility has evolved into a luxury motorcoach resort that includes a pool, hot tub, tennis and pickleball courts, a dog run, and a clubhouse with a library, gym, bathroom, laundry room, and common space. Lot rentals, rental rates, and guidelines are posted, along with lot sales, and a site plan.
https://www.hearthsidegrove.com/
Open daily, the restaurant is located on US-31 North in Conway, Michigan. Opened in 2010, the Parks Place Cafe is one of several restaurants to have been housed at this location overlooking Crooked Lake. Offering indoor dining and an outdoor patio, the restaurant is open from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm every day, and offers take-out services during business hours. Directions, a map showing its location, and a profile of the business are offered, along with photos.
https://parksplacecafe.wixsite.com/conway
