Situated along southern and southeastern Burt Lake, as well as southwestern Mullett Lake, at the area where the Sturgeon River flows into Burt Lake, and where the Indian River flows out of Burt Lake into Mullett Lake, the community of Indian River, Michigan is in eastern Tuscarora Township, Cheboygan County, in the northern Lower Peninsula.
Although Indian River is an unincorporated community, without official boundaries, it has been defined as a census-designated place (CDP) by the U.S. Census Bureau, which had set boundaries for the purpose of the census, although these boundaries may not correspond with the area that local consider being part of Indian River.
The CDP boundaries designate the eastern half of Tuscarora Township as Indian River, while the western part of the township includes the community of Burt Lake, in the lower west part of the lake by that name.
Indian River is located in the center of the Inland Water Route, a 38-mile chain of lakes and rivers. The Indian River flows through the center of the CDP between Burt Lake and Mullett Lake, while the Sturgeon River flows north from the southern part of the CDP north, joining the Indian River as it flows into Mullett Lake.
I-75 runs roughly north-south through the center of the CDP, intersecting M-68. M-27, which used to be US-27, runs largely parallel to I-75, offering an indirect alternative to I-75 on its approach to the Mackinac Bridge, which joins Michigan's Lower and Upper peninsulas. The concentration of development in Indian River is along the southeastern shores of Burt Lake, and Burt Lake State Park is just south and southwest of there.
Cities and villages within twenty miles of Indian River include Wolverine, Alanson, Pellston, Cheboygan, Petoskey, and Onaway, while the unincorporated communities of Topinabee, Burt Lake, and Afton are within ten miles. Indian River is about thirty miles south of the Straits of Mackinac and the Mackinac Bridge.
Visitors to the community may notice the 32-foot sculpture of a sturgeon at the intersection of South Straits Highway and M-68. Created by Tom Moran, the sculpture was paid for through a fundraising drive by the Burt Lake Preservation Association. The community is also home to the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods, billed as the world's largest crucifix, adjacent to Burt Lake State Park.
The Indian River Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course near the center of the CDP.
This portion of Tuscarora Township was first settled by David Smith, Jackson Corey, S.P. Hayes, M.A. McHenry, and John B. Clark in 1876. Speculating that the Mackinaw Division of the Michigan Central Railroad would cross the river at this point, McHenry, along with Floyd E. Martin, purchased 152 acres from Clark in 1878, planning a townsite on a portion of this property.
McHenry had built a home on the south side of the river, and later operated a hotel there. He opened a general store in 1879. Martin hired Oliver S. Heyden to survey the townsite in 1879, and the plat was recorded the following year, although the community was never incorporated. A post office was established on September 22, 1879, with Heyden as the first postmaster.
The railroad came through in 1881. Shortly afterward, both Darius Parsons and Daniel Keeney opened separate sawmills and shingle mills, and John Parker opened a mill on Burt Lake. A school and a Methodist Episcopal Church were built in 1881.
In the early years of the community, most visitors came by steamboat. Around the turn of the 20th century, more than thirty-two steamboats carried people, mail, and supplies to Indian River, and various forest products were shipped from the community.
After the lumbering industry declined in the early 1900s, the area lost population for a time. More recently, it has become a resort community.
The focus of this category is on the community of Indian River, Michigan. Websites representing topics relating to the community, or to any businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, or events, are appropriate topics for this guide.
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Recommended Resources
Offering outdoor experiences for guest of all ages and skill levels for more than three decades, Big Bear Adventures is located in the Indian River, Michigan resort region, and offers a variety of activities, including paddling the Sturgeon River through canoe, kayak, raft, or tube trips, an 18-hole golf course, a ropes challenge course, and bumper boats, as well as guided winter raft trips, ski and snowshoe rentals. Group packages and lodging accommodations are also available.
https://bigbearadventures.com/
The ice cream and candy shop in Indian River, Michigan creates its chocolates by hand rather than by machine. Customers may stop by the shop for a full line of products, although an online shopping area offers gift baskets, various chocolate candies, jams, syrup, local honey, and other items that may be purchased online, including fundraising items. Its shipping policies, processing, and payment options are posted, and local retail shops that carry its products are also acknowledged.
https://drostschocolates.com/
Located along South Straits Highway in downtown Indian River, Michigan, the public library is part of the Tuscarora Township Municipal building. Its hours of operation, library board meeting schedules, library policies, a strategic plan, and employment opportunities are published on the site. Also included is a calendar of events, including its summer reading programs, library services, volunteer opportunities, and its Friends of the Library organization, as well as contacts.
https://www.indianriverlibrary.org/
Indian River Chamber of Commerce
Created to encourage economic development, promote and preserve the natural resources, and foster equitable principles in business within the Indian River, Michigan community. Chamber contacts, its office address, and mailing address are posted, and a member directory is included. Community profiles for Indian River, Topinabee, and Wolverine are featured, along with the Inland Waterway, and a relocation guide is included. A membership application and calendar of events are available.
http://irchamber.com/
The annual event grew out of a 1987 fundraising event to save and renovate the historic St. Mary's Church in Indian River, Michigan, which was in disrepair by the 1970s and the 1980s. This was accomplished within three years, but one of the campaign initiatives, known as the Sundays in the Summer concert series, had become very popular, and the Indian River Festival Association was formed in 1996 to sponsor the event. The festival is featured, along with schedules, and contacts.
https://indianriverfestival.com/
Situated on Apple Blossom Road, the Indian River, Michigan marina is an authorized Manitou, Mercury, Evinrude, and Suzuki dealership serving all of the north Lower Peninsula. Offering rental boats and a rental house with a complimentary marina slip, as well as new and previously owned sales of boats and marine equipment, which may be viewed here, including promotional offers and financing. Its service and maintenance department, storage, slips, the ship store, and marina are highlighted.
https://www.indianrivermarina.com/
Allowing for the boarding of dogs and cats, the pet boarding facility is located along South Straits Highway in Indian River, Michigan. A photographic tour of the facilities is available online, its staff is introduced, and its boarding, daycare, bathing, self-wash pet wash, and veterinary care are highlighted. Employment opportunities are posted, and a new client form may be downloaded from the site, and stays may be scheduled online. Live pet cams are available for clients.
https://indianriverpetresort.com/
Maintained by the Straitsland Resorter, the site offers a guide to Indian River, Michigan. Its features a profile of the community, and highlights area attractions, outdoor recreational opportunities, and local businesses, with information about each, including addresses, schedules, contacts, and web addresses, when applicable. Also featured are local historic resources, the Indian River Area Library, Cooperation Park, and other local facilities, organizations, and programs.
http://www.indianrivermi.com/
Sold at various restaurants, stores, and other locations in Indian River, Wolverine, Topinabee, Mullett Lake, Cheboygan, Alanson, and Burt Lake, and by subscription, the weekly newspaper is headquartered in Indian River, Michigan. Subscription costs for Cheboygan County, elsewhere in the state, out of state, and electronically, are displayed, along with a mailing address, phone number, fax number, and email addresses. Selected articles from the edition, and a photo gallery, are displayed.
http://www.resorter.com/
