Oden, Michigan is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Littlefield Township, southeast Emmet County, in the northern part of the Lower Peninsula.
The CDP is situated along the north-central shores of Crooked Lake, adjacent to the Ponshewaing CDP to the east, and less than a mile from the CDP of Conway to the west. US-31 connects the three communities. Conway, Oden, and Ponshewaing were products of the historic railroad depots of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad, which transported residents and visitors to the lake.
The Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad opened its depot at Oden in 1882, and a post office was established within a store operated by Joseph M. Luce on September 13, 1882, with Mr. Luce as postmaster.
Oden was considered a resort center, and year-round residents were clustered along its Main Street, now US-31. Besides the lake, an early attraction was a 200-foot flowing Artesian well that was located across the street from the railroad depot. Over time, the pond filled with rubble, and the well was removed.
There were two bowling alleys on Main Street, one across from the post office. Known as the Oden Casino, it included slot machines, an icecream parlor, and an upstairs dance hall that was also used as a roller skating rink.
Connected by US-31 today, Conway, Oden, and Ponshewaing comprise a continuous strip of development along the highway and northern shore of the lake.
Cities and villages within twenty-five miles of Oden include Alanson, Petoskey, Harbor Springs, Pellston, Wolverine, Boyne City, Boyne Falls, and Charlevoix, while Bay View, Brutus, and Wequestonsing are unincorporated communities within ten miles of Oden.
Crooked Lake is a 2,300-acre body of water that is about 50 feet deep at its deepest point. It is the southwesternmost point of the recreational Inland Waterway, which uses locks to connect Crooked Lake with Lake Huron at Cheboygan.
The Oden Hatchery Visitor Center is located on the grounds of the Oden State Fish Hatchery, on the site of the original fish hatchery that dates back to 1921.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the unincorporated community and census-designated place known as Oden, Michigan.
Recommended Resources
Located along US-31 in Oden, Michigan, Northwood specializes in seafood, ribs, chicken, and steak. Open for dine-in and take-out orders, its breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus are published on the site, which highlights special offers, as well as its Happy Hour, which is available in the lounge every day from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. The restaurant's address, directions, and a map are featured, and its hours of operation, updates, and contacts are posted.
https://northwoodfamilyrestaurant.com/
Oden State Fish Hatchery & Visitor Center
Opened in 1920, the original hatchery was replaced by a new facility in 2002, currently raising brown trout and rainbow trout for inland and Great Lakes waters. Located in Oden, between Petoskey and Alanson, its visitor center is located along US-31, while the hatchery is on South Ayr Road. Its locations, hours of operation, and contacts are published on the site, and a list of areas of interest to the public are listed, along with historic and contemporary photographs.
https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79136_79236_80247_80504_82187---,00.html
Situated on Crooked Lake, in the western portion of Oden, Michigan, the Windjammer Marina connects with Michigan's Inland Waterway. Its location and telephone numbers for its store, sales, and service centers, as well as an employment application, and an online contact form are provided. Boat and watercraft sales and rentals are highlighted, and rentals may be booked online. Its services include commission sales, a boat launch, fuel, winterizing, indoor or outdoor storage, and others.
https://www.windjammermarina.com/
