This year has been mostly void of travel so I have spent more time reminiscing about amazing sunrises on the road and charmed days of discovery. Recently, my brain has been on a loop of Michigan fun with my cousin Sherrie a few years ago.
That trip was defined by gorgeous sunsets, classic cars, and a willingness to go where the wind blew. I wrote about many of our adventures but realized this week that I never told you about one very special place we visited.
Have you heard of the Mushroom Houses of Charlevoix, Michigan?
Charlevoix is a charming lakeside town of about 3,000 that benefits from the many visitors who wish for a quiet vacation on Lake Michigan.
Once upon a time, one of those residents was a self taught architect named Earl Young who designed and built what are now referred to as “Mushroom Houses.”
These whimsical homes are built of native stone with sort of wavy rooflines are reminiscent of the cap of a mushroom. They look a little like they just grew out of the ground and are some of the most picturesque storybook cottages you’ve ever seen.
We didn’t see them all but did see several during our morning walk around the neighborhood. There are about two dozen in total so we just parked the car and went for a stroll.
Mind you, these are private residences but the neighborhood is accustomed to folks on organized tours and those of us armed with self guided tour maps roaming around to appreciate the uniqueness of their homes.
Because they are low to the ground, these houses do look a little like they grew out of a hill rather than dominate the land like modern homes tend to do. I appreciate the way they become part of the landscape and they remind me a little of hobbit houses for this reason.
According to the Charlevoix Historical Society, they were built by Earl Young and the endeavor began with a home he built for himself.
Charlevoix’s “Master Builder in Stone” Earl Young was born March 31, 1889, in Mancelona, Michigan and moved to Charlevoix with his family at age 11. An insurance and real estate agent by trade, this self-taught builder began his craft in 1919. His first project was his personal home located on Park Avenue. He would continue to build for the next fifty years, completing 26 residential and 4 commercial properties, most of which remain today.
My desire to respect the privacy of the residents outweighed my desire to snap a bunch of photos but I did get some. Honestly though, I am dying to see inside one and desperately hope it feels as much like a gnome’s home on the inside as it does from the street.
This was about the extent of our visit to Charlevoix other than a stop at the public beach and a chat with an employee at the thrift store. We accessed the beach by walking down these rustic steps.
We did agree the town would be a nice place to return to for a lemonade and a rest along the shore. Some of the Mushroom Houses and other neighborhood homes were available on Airbnb at the time and it seems to be like a delightful place for a rest with a stack of books and nowhere to be. Although, we all know this is not how I travel so it’s foolish to think I would stop to rest here any better than I do other places when on a trip.
Charlevoix is less than thirty minutes from Petoskey, another town that I wrote about a good bit and would return to in a heartbeat. Honestly, that whole area is gorgeous and there’s a lot to do as well as friendly people to meet. Sleeping Bear Dunes was a favorite stop. We also went up to Mackinaw Island and came home through Frankenmuth. We loved it all. Use the search bar to find some of those stories.
Perhaps I’ll make it back someday!
Visit the Make the Journey Fun Facebook page to see a few more pictures from the neighborhood.
