• Culture & History
• Dining & Entertainment
• Outdoor Activities & Fishing

• Beaches, Parks & Nature
• City of Manistee
• Villages & Small Towns

• Kaleva
• Marilla
• Onekama
• Wellston

Arcadia

Arcadia is a great place to spend some quality time. Explore the early days on your tour of the Arcadia Historical Museum, have a picnic in the park, or play at the beach. Arcadia's "Sunset Station" offers miles of natural beach area for family fun and extraordinary views. Come, discover Arcadia... you may decide to stay a little longer.
Arcadia Township (formerly known as Starkeville) was founded in 1870 by Henry Starke who owned approximately 2,000 acres of land in northern Manistee County. Agriculture was the major industry including farming, dairy products and maple sugar. Lumber boomed by 1880 with major developments to follow. Among these were a post office and the Arcadia and Betsey River Railway. During this period lots were developed in the Village of Arcadia and could be purchased for $25. (Find on the map.)

Onekama

From glistening Portage Lake to sparkling Lake Michigan, this tranquil two-lake town offers a variety of recreational opportunities. The village consists of many prospering businesses including restaurants, lodging facilities, retail stores and a marina. The area is a favorite recreational location for many travelers. Summertime offers great outdoor opportunities with charter boat fishing, boating, swimming, windsurfing, and sunbathing. The fall season offers hunting, hiking and biking. Winter fun continues with ice fishing on Portage Lake, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and skiing.
In 1845, Adam Stronach built a lumber mill on the channel between Lake Michigan and Portage Lake. Onekama (the Indian name for Portage) was settled and soon had two major railroads; the Manistee and the Northwestern. Onekama reached village status in 1891 and was considered a favorite spot for tourism in the early 1900s. (Find on the map.)

Bear Lake

Situated on the shore of its namesake lake, Bear Lake, with shopping in the village and public access nearby, is a great getaway for the traveler looking for relaxation in a peaceful, small town setting. Visitors and locals are intrigued by this beautiful area. With a legendary 6–7 foot sturgeon allegedly living in Bear Lake, this village is full of surprises. Maybe you can spot "The Sturgeon General" during your visit!
This area was first settled by Russell Smith in 1863. It was sold to George W. Hopkins in 1873, and developed as a service community. Logging and the railroad played a significant role in the early days of this quiet village. (Find on the map.)

Kaleva

Kaleva dates back over one hundred years ago and was named for the Finnish national epic–the Kalevala. The Finnish heritage is still very strong and evident in the streetnames like Wuoksi, Kauko and Louhi. Make sure to see the Kaleva Bottle House Museum (made from soft drink bottles in the 1940s) and the Depot Railroad Museum. Kaleva continues to be a thriving community with many businesses, including a library, art gallery, telephone company, and other services. (Find on the map.)

Brethren

Brethren's soft spoken presence offers picnics in the park, fishing at Tippy Dam, year round outdoor activities and genuine down home friendliness. The first settlers to the area were well aware of the area's natural resources and genuine beauty. In 1904, Church of the Brethren settled the "middle belt of Manistee County" with about 500 supporters. Their heritage is still evident today with churches throughout Michigan and the United States. The scenic area holds much of the same allure as it did when the first settlers arrived—a small town with a big heart. (Find on the map.)

Wellston

Set in the Manistee National Forest and near to the Manistee River, Wellston is a popular site for hunting, fishing, camping and snowmobiling—a nature lover's paradise. Don't forget to visit Tippy Dam, Cooley Bridge or tour the National Forest. The village includes a variety of businesses, including a post office, bank, fire department, lodging facilities, a smokehouse, restaurants, and stores.
Real estate marketing outfits like Michigan Land Sales, offered free vacations to Wellston in 1909 to promote settlement, and many pioneers took them up on the complimentary ride from Chicago. The village name, legend says, originates with a man named "Wells" who developed this location and ran a hotel. (Find on the map.)

Copemish

A small, historical community of about 100 permanent residents and a few businesses. The Copemish Flea Market is a major attraction and bargain lovers dream. Find that perfect treasure and a friendly smile on your to Copemish and throughout Manistee County.
Nicknamed "Beech City," was the first incorporated village in Manistee County. Although there were no horses (a two day walk to the grocery store) and plenty of agricultural problems, this area began to boom with the lumber industry. With hotels, stores and 3 major railroads, Copemish grew in numbers to reach about 1000 people between the years of 1888 and 1891. (Find on the map.)

Marilla

It is worth the drive to this simple, country town to spend the day, enjoying its pristine beauty and historical value. A once prosperous Wells Fargo stop-over during the logging era, Marilla is now a very quiet, rural community. You can explore Marilla's history by touring the Marilla Historical Museum which consistes of a series of period buildings filled with household, agricultural and railroad artifacts.
In the early stages of Marilla's development, logging and agriculture played key roles. Around 1904 the community enjoyed the luxury of four stores, the railroad, post office, and a church. (Find on the map.)

Dublin

The Dublin community is made up of several businesses, residential areas and is surrounded by the Manistee National Forest. The Central Europeans were some of the first people to arrive in this area. The Chicago and West Michigan railroads had a very difficult time with a particular hill in Dublin and had to keep an extra train on hand to conquer this obstacle. This "doubling" of trains is how this area received its name. Today, Dublin boasts a general store, gas station, laundromat, real estate office and Sand Lake Recreation Area; situated in an all-season wonderland full of outdoor activities. (Find on the map.)