We found the sawmill while driving along the coast from Cheboygan. We decided to stop as it said it was historic site and place to visit. This place was great! The tour guide was just very enthusiastic and really into milling. She was able to explain everything and it was quite fascinating to see. Well worth the price of the admission tickets. Definitely a must do when in this area. read more

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This is a historic park on route 23 - about 5-10 minutes drive SE of Mackinaw City. There are a handful of structures restored from the 1800s. The main focal point is a water powered sawmill that existed there - where one can see the engineering skills of the day. This was the first industrial-like setup of the time. There are scheduled demonstrations run by people who help out at the park to first explain the wood cutting, first the manual effort, then the new way. For our tour, the demonstrator asked for a small child to help - making it interactive in a way. Beyond the tour there are hiking trails - complete through the woods, around, up and down hills and around ponds. For $9 per person additional, there is an adventure tour - great for older kids. Includes ziplining, treetop walking, rock climbing, and a view from the tower. Be prepared though, we showed up at 3:30 (the adventure tours are on the hour) and the last tour (5:00) was already sold out. Very shaded throughout, well maintained... allow 90 minutes without the adventure tour unless you get ambitious and do hiking trails... Allow 2.5 hours otherwise (either hiking or adventure tour). read more

Dousman’s Mill - Sawing demonstration - Parks Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

One zip line, one canopy bridge walk, one rock wall. A few cleared trails to walk! A view from discovery tower that over looks Mackinac straits!! read more

Dousman’s Mill - View from discovery tower - Parks Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

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Great experience and nature tips. For me, this was the highlight of Mackinaw city. You get to see a water powered sawmill at work. You get to go on a zip line, etc. Be warned that here in Mackinaw city there are several unapologetic people wearing unapologetic political shirts that made us, who look darker than most, feel quite uncomfortable. However you get past that and this was a great place. read more

We had a good time here. There is a welcome building/gift shop where you purchase your admission tickets. They have coffee and cold drinks for sale. The park offers an educational demonstration of the historic sawmill. It was very interesting. For an extra fee you can purchase the guided adventure tour which includes the rock climbing wall, a walk across a suspension foot bridge and a zip line. It's a nice place to take a nature walk along the paths and boardwalks. There is a small playground for little kids. There is a 50 foot tower that the rock climbing wall is attached to. You can climb the stairs of this tower to the observation deck on top and there is a beautiful view of there. You can see Mackinac Bridge on a clear day. We enjoyed our visit very much. read more

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Like the outdoors? Like adventure? Like history? This is a must Its a hidden gem. If you aren't going out to the island everyday and you are looking for something fun to do near Mackinac city, this is the place. This was a lot of fun. They have rock climbing, zip lining, hiking, and saw mill demonstrations. Take a day to totally enjoy this park! The people here are so nice a d very knowlegable. I directly was in contact with two for longer than just a few minute. One was "Mr. Ed". He was the man who did the saw mill demonstration. He was very nice and you can tell that be truly wants to be there. Next was bri. She was the one who led our tour! She was very nice and seemed very passionate aboit this place I this k its worth every penny to come here. read more

Great place to get away for the day with kids! Plan ahead to find out what times they run the Mill. The hiking paths were great, clean and easy to use. read more

Dousman’s Mill - Parks Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

Driving down the highway most people would just pass this historic place right on by. I am so glad we stopped in. Free parking and entry fee very reasonable. Friendly and helpful staff explained the layout of the facility. We made it to the outdoor theatre and was met by a very nice older man who told the story behind the mill and demonstrated the workings. It was well done and very fascinating. A quick stop but well worth it!!! read more

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Located just down the street from mill creek campground. This is a great little trip to take your kids too. There is a small fee to get in plus another fee for the tour which includes zip lining and rock wall climbing. Clean, has a picnic area and demonstrations of mill work. read more

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Outside of Mackinaw Michigan. A historic park featuring a saw mill. We sat in on the demonstration. Very interesting on how the saw mills were operated at the turn of the century. There is a large viewing tower. I suggest that you do this at the beginning of your visit. A great view of the Mackinaw Bridge and the island. You can see the Grand Hotel. There are trails for walking. For an additional cost, climbing wall, rope bridge and a zip line. Dog friendly. A great place to spend an afternoon. read more

So sounds like a great time. For 3 people to get in and zip line was $55. It was a short walk with some talk about some plants and limestone. Than a 30 second zip line. It's literally one slid and done. The climbing wall was not open, no saw mill demonstration. Very very over priced for what we got read more

Well done, interesting presentations on the sawmill and water wheels. Great nature adventure with zip lines. Easy access for kids, not crowded. Wonderful highlight. read more

Our whole family thoroughly enjoyed our visit to this Michigan State Park. The zip line is great for kids and the demonstration of the historic Sawmill was very educational and entertaining. It is wonderful that the state of Michigan went to so much trouble to restore and re-create this historic place. Rob, who demonstrated the sawmill did a marvelous job. Visiting the museum after the demonstration made it even better. read more

Dousman’s Mill - Rob demonstrates the sawmill at the old mill state park - Parks Near Me - Mackinaw City, Michigan

Staff is helpful, knowledgable and nice. Visitor center is well done with displays on Michigan wildlife. Kids LOVED the adventure park: zip line, rock wall, and suspension bridge. Worth the stop! read more

Great place for all ages! The hiking trails are well maintained, the staff is extremely knowledgeable, and the demonstrations are really neat and historical. We were able to watch a saw mill being used, hike 30 minutes, and learn about the time period. read more

We came here as a group with about 50 kids. The reservation was done well ahead of time. We are on a very tight time schedule. Apparently, they booked a huge group right before us..we were supposed to leave here at 4:30. It's now 4:35 and our kids still haven't zip lined yet. We've been here since 2. We have a 4.5 hour drive to get home. They've done NOTHING to make up for their obvious lack of planning. This is absolutely terrible. Definitely won't come back. read more

Come check us out. Mill Creek is one of those places that most people don't know about but want to bring their family's back to. Come, have a great time and stop by the Mill and say HELLO. Yours Truly - Mr Ed read more

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We really enjoyed our morning here! We toured the Mill, which was interesting. Ed was very knowledgeable and excited to give the live demonstration. We did the adventure tour, which also was fun. We also walked on the trails in the woods. It is a great place to bring kids, and I recommend it for anyone looking for something to do near mackinaw city. The park was very clean and well-maintained. read more

Love! Very well kept historic site, modeled after original sawmill site. Gorgeous location - trees and views everywhere. Went there with family for the zip line, which was a blast. Appreciated the explicit signs for weight requirements (50 lb - 250 lbs only). Stayed for the demonstration explaining the history of milling. Actors really knowledgeable and their passion comes across. I went incompletely disinterested in sawmills, and left knowing the different kinds of water wheels and how they work. Thank you kids water wheel center and mini water park area! read more