The End of the Road in Michigan

This episode of End of the Road in Michigan brings you two quick dives into forgotten corners of Michigan’s Thumb region.

First, we explore the Port Austin Air Force Station — a Cold War-era radar outpost built in response to the Korean War. For decades, it kept watch over the Great Lakes as part of the U.S. early warning defense system.

Then we head to Grindstone City, home to Michigan’s first major industry in the Thumb. This lakeside town once fueled the nation's appetite for sharpening stones and mill wheels — all carved from the rich stone beds of Lake Huron. Two stories. One region. A lot of history packed into ten minutes.

#PortAustin #GrindstoneCity #MichiganHistory #ColdWarRadar #ThumbRegion #EndOfTheRoadPodcast

The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

In this episode of End of the Road in Michigan, we revisit the catastrophic 1881 fire that swept through the Thumb region. Known as the Thumb Fire, it scorched more than one million acres, left towns like Bad Axe and Cass City in ruins, and marked the decline of the lumber era in Southeast Michigan. With debris left behind by aggressive logging and months of drought, the area became a powder keg. Hear how the inferno changed the landscape forever and how it shaped the future of forest management and rural life in Michigan.

This story is one of the most viewed on our website. 144 years ago, over a series of several days, a devastating fire overtook the Thumb. This story offers a synopsis of the days of that horrific event and its aftermath. Read the original story at 1881 Michigan Fire Forever Changed the Thumb.

The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

Michigan small towns have a special place in the hearts of their inhabitants. However, some towns slowly fade from their once-busy streets to a scene resembling a stopped clock. No longer functional, but certainly recognizable.

One such town is Huron City, Michigan. This is a spot where you can find original furniture, decorating a home as it looked over 150 years ago, and browse in a store as it looked and was stocked in the early to mid-1900s. It's a charming example of the late nineteenth-century architecture and provides fine samples of functional buildings of the period that are slowly being torn down.

#MichiganHistory #GreatLakesStories #CharityIsland #LighthouseLegends #PureMichigan

The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

This short story is about how Port Austin, a sleepy little town at the tip of Michigan’s Thumb, is transforming itself into a unique destination for Kayakers, Tourist, and Artists.

The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

The 20th President of the United States, James Garfield, did not build or own this 1850s landmark Inn in Port Austin, Michigan. 

Nestled in the village of Port Austin, the Garfield Inn has stood since the 1850s and played host to one of America’s presidents. Despite its name, James A. Garfield didn’t build or own the historic home—but he visited it often. The fascinating history of the Inn really resides with the family that built the house, Charles and Maria Learned.

This episode from End of the Road in Michigan digs into the real story behind the inn’s name, its early construction, and its role in the region’s past. Originally a private residence, the Garfield Inn has become a symbol of local heritage in Michigan’s Thumb. Hear how this iconic structure reflects the area’s early history and its ongoing preservation.

The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

In this episode of End of the Road in Michigan, we venture to the windswept waters of Saginaw Bay to uncover the strange and storied past of Charity Island. Once a remote refuge for lighthouse keepers, Native Americans, bootleggers, and birders, the island holds secrets that stretch back centuries.

There it sits — a lush tree-lined island on the horizon of Saginaw Bay. Big and Little Charity Islands are ten miles from the western shore of Michigan’s Thumb. Except for a couple of seasonal residents who live and host tours at the lighthouse keeper's house, the island is uninhabited.

These islands are considered by the US Fish and Wildlife Services to be one of the most remote and least visited islands in the Michigan Island National Wildlife Sanctuary. Visitors are few due to the boulder-filled and treacherous shallow waters that surround the island. Yet, Charity Island has a fascinating history with its isolation and remoteness in a busy Saginaw Bay.

What role did it play in navigation, survival, and even smuggling? And what makes it one of Michigan's most intriguing locations today?

Tune in for a 10-minute narrative that blends historical fact with Great Lakes folklore, brought to you from the tip of Michigan's Thumb.

Read the full story at Charity Island History Is Mysterious and Remote

The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

This episode features a remote adventure to Isle Royale National Park, a rugged island park in Lake Superior. Known for its isolation and unspoiled natural beauty, Isle Royale offers a wilderness experience. The story focuses on how active seniors can enjoy the park's trails, wildlife, and peace without roughing it like hardcore backpackers. If you're planning a unique Great Lakes getaway combining nature and history, this one’s for you.

Isle Royale is one of the most remote and isolated U.S. National Parks in the lower 48 states. Traveling here is not for the faint of heart; what it lacks for comfort, it makes up for in its natural beauty and innocence. It's rugged. That does not mean to say that if you're over the age of 50, you can’t venture to this pristine island in the northwestern edge of Lake Superior.

The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

When you think of island hopping, your mind turns to swaying palm trees, seaside tiki huts, and white sand beaches.

However, with over 35,000 islands, the salt- and shark-free Great Lakes offer some of the most inviting and unique chances for island exploration anywhere in the world. Some of these magnificent island destinations are only accessible by boat or floatplane, while others offer regularly scheduled ferry services. Here are the choice island destinations above and beyond Michigan’s famous Mackinac Island.

The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications