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Open May 24 - September 1, 2008
(Click here for Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad Dates of Operation)
Wednesday thru Sunday & Holidays - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
6140 Bray Rd., Flint, MI 48505
Always Family Friendly!

It is Morning in Crossroads Village
 

Tiny plumes of smoke rise from the boiler at the Master Cider Mill and drift silently over the wooden walks and dewy grass. Down the street, a woman walks among her gardens gathering flowers in her apron and waves to the gentlemen at the sawmill, who are turning huge logs into planks. There’s a game of checkers just starting at the barbershop, and musicians backstage at the opera house are tuning up their voices for the first show of the day.
 

The century-old grinding stones at the Atlas Mill are turning wheat into flour for the day’s bread, while a little girl learns to crochet and her mother admires a hand-made quilt. Eager passengers slide onto their seats in the wooden coaches of the Huckleberry Railroad as the conductor calls out, “All aboard!”

Most of the 35 buildings here were moved – brick, board and stone – to this magical place at the edge of Mott Lake. Many came from just a few miles away. In this peaceful setting, they have been preserved, furnished and put back into use, so you can experience first-hand what life was like in a small village in Michigan in the late 1800

All Aboard!

Experience the “modern” way travelers moved across the county and the country in the early 1900s when you climb aboard the narrow gauge Huckleberry Railroad. The 40 minute ride takes you through scenic woods and meadows and alongside beautiful Mott Lake.

It’s an authentic journey back to a time when huckleberries grew alongside the track and the coaches, with their etched glass and leather seats, offered a bit of elegance for travelers as they rolled through the countryside.

The railroad's collection of cars includes 11 original and replica wooden coaches, a classic red wood caboose, and two restored coal-fired steam locomotives buit by Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia.

Engine #464 was nicknamed the Mud Hen and originally carried miners to Colorado on their quest for gold and silver. Just think... the seat you choose might be the very same one occupied on a warm summer evening a lifetime ago by a rowdy cowboy, a lavishly dressed society lady, or even a U.S. Marshal!

Around and Around You Go! Wheeeee...

Pick your pony and hold on tight! This herd of handsome hand-painted wooden horses and exotic dragon chariot will carry you back to a time when small-town audiences eagerly awaited the arrival of traveling shows, and the familiar tunes of a band organ filled the air on warm summer nights. Come experience the same exciting ride on this Charles W. Parker carousel that has been delighting families since 1912.

Just next door, step into a gondola on Parker’s 1910 “Superior Wheel” for a tree-tops view of Mott Lake and Crossroads Village.

This is the only place in the world where you’ll find two side-by-side Charles W. Parker amusement rides restored and ready for you to enjoy!

It’s old-fashioned fun and lots of smiles for your little ones when they ride the Mott Lake Flyer, Venetian swings and pony carts. These colorful vintage amusements offer plenty of pint-sized pleasure!

Spend a day in the Village

Experience life as it was in the early days of Genesee County. Talk with the villagers here who run the shops, grind the grain, dust the parlors, press apples for cider, and do scores of daily chores that were all part of early village life. You’ll spot them easily. They are dressed in the long skirts, aprons and overalls you would have seen around these parts in the late 1800s.

Work Alongside the Tradespeople

Try your hand at turning cream into butter. Draw water from a hand pump so it can be used to wash clothes and water flowers. Sand the wooden toys being created by craftsmen who start with planks cut at the village lumber mill.

Kids Love Our History Programs
 

Throughout the summer, Crossroads Village offers daily programs just kids so they can see, touch and taste history. Interactive play encourage their imagination as they learn about the lives of pioneer children And at 1:30 every day, we hold a children’s costume contest for kid who come to Crossroads dressed a villager.

The Genesee Belle

The beautiful Genesee Belle, a paddle-wheel riverboat, offers scenic 45-minute cruises on unspoiled Mott Lake.  The Genesee Belle has an open-air upper deck for unobstructed sightseeing and the lower deck is climate-controlled in summer and fall.  Although the Genesee Belle is a replica of the steamboats that traveled during the era of Mark Twain, it is very safe and especially designed for sightseeing and relaxation. (click here for more info about the Belle)

Summer Train Departures:
May 24 - June 13:
Weekdays (Wed, Thurs, Fri): 10:20, 11:10, Noon, 12:50, 1:40, 3:00 and 4:00
Weekends (Sat & Sun): Noon, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 
June 14 - September 1: 
Wed - Sun: Noon, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00

Genesee Belle Village Departures:
Friday, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays: 12:00, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 pm
Departures on Wednesdays and Thursdays: 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 pm

Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad Brochure Download

See a map TO the Village See a map OF the Village Download a PDF guide to the Village buildings You'll need the free Adobe Acrobat viewer. If you don't have it you can download it here

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For Information and Reservations call:
1-800-648-PARK or 810-736-7100 (extension 6 for reservations)
Email: Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission  Fax: 810-736-7220

Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission
5045 Stanley Road    Flint, Michigan   48506

Hours, admission rates and programs are subject to change.