May 26, 2026

Edgewater Water Trailer Camp at Bear Lake Michigan c1935

Black-And-White Photo Of Two Travel Trailers And An Older Car Parked On A Grassy Campground Beneath Large Trees.

Travel trailers sit under shade trees at the Edgewater Trailer Camp in Bear Lake, Michigan, in this circa-1930s photo.

Before interstate highways and chain motels, roadside “tourist camps” and trailer camps were a common sight in lake towns. Families pulled in with a small trailer and set up for a few nights — part vacation, part practical lodging. Places like this helped communities like Bear Lake keep summer visitors coming long after the big lumber era faded.

Zoom in and you can spot the prewar-style car tucked between the trailers, plus awnings and open windows that hint at warm-weather stays.

Do you know where the Edgewater Trailer Camp was located in Bear Lake — or did your family ever camp this way?

#MichiganHistory #BearLakeMI #ManisteeCounty #VintageTravel #OldMichiganPhotos

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Michaela Nolte

Michaela is a history buff and loves to export historical markers and old buildings and seeks stories about Michigan and Great Lakes history. When she is not writing, you can find her with a good book sipping wine on the beach.

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