by The History of Oden Michigan begins with trains, boats, and a lakeshore that welcomed summer guests. On Crooked Lake in Emmet County, Oden evolved into a resort stop where the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad intersected with the Inland Waterway. Passengers could step off the morning train, walk to the landing, and board a steamer bound for Burt and Mullett Lakes and the Cheboygan River. That easy transfer made Oden a gateway to the water for thousands of travelers.
Video – Oden, Michigan: Trains, Steamers, and the Birth of a Resort on Crooked Lake
Rail Stop to Resort Center at Oden
By the early 1900s, Oden had become a resort community. Cottages lined the shore, porches faced the water, and docks reached into the shallows.
The Rawdon Hotel, built in 1895 and set near the lake, became a landmark with wrap-around verandas and boat slips at its feet. Period accounts note that it was even styled with a steamer’s lines, a nod to the ships that ruled local travel.
Steamers and the Inland Waterway to Oden
The Inland Waterway is a linked route that includes Crooked and Pickerel Lakes, Crooked River, Burt Lake, Indian River, Mullett Lake, and the Cheboygan River, ultimately connecting to Lake Huron. In Oden, steamers such as the Oden loaded passengers at the landing and set off down the narrows. Historic images depict the steamer on Crooked Lake in the 1890s, illustrating how central this service was even before the 20th century had fully taken hold. The route remains active for recreation today.
Boat Races on Crooked Lake
Racing followed naturally once small motors arrived. Early events drew spectators in canoes and launches, clustered along improvised courses. That racing culture endures in the Top O’ Michigan Marathon, a 87-mile outboard event that still navigates the waterway and earns national attention every August.
Building a Hatchery—and a Reputation
The History of Oden Michigan, also runs through fisheries. In 1921, the state opened the Oden fish hatchery beside the line, with rearing ponds, a superintendent’s house, and rail access for shipping fish across Michigan. Early crews moved fry in milk cans packed with ice by railcar and truck. A modern hatchery complex opened in 2002 just up the road, while the original building serves as a visitor center that interprets the site and its statewide impact.
Oden’s Cottages, Cabins, and Summers by the Bulkhead
Photographs from 1900 to 1930 show resort cabins directly on the shore, featuring white-chinked log walls, skids for hauling boats, and low porches near the waterline. Families stayed for weeks. Days started with fishing the weed beds and often ended at the village gazebo. The History of Oden Michigan is a story of simple facilities and reliable access that kept visitors returning summer after summer.
From Rail to Road
Automobiles and U.S.-31 eventually replaced the railroad for most travelers, but Oden’s role did not vanish. The community remains tied to the Inland Waterway, and the hatchery remains a working part of state fisheries, rearing trout for both inland streams and Great Lakes waters. Visitors can still follow the historic route by boat and stop at the visitor center to learn about how fish culture has shaped northern Michigan.
Why Oden Matters
The History of Oden Michigan proves that small network points can shape a region. A single transfer—from train to boat—made remote lakes practical for families and anglers. Add a hatchery that supplied fish statewide, and this village helped power two kinds of recreation: boating and fishing. Oden’s shoreline may be modest, but its influence traveled far along the water.
Plan a Present-Day Visit
Today, you can walk through the original hatchery building, follow a short nature trail around the ponds, and watch trout in clear runs. Launch a boat at Crooked Lake, trace the Crooked River, and picture the steamer Oden sliding past in an earlier age. On a quiet evening, when the water settles and docks cast long shadows, the shape of the past is still easy to read.
Works Cited For Crooked Lake Resorts
- “Historic Community of Oden.” Michigan Water Trails. <a href=”https://www.michiganwatertrails.org/location.asp?aid=1637&ait=av”>https://www.michiganwatertrails.org/location.asp?aid=1637&ait=av</a>.
- “Oden.” Inland Water Route Historical Society. <a href=”https://iwrhs.org/history/iwrhs-com/oden/”>https://iwrhs.org/history/iwrhs-com/oden/</a>.
- “Oden State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center.” Michigan DNR. <a href=”https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/places/v-centers/oden”>https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/places/v-centers/oden</a>.
- “Oden State Fish Hatchery & Visitor Center.” Michigan DNR Fisheries. <a href=”https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/fisheries/hatcheries/oden”>https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/fisheries/hatcheries/oden</a>.
- “Oden State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center.” Michigan.org. <a href=”https://www.michigan.org/property/oden-state-fish-hatchery-visitor-center”>https://www.michigan.org/property/oden-state-fish-hatchery-visitor-center</a>.
- “Site of Historic Rawdon Hotel in Oden.” Michigan Water Trails. <a href=”https://www.michiganwatertrails.org/location.asp?aid=1636&ait=av”>https://www.michiganwatertrails.org/location.asp?aid=1636&ait=av</a>.
- “The Steamboats ‘Oden’ and ‘Glenn Lake’ at the John Hastings Landing.” Little Traverse Historical Society Collections.
- “Top O’ Michigan Marathon Nationals Boat Race Returns.” Petoskey News-Review, Aug. 7, 2024.
- “The Inland Waterway.” Cheboygan Area Trailways.
- “Michigan DNR Celebrates 150 Years of State Fish Hatcheries.” Hatchery International, May 15, 2023.
- “70th Top O’ Michigan Marathon Boat Race.” Harbor Light News, Aug. 8, 2018.
