REGION 8 NOTES
January/February 2011
Mecosta County Profile
As a way to showcase our region we began profiling each of the counties within Region 8 last May with a trip through Montcalm County’s less visited communities. This newsletter showcases Mecosta County’s communities, including the City of Big Rapids, four villages, and the several “non-census designated places (NCDP),” which are communities that are not a city or village – but are located within one of the County’s 16 townships.
The communities are arranged in a manner that will wind you from the southwest corner of Mecosta County, north to Paris then to the east side of the County and finally winding south and west to the starting point. Enjoy the trip!
Start the trip with a visit to the Village of Morley. Take US-131 Exit 125 and head one mile east to Northland Drive. Morley has a nice little downtown with several places to eat and visit like the Moe-Z-Inn and Mo Town Pizza. Don’t forget to stop at the Clyde Clark Memorial Park and Frank Deyo Dam on the south side of town to stand over the rushing water of the Little Muskegon River as it passes over the dam.
Head north on Northland Drive about seven miles to the Village of Stanwood, which has a few places to eat, like the Copper Top Pub, and a little downtown area just off the beaten path. The Village’s Pizzeria recently burned, but is currently being rebuilt. The area is also home to many Amish families . . . so keep your eyes open for roadside stands (and buggies). Ice Mountain’s water bottling facility is just northwest of the Village.
Continue north on Northland Drive another three miles to Rogers Heights and Rogers Dam. There’s a nice roadside park on the east side of the road where you can take a break and enjoy the view of the Muskegon River and Rogers Pond. Rogers Heights is home to several restaurants and shops as well as the world renowned Galloup Guitars where guitars are handcrafted by masters and students come from all over to learn how to carry on the tradition.
Another six miles north brings you to Big Rapids – which could easily occupy a profile of its own. The Big Rapids area is home to many amenities including Ferris State University, Roben Hood Airport, a wonderful downtown, shopping and eating destinations, hotels and inns, parks and a trail along the Muskegon River, the Mecosta County Medical Center, and many other attractions. Like other communities on the west side of Mecosta County, the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail State Park passes through the community. Restaurants range from an A&W where onion-covered chili-dogs are brought out to your car to fine dining with white tablecloths in the newly renovated downtown.
Another four miles north on Northland Drive takes you to Paris, an NCDP located in Green Charter Township. Paris is home to Mecosta County’s Parks Department – so stop in to find out more about the County’s wonderful parks system or grab a meal at Pizza in Paris. If nothing else it’s cool to tell people you were in Paris.
From Paris head east four miles on Bridge Street/Hoover Road to 180th Avenue (look for the silo that’s painted with “Peace, Love, and Tractors”), go south one mile to 21 Mile Road and east another two miles to Grant Center, a little four-corners in Grant Township that is home to the Haymarsh Lake State Game Area. Continue five miles east on 21 Mile Road and head south on 100th Avenue/Chippewa Drive for two miles until you arrive in the NCDP of Chippewa Lake, which is home to a couple of restaurants (both with Chippewa Lake as part of their name).
Head east for two miles on 19 Mile Road and take 90th Avenue north one mile to 20 Mile Road and then head east six miles while enjoying the rural scenery of the Pere Marquette State Forest. When you reach M-66 you are in the Village of Barryton, which is home to several hometown restaurants such as Hadley’s Country Kitchen and Williams’ Fine Food. There are also several interesting shops to explore and the Barryton Area Historical Museum (open Saturday and Sunday from 1-4).
Get back on M-66 and head south two miles to 17 Mile Road, and go west two miles to Tubbs Lake, a residential area set around canals and a lake. Or, skip Tubbs Lake and continue south on M-66 for ten miles (passing Smokey Bones BBQ) until you reach the NCDP of Remus – which is at the intersection of M-20 and M-66. Remus is home to many restaurants and shops and is located in Wheatland Township (which is home to the annual Wheatland Music Festival).
From Remus head west on M-20 five miles to the Village of Mecosta. The Village has restaurants, a bowling alley, and shops – including the Mecosta Book Gallery, which is a used book store filled to the ceiling with any book you can imagine. Canadian Lakes and Tullymore are also nearby and worth a trip to see the amazing homes situated around tranquil lakes and well-groomed golf courses. Canadian Lakes NCDP, a few miles southwest of Mecosta, also has a retail center with restaurants and shops.
From the Village of Mecosta, continue west eight miles on M-20 to the NCDP of Rodney, located in Colfax Township near the center of Mecosta County. Rodney has a general store and Pappy’s Bar Food.
Depending on how much time you have, you can either continue west on M-20 through Big Rapids to US-131 to finish your tour of Mecosta County, or you can head back to the Village of Mecosta and head south on 70th Avenue for about six miles to 5 Mile Road. Heading west on 5 Mile road will take you through the five NCDPs of Halls Corner, Sylvester, Altoona, Higbee Corner, and Borland before arriving on Northland Drive a few miles north of Morley, where the journey began. While there are no restaurants or established businesses along the route (except for King’s Trading Post in Sylvester), it is an interesting ten miles filled with Amish farms, schools, homes, and businesses.
The WMRPC hopes you enjoyed your journey around Mecosta County. Please understand that this newsletter does not recognize every place of interest or business within the County’s 556 square miles, but simply provides a sample to whet your appetite for a day trip within the Region.
2011 Meeting Schedule
WMRPC CEDS Committee
January 21 March 18
January 26 June 17
March 30 September 16
May 25 December 9
August 31
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