Forgotten Places Archives - Lost In Michigan

Nels Anderson’s Barn

Posted on September 27, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Barns and Farms, Forgotten Places, upper peninsula .

Not far off the Triple A road past the Eagle Mine out in the middle of the woods are the ruins of a log structure. It about a 20 mile drive from Big Bay and is in the middle of nowhere. It shows up on Google maps as Nels Anderson’s Barn. I tried to find out more but was not too successful. A few different Nels Andersons from Wisconsin and Minnesota came up so I am not sure if any of them built what is remaining of this old barn. I drove my truck out to it and the roads got a little tight. I imagine it is known by people who have ATVs and side by sides.

P.S. I have been exploring the UP for years and I am still finding interesting places and things, and the more remote they are the more I like them.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Old Building in Jerome

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Ghost towns .

This old building, or at least what remains of it stands in the small southern Michigan town of Jerome. It looks as if nature is trying to pull it down with vines and shrubs growing all around it. It looks so much different in the winter time. You can see my photo of it without the leaves HERE

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Old Yukon Inn

Posted on September 23, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, upper peninsula .

The old Yukon Inn sits quietly in the Upper Peninsula town of Paradise. Travelers pass by it on their way to the falls or the lighthouse at the tip of Whitefish Point. I’m not sure when it closed, but it has been a long time. The log cabin exterior makes it look like it was built a long time ago. I hope someday someone will fix it up and get back to selling beer and burgers to snowmobilers and travelers.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Building in Brampton

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, upper peninsula .

I saw this old building north of Escanaba in the Upper Peninsula. According to Google Maps, it is located in the town of Brampton, which was named after Brampton, England. A post office was established there in 1874 and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1984. I wonder if this is the building where the post office was located.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Burt Lake Scenic Tower

Posted on August 1, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Parks .

There’s a smal parcel of Burt Lake State Park situated at the intersection of Old US-27 and M-68, just south of Burt Lake. It appears to be a forgotten corner, with overgrown grass and weathered picnic tables clearly in need of repair. A lookout platform, once offering breathtaking vistas of Burt Lake, now stands shrouded by the encroaching trees, its spectacular view a memory.

This overlooked spot holds a bit of history, as it’s the very site where the Burt Lake Scenic Tower once proudly stood. Built around the 1930s, this observation tower was a major draw for tourists throughout the early to mid-20th century. While the tower is long gone and details of its disappearance are scarce, old postcards offer a charming glimpse into its past as a cherished local landmark.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Sugar Island’s Concrete Building

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, people, upper peninsula .

This old, abandoned concrete building stands near the shoreline on Sugar Island, east of Sault Ste. Marie. It held items of immense value—not gold or jewels, but books and manuscripts. It was the library for Chase Osborn. He was Michigan’s 27th Governor and the only one from the Upper Peninsula. He built an estate on Sugar Island and held his vast collection of books in his library. It was made of concrete and steel so that it would not be flammable. His home was a modest log cabin, but his library was what was important to him. The estate is mostly in ruins now, but you can hike to it in the Chase Osborn Preserve, managed by the University of Michigan.HERE

P.S. Osborn’s books were donated to the University of Michigan and Lake Superior State University.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Old Hotel in Kalkaska

Posted on May 27, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Haunted Places .

The Sieting Hotel, located in downtown Kalkaska, first opened its doors on Thanksgiving Day in 1912. Like many historic buildings, it has a past steeped in tragedy and is rumored to be haunted. It’s believed that the spirit of a man who died in one of the rooms in 1920 still lingers there. Guests and staff have reported hearing strange sounds throughout the old hotel, including moans, voices, and screams. I am not sure about it being haunted, but it is a nifty old historic building that has many storied stories to share if walls could talk.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Towering Structure in Norway

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, upper peninsula .

US-2 spans across the Upper Peninsula and passes through the town of Norway. It is hard to miss the ragged concrete structure that towers over the town. Located a few blocks off the highway is the Headframe of the Briar Hill Mine. In its time the mine was one of the most productive in upper Michigan.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Mashek Building

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, upper peninsula .

Along County Road 426 in Marquette County, in the center of the Upper Peninsula, stands an old, dilapidated building that is slowly falling down. It looks as if it was once a general store. According to the map, the location is the town of Mashek. The town was named for George Mashek, the owner of the Mashek Chemical and Iron Company in Escanaba. The company operated in the area and had a general store. I wonder if this old, abandoned building was the company store.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Old Church and the Town of Luce

Posted on February 25, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Churches, Forgotten Places, Ghost towns .

In southern Saginaw County, near the intersection of Burt and Bishop Roads, a weathered wooden church stands serenely amidst the farmlands. Just a short distance east, where Burt Road crosses Fairchild Creek, once thrived the town of Luce. Established in 1890 with its own post office, the town faded away when the post office closed in January 1914. Luce, named for Michigan’s 21st governor, Cyrus G. Luce (1887-1890), shares this honor with Luce County in the Upper Peninsula. Governor Luce was the last Michigan governor to have a county named after him.

The age of the church remains unknown, as does whether it was built by Luce’s residents. However, its proximity to the former town site is undeniable. A nearby cemetery and the church itself are likely the only remnants of the once-bustling community.

I took a pic of this old church about ten years ago and the photo graces the photo of my first book. In the decade since, the roof of the old church has collapsed. It is sad to see it deteriorate.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.