Ludington, Michigan
Ludington was first settled by the white man in the 1840s when Burr Caswell and his family moved near the mouth of the Pere Marquette River. Originally named Pere Marquette, after the river in which the town was settled, it was renamed after James Ludington in the 1870s. Although Ludington was settled as a small farming community, it quickly became one of many lumbering towns perched on the shores of Lake Michigan. Just north of the village were the smaller communities of Lincoln and Hamlin, both of which eventually were abandoned. About 15 miles south lies the lumbering community of Pentwater, which still exists today.
As the lumbering industry died down, the port remained extremely active. Starting in the in the 1870s, ships began to carry train cars out of Ludington across Lake Michigan. Although these operations started small, with more and more freight needing to cross the big lake to make it to Wisconsin and Illinois, Ludington’s port became one of the most active in the state. Eventually, the ships were expanded to carry people and cars as well, offering an alternative to train and early car travel. As rail lines spread across the country and cars became more reliable and easier to afford, the need for ferry service across Lake Michigan dwindled. There are only two car ferries that cross the big lake today, the Lake Express out of Muskegon and the SS Badger out of Ludington. The Badger was launched in 1952 and is the last remaining coal-fired passenger vessel on the Great Lakes. The ferry service connects the two pieces of US-10, which ends in Ludington and picks up again in Manitowoc. US-10 starts in Bay City, Michigan, and continues onto West Fargo, North Dakota.
Today, Ludington is most known as a tourist town on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan. The downtown area has loads of shops, boutiques, restaurants, breweries, and other entertainment venues. The city contains a number of opulent historic homes from its days as a lumbering powerhouse, many of which have been converted into apartments or bed and breakfasts. The town is also home to the largest Gus Macker tournament in the country, bringing 20,000+ people from across the country every year. Although Ludington is now centered around hospitality, 18% of Ludington’s industry is in some kind of manufacturing, and the port is still active to prove it. There is also a stable year-round population, making Ludington Area Schools the largest district in Mason County and placing their sports teams into Class B.
Ludington has a ton of recreational activities. At the end of the main drag lies Stearns Park, which has concessions, a skate park, and mini golf in addition to its large sandy beach. Ludington State Park and the Big Sable Point Light are a short drive north of downtown and offer a huge campground, miles of hiking, and endless sandy beaches. A little off the beaten path (and across Pere Marquette Lake) lies Buttersville Park, a small county park with a beautiful beach, breathtaking views of the dunes south of Ludington, and rocks for hounding.
Whether you are looking for a place to hang out for a few days or a place to settle down, Ludington has just about everything you might need. Grab a burger and a brew at Ludington Bay Brewing Company, enjoy the hike out to Big Sable Point Light, or catch a ride on the SS Badger on your way out of Michigan. Whatever your choice, you can’t go wrong in Ludington!
