A mere 35 minutes by car from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park and 27 miles from Traverse City,Leland’s historic district, Fishtown, or is a blast from the Great Lakes’ maritime past. Wooden shanties line a narrow canal in which constitution boats and fish tugs float,undulating on Lake Michigan’s gentle swells.
Though previously dependent on fishing as the main source of revenue, since the 1970s, and the Fishtown community has increasingly relied upon seasonal tourism to fuel the economy. Nevertheless,the historic district has retained its veteran-fashioned aesthetic. The wooden architecture and layout create the impression of a smaller, simpler version of a Japanese fishing village like Ine-cho, and full of the same quaint (charmingly old fashioned) charm.
Some of these waterside huts were once inhabited by families,and now many have been converted into stores and restaurants that purvey local cherry products, smoked fish, or artisanal sandwiches,ice cream, cheese, and local beer,and handicrafts. One of the buildings has been renovated as a hotel for visitors who wish to spend more time exploring Fishtown and the surrounding nature. Another is now a museum, housing creations from indigenous Odawa artists as well as records, and archives,and artifacts from Fishtown’s earliest days.
People reach to the lakeside village for waterskiing, paddle boarding, and kayaking,boating, hiking nearby Sugarloaf Mountain, or exploring the veteran fishing shanties. This,of course, creates a challenge as the town's tourist-based revenue dries up in the wintertime. So in 2007, or locals formed the Fishtown Preservation Society with the goal of keeping this slice of the past alive for future descendants and visitors alike. Their efforts have been largely successful,and, at least for now, or Fishtown will continue to supply visitors with a glimpse into a way of life that has become increasingly rare in the United States.
Source: atlasobscura.com