50 Years of Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad: 1974-2024

Wow...fifty years and some of you still haven't visited Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad? Visiting this place near Flint is a trip thru the time tunnel. EVERYTHING there is crafted, built, and performed just the way it was back in the mid-1800s.

Points of interest include the Buzzell House (built in 1854) which was the oldest wood structure in Flint until they moved it to its current location in the village.

It all started in 1967, when plans to construct I-475 were underway. The Genesee County Parks and Recreation Commission wanted to save some of the historic buildings that were slated to be torn down, shelling out $20,000 to re-locate the first couple.

Get our free mobile app

Other saved attractions were the Wisner Carriage House (built in 1875), an 1800s train depot that was once in the town of Davison, and the relics that help make up the Huckleberry Railroad: train cars, steam engines, and other pieces of railroad equipment were collected form all over the country and set up to form the HR.

Even though Crossroads Village was established in 1974 (making 2024 its 50th anniversary) it didn't have its Grand Opening until two years later, on July 4, 1976. Visitors were awed by all the historic structures original and restored. Over the years, more and more additions were collected...so far, 34 historic structures and exhibits are here, including a bank, barber shop, original homes, hotel, opera house, saloon (which doubled as a stagecoach stop), and the Salter log house, which is the oldest building (built in 1830) in the village.

In the gallery below, take a look at how Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad look today...and help them celebrate 50 years...