TWO MICHIGAN TOWNS: Corinne (Ghost) & Gould City (Semi-Ghost)
Here are two old lumber towns you can visit, just minutes apart: Gould City and Corinne.
Gould City is located in Newton Township, Mackinac County and is considered to be a SEMI-ghost town. The town was born in 1886 with a post office established by 1888. Gould City was a prosperous lumber town and boasted a population of over 300 - a good amount for a small Michigan lumber town.
It was named by its founder, lumberman Sam Stites, after a lumberman friend of his. Stites opened up the first grocery store in town followed by the Central Hotel, train depot, sawmill, general store, saloon, church, schoolhouse and others.....and its own baseball team.
The town's downslide happened the same way as other lumbertowns: once the timber was depleted, residents left seeking employment elsewhere.
The handful of businesses that are still there operate mainly in the warm months and shut down for the winter. If you drive thru the middle of town you'll notice some abandoned stores and homes.
Less than 2 miles southwest is the ghost town of Corinne. This little ghost town has NO businesses, NO gas station, NO restaurants, so come prepared. All that's there is the old general store, watching over the railroad tracks that once exported lumber. There are a very small amount of residents scattered in a few places, but not many.
Gould City and Corinne would make a great little drive-thru to add to your next Michigan roadtrip. Lots of photo oips and history to soak up!