The Oldest Fudge Shop on Mackinac Island

Every time anyone goes to Mackinac Island what is one of the first things that smacks you in the head as you enter the downtown area? I mean other than all the horse poop and bicycles? That would be all the stores up & down the street that sell fudge...and there are many.

Thirteen shops in all that sell fudge...but as for the actual confectioners that actually make that fudge, they include:
JoAnn’s Fudge
May’s Candy Shop
Murray Hotel Fudge
Original Murdick’s Fudge
Ryba’s Fudge Shops
Sanders

But the oldest fudge company on Mackinac Island just happens to be the oldest one in the entire state of Michigan: Murdick’s.

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Not only did the Grand Hotel open in 1887, but it was that same year when Rome Murdick and his family opened the very first fudge store on the island, “Murdick’s Candy Kitchen”. Realizing that tourism was going to be the main source of economy for the island, they opened their business and it went great guns and became a tourist favorite. Seeing the success of Murdick’s fudge, other fudge stores soon followed.

The Murdick’s continued to push their fudge by setting up booths at many of Michigan’s state, local, and county fairs throughout the entire state.

The descendants of the original Murdick family keep the fudge flowing and have shops in Charlevoix, Mackinaw City, Petoskey, St. Ignace, Suttons Bay, and two in Traverse City. The tourists keep coming not to just buy and eat the fudge, but to watch them make it...a very cool experience.