Who Remembers the Wildwood Skating Rink at Houghton Lake?

I’m curious to find out how many people remember the Wildwood Skating Rink at Houghton Lake.

Usually, when most downstate Michiganders travel north to the Houghton Lake & Higgins Lake area, they end up on the east side, where there were plenty of amusements and entertainment venues: movies, dance bars and pavilions, mini-golf, etc. But this particular amusement happened to be on the west side.

The Wildwood Skating Rick is believed to date back as far as the 1930s. Owners were Don Wilson and his wife. Actual date of closing is unknown, but it is believed to have shut down in the 1950s after the Wilsons moved to Florida and re-opened a rink down there. The Wildwood was eventually – and sadly - demolished.

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In the 2000s, the property was transformed into the Funland Arcade. The arcade included go-karts and mini-golf but permanently closed in 2024.

Next time you’re up there, pay a visit to the west side of Houghton Lake, 6329 W. Houghton Lake Drive, where the fun park and the historic Wildwood Roller Rink used to sit.