New Events

• JBC Beach Weekend Winter Volleyball Tournament, Jan. 11, starting at 9 a.m., Jamesport Brewing Company Portside Garden. Co-hosted by Safe Harbor Credit Union, Jamesport Brewing Company is helping people beat the winter blues with a beach-themed weekend filled with summertime menu features, Hawaiian shirts, live music, and a charity 4-on-4 volleyball tournament to benefit the Childhood Cancer Campaign, a Ludington organization that offers assistance to area families who have a child battling cancer. jamesportbrewingcompany.com/beachweekend
• Ludington Lumber Days, Oct. 3-5. This inaugural event celebrates Ludington's lumber heritage while transforming popular elements of Octoberfest into a full weekend of lumber-themed experiences, with activities including:
  • Plaidurday Pub Crawl: 6-9 p.m. Oct. 3, beginning and ending at Ludington Bay Brewing
  • Beer Garden at Legacy Plaza: 2-6 p.m. Oct. 4
  • Seasonal Farmers Market with Live Music in the Plaza: Oct. 5
  • Follow the web page for further information that will be added as the event gets closer. 

New Attractions and Things to Do

Attractions 

• Zen's Den Exhibit – Sandcastles Children's Museum. Opening Dec. 31, 2024. Funded through grants from the Community Foundation for Mason County and Great Lakes Energy People Fund, this new social-emotional learning exhibit features “Zen,” a caring character who invites children in to explore hands-on activities that help them understand emotions, emotional needs and positive practices. Zen welcomes kids into his little cottage to explore different emotions through play as a creative way to explore the topic. sandcastleschildrensmuseum.com
• New Steamship Model Exhibit – Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. Scheduled to open summer 2025. Renovations begin in winter 2024/2025 on this new exhibit to replace the shipwreck exhibit on the third floor, showcasing models of steam engines and examining the advancement of steam propulsion on the Great Lakes, how that progress affected the region, and how the design of ships evolved in reaction to shifts in commerce and travel over the decades.
• Tapped Axes, 5770 U.S. 10 – Opening Dec. 15, 2024. West Michigan's newest axe-throwing destination offers a fun activity for individuals 12 years and older of all skill levels - whether participating recreationally with friends or in a league. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance. Outside food and drink welcome (no glass). tappedaxes.com

Food & Drink 

• Fins Beach Club, 7786 US-10, Walhalla – Scheduled to open in January 2025. Formerly known as Emerson Lake Inn, this waterfront restaurant was purchased by local business owner Dr. Andy Riemer after the former restaurant was shuttered since fall 2022, breathing new life into it with an innovative menu and cocktails with views of Emerson Lake, with its own beach. 
• Hobby Crest Resort restaurant – Scheduled to open summer 2025. This new restaurant on Hamlin Lake will offer casual dining downstairs and more upscale dining upstairs, as well as outdoor dining – all with beautiful views of Hamlin Lake. Accessible by boat as well. 
• AndyS, 129 W. Ludington Ave. – Scheduled to open in June 2025. Built on the former site of Michael's Bar and Grill at the corner of Ludington and Rath Avenues, this latest business endeavor by Dr. Andy Reimer who opened the successful STIX Ludington will be a two-story sports bar/entertainment venue with upscale bar food, including wood-fired pizzas. Plans include a rooftop bar with glass floor, mezzanine to watch live music, private dining area, and a section with indoor sports simulators. Facebook.com/andysludington
• Ludington Bay Brewing & Distilling – Distilling started Dec. 6, 2024. This popular brewery has expanded its offerings to now include a line of its own handcrafted spirits, including vodka, gin, rum and whiskey, that can be enjoyed alone or in cocktails at the brewery. ludingtonbaybrewing.com
• Doc's on the River, 9121 N US-31, Free Soil – Opened under new management November 2024. A local favorite for over 80 years, this restaurant/bar was recently purchased and renovated under new management, serving fresh, hearty dishes including its mainstays like Lizzard and Gizzard baskets and also featuring daily specials and Sunday brunch. Renovations include a new outdoor space to maximize the restaurant's scenic location on the Sauble River in the warm months – featuring picnic tables, fire pits, food truck service, and outdoor games like horseshoes, tetherball and cornhole. Open Monday to Saturday 4-9 and Sunday 10-2. docsonriver.com
• State & Main Coffee House, 101 N. Main St. Scottville – Opened November 2024. Owner Lisa Cooper hopes to unite the community for the best cup of coffee at her new cafe in the historic People's State Bank building at the crossroads of State and Main streets in downtown Scottville. Offering daily brews, specialty coffees, coffee mocktails, Lotus Energy Mocktails and seasonal features, the cafe also has a featured daily croissant and Danish. The cafe has a small private room with seating for eight as well that can be reserved for meetings. stateandmain.coffee

Shopping

• House & Harbor Mercantile, 104 E. Ludington Ave. – Opened November 2024. Formerly exclusively a soy candle company, this business was purchased, relocated and expanded to feature a curated selection of unique foods and specialty gifts. The store still sells its signature hand-poured soy candles and offers make-your-own options at the in-store candle bar, but its offerings now include women's apparel, soaps, cookware and drinkware, plus designed paper goods. facebook.com/houseandharbor
• Rosaleen Activewear, 102 E. Ludington Ave. – Relocated to expanded store May 2024. Originally open on South James Street in June 2023, this store moved to a larger, more central location – featuring fashionable, comfortable, affordable activewear and swimwear for women, men and children, plus accessories. rosaleenactivewear.com

Classes

• My Happy Place, 208 W Ludington Ave. This new gift shop is offering a variety of small group classes 6-8 p.m. on various evenings December through April taught by some of the artists featured in the store. Classes scheduled so far include holiday cookie decorating technique, woven bracelet making and holiday canvas painting. Private group classes also can be scheduled. Class size is limited to eight participants, and pricing varies based on supplies and instructor costs. Check Facebook and Instagram for information about upcoming classes. 

Lodging and Meetings                                                                                                     

• Cox Ranch Wedding Venue, 6331 S. Eden Lake Rd., Custer – Opened November 2024. This 3,000+ square-foot, indoor/outdoor wedding venue can accommodate 250+ Guests, also featuring three outdoor patios plus an on-site log cabin with 6 Bedrooms (Sleeps 24) for the wedding party. The Eden Woods Event Rentals side of the house rents out everything needed for a perfect wedding - tables, chairs, bar, lounge, outdoor games, and decor. thecoxranchweddings.com

Expansions or Improvements

• Ludington State Park infrastructure improvement project – Closed until early July 2025.  Much of the park is temporarily closed for a major improvement project as one of 27 Michigan state parks receiving federal relief funding. The project includes repaving the main entrance road and Hamlin Lake day-use area parking lot, repaving the Lake Michigan and warming shelter parking lots, adding another 75-100 parking spaces, plus widening the entrance of the beach parking lot to two lanes with walkways on each side for pedestrian safety, and enhancing traffic and pedestrian flow at the park entrance by adding dedicated left- and right-turn lanes for faster entrance. The warming shelter area also will be upgraded with multiple lanes and a crosswalk to connect bike paths with the beach. 

While visitors will not be able to enter the park north of the Sable River bridge, the beach along M-116 before the fee booth is open to visitors. The north part of the park from Nordhouse Dunes also is open for hiking, including walking to Big Sable Point Light from the north (the lighthouse will be closed during this time). South Trails and Piney Ridge Trails accessed from Piney Ridge Road are open though not maintained/signed. Waterways also are open via boat, except for Hamlin Lake beach near the playground (and boats will not be allowed to moor in that area). Follow Ludington State Park on Facebook for the latest project/closure status updates.

2025 Anniversaries/Milestones

• 30 Years – AFFEW (A Few Friends of the Environment of the World) and Earth Day 55th 
• 30 Years – Blessing of the Animals, Circle Rocking S Children's Farm Inc.
• 10 Years – Pure Ludington Brrrewfest

2026 - 50 Years – Historic White Pine Village