I took a walk at Kids Creek Park, an easy to miss park tucked behind Kohl's. It's a nice little walk if you fancy a quick stroll after shopping or if you are staying at Great Wolf Lodge and need a break from the shrill shrieks of children hurtling down water slides. It is a small series of loops that go by the creek and pond with a connection to the Buffalo Ridge Trail, a nice spot to jog if you are in the mood for hills.
I came across a historical placard that described the Franke Mill. I have been curious to the source of the name "Franke Road", a curiosity peaked lately because Franke Road is being repaved, a two-month closure. I had a girlfriend in elementary school with the last name Franke when we attended Pleasant Grove School in Lansing, torn down in 2024. I figured the road wasn't named after her family, and it turns out, that assumption was correct.
Gottfried Franke built the Franke Mill on Kids Creek in 1904. It burned down the next year but was immediately rebuilt. The mill provided power to the Franke farm and nearby buildings. The mill was demolished on July 8th, 2020, a month before we moved to Traverse City.
Pond and placard near where the mill used to stand.
Kids Creek running down from Division Street.
Stairs down to Kids Creek.
Kids Creek Park path.
