About the Higgins Lake, Houghton Lake and Roscommon, Michigan Area 

LOCATION

Higgins Lake is in Roscommon County in north east Michigan, about 15 miles north of Houghton Lake on State Hwy 27. Hwy 27 runs south to Lansing, Michigan, and ends just north of Higgins Lake where it meets I 75 at Skyline Village. I 75 takes you north to the Canadian border and south to Flint, Pontiac and Detroit, Michigan, before continuing on to Dayton, Ohio and beyond. Roscommon is about 20 miles east, just off I 75.

With the North and South Higgins State Parks bordering the lakeside township, and the Pere Marquette State Forest and the AuSable State Forest directly south and east, Higgins Lake is in a spectacular wilderness area.

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS

Higgins Lake is served by the Roscommon County mini-bus scheme, which transports school children as well as day trippers and locals around the lake area.

The nearest airport is a short distance away in Houghton Lake, but the closest commercial flights fly out of Cherry Capital Airport, about 60 miles west in Traverse City.  Cherry Capital connects directly to over 300 domestic and international destinations.

BRIEF HISTORY

The Higgins Lake area was originally home to the Chippewa and the Ottawa tribes; white settlers didn’t really begin arriving until Michigan’s logging boom in the mid to late 1800s. Eastern Europeans in particular were drawn to the pine forest industries in the region.

The Lake itself was named after Michigan’s first state topographer, Sylvester Higgins, and it was formed as a glacial ice sheet retreated.

SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS

National Geographic Magazine named Higgins Lake the sixth most beautiful lake in the world, which comes as no surprise to the one million annual visitors who come to enjoy summer boating and winter skiing there. Deep, clear, and crystal blue, Higgins Lake is easily one of Michigan’s top resort areas, with a lot to offer in the way of recreation the year round. Visitors and residents alike enjoy superb fishing, camping, hiking, canoeing, golf, snowmobiling, cross country skiing and more. Many locals make their living from the thriving tourist industry and Higgins Lake has a full range of resorts, cabins and hotels; good restaurants and entertainment venues abound.

HEALTHCARE

Higgins Lake is served by the Mid Michigan Health Park and Urgent Care Center in nearby Houghton Lake, which provides for most needs; major emergencies and obstetric requirements travel to the larger Mid Michigan Medical Center in Clare or the Mercy Hospital in Greyling.

The Higgins Lake area is also served by a chiropractor and a dentist.

EDUCATION

Children travel to nearby Roscommon to attend school; the single elementary, middle and high schools are overseen by the Gerrish-Higgins School District. The High school has a lively performing arts program, including a Choir, two bands and a drama course. Students make friends for life as they live, work, learn and play together, and low student to teacher ratios give your child a better chance than their contemporaries in most city schools. 

The Kirtland Community College, also in Roscommon, has a wide range of courses in the arts, sciences, fine arts and business; career training options include nursing and education. Further higher education options include Central Michigan University (about 50 miles away in Mt Pleasant), Northwood University (about 60 miles in Midland), and Northwestern Michigan College (about 60 miles in Traverse City).

LOCATION

Houghton Lake is about 15 miles south of Higgins Lake, in Roscommon County, north east Michigan.

The Township of Houghton Lake lies on the lake’s southern shore, on 55, which runs east to west between State Hwy 27 in the west and I 75 in the east. Hwy 27 travels north to Higgins Lake and south to Lansing; I 75 journeys north to the Canadian border and south to Detroit. Prudenville is just 6 miles east on 55, and Roscommon is a further 12 miles north of Prudenville on 18.

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS

Houghton Lake has its own airport, serviced by private commercial and charter planes; commercial flights operate out of Cherry Capital International Airport, in Traverse City, about 60 miles west on 72.

The Roscommon County mini-bus scheme serves Houghton Lake and the surrounding area, taking children to school and running a regular daytime service.

BRIEF HISTORY

Originally home to the Chippewa and Ottawa Indians, Houghton Lake was named after an early European explorer, Douglas Houghton. Houghton was Michigan's first state geologist, and he arrived at the lake in the early 1850s.

The Michigan lumber boom soon followed, and in 1873, mill owner S.C. Hall started a lumber business; the Township of Houghton Lake soon developed as workers flooded into the area.

Still beautiful and surrounded by state forest, Houghton Lake is now part of a large outdoor oriented community with great fishing, trails, and scenery.

SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS

Michigan's largest inland lake, Lake Houghton has a sandy bottom and shallow shoreline, making it an ideal holiday spot for parents and their children. The clean water supports various species of fish, including pike, walleye, bluegill and perch; waterfowl feed in surrounding reeds.

Spring and summer pursuits include fishing, bird watching, sailing, golf and canoeing, while the fall and winter outdoors buff can enjoy ice fishing, snowmobiling and hunting. Houghton Lake is known for its festivals, including the yearly Tip-Up Town winter festival, which is quirky and a lot of fun and draws thousands of visitors to the town.

HEALTHCARE

The Houghton Lake area has several local doctors, chiropractors, dentists and the like; local family physician Dr Sharp has been caring for his community for over 34 years.

Hospital facilities are provided by the Mid Michigan Health Park and Urgent Care Center, which handles minor emergencies, rehabilitation, family care, occupational medicine, diabetes care, radiographies and suchlike. The Mid Michigan Medical Center in Clare (about 33 miles away) offers full obstetric and emergency services; the Mercy Hospital in Greyling is another large hospital (about 28 miles away).

EDUCATION

The Houghton Lake School District is an excellent system, with three elementary schools (Houghton Lake Township has one of them), one middle school, and a high school (both in Houghton Lake). Children get to make friends and keep them as they grow in this intimate learning community.

The Kirtland Community College in nearby Roscommon has courses on a variety of subjects; the performing arts youth program is first-rate. Universities are further afield, including Central Michigan University (about 52 miles away in Mt Pleasant), Northwood University (about 59 miles in Midland), and Northwestern Michigan College (about 60 miles in Traverse City).

LOCATION

The quaint village of Roscommon is found in north east Michigan in Roscommon County, on the banks of the beautiful AuSable River. The County seat, the village lies along the Old State Hwy 76, just east of I 75, which runs north to the Canadian border and south to Detroit and beyond. Detroit is about three hours drive away; Lansing about 2 hours, and the Mackinac Bridge about an hour and a half.

The Houghton and Higgins Lakes lie about 20 miles to the west off of I 75.

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS

Roscommon has a mini-bus service, and a nearby airport in Houghton Lake; the nearest commercial flights run from Cherry Capital International Airport in Traverse City, about 65 miles west on 72.

BRIEF HISTORY

Before white men came to the Roscommon village region, the forest wilderness was home to numerous Indian tribes of the Algonquian language stock. Early European settlers named the area Mikenauk County in honor of a Chippewa chieftain; but in 1840 it was renamed Roscommon after the region’s new Irish “sister” county.
 
With the mid-1800s lumber boom came the need for better transportation and in 1872 the railway arrived, setting up a depot at “Roscommon Station”. This eventually became the present day village. Logs were shipped from the depot to mills in the region, saving money and men, who no longer had to raft logs by river.

In the following year, Detroit entrepreneurs George O. Robinson and David W. Brooks bought up a large land parcel surrounding the station and sold plots to arriving settlers; the village of Roscommon began to take shape. By the time Roscommon County was structured in 1875, it was a typical lumber town with saloons, dance halls and inns, but it also had a post office. This, along with its railroad and central location, led to its being chosen as the county seat, which it remains to this day.

SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS

Roscommon is a picturesque and historical village, with ample recreational opportunities and community spirit. The South Branch of the AuSable River is at the doorstep, with its superb trout fishing and perfect canoeing, and village life is secure and friendly. Residents appreciate bringing up their children in a safe community where people know and care about each other, and retirees often choose to relocate here.

Higgins Lake is a short car trip away, home to wonderful outdoor pursuits all the year round; locals can swim, fish, hunt, sail, hike, ski, snowmobile and ice fish to their hearts content.

HEALTHCARE

Roscommon’s Mid Michigan Medical Office takes care of most needs, and the wider area has several private doctors, chiropractors, and dentists.

The Mid Michigan Medical Center in Clare (about 33 miles away) offers full obstetric and emergency services; the Mercy Hospital in Greyling is another large hospital (about 28 miles away).

EDUCATION

Roscommon has a single elementary, middle and high school, administered by the Gerrish-Higgins School District. The High school is widely recognized for its National Exemplary High School and competitive Jack Pine Conference athletic teams; arts courses are stimulating and well taught. Students make friends for life as they live, work, learn and play together, and low student to teacher ratios give your child a better chance than their contemporaries in most city schools. 

The Kirtland Community College has a wide range of courses in the arts, sciences, fine arts and business; career training options include nursing and education. The college is also home to many of the area’s yearly cultural and entertainment events.