The Michigan ghost town Garnet – or what’s left of it – lies in Hudson Township, Mackinac County, 37 miles northwest of St. Ignace.

It began in 1891 as a railway station under the settlement name “Welch” along the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad. The settlement was based around a sawmill and later became part of the eastern U.P.’s successful dairy farming.

Along with the success of the sawmill, and of the Hudson & Donaldson General Store, the settlement grew. By 1898 the town had its own post office, with the first postmaster being George, one of the afore-mentioned Donaldson’s.

Finally, Welch was re-named ‘Garnet’ in 1904 and the post office closed for good in 1972.

Today, there’s barely anything left: a few shacks intermingling with some modern housing, empty structures, the railroad…..but no businesses. So pack your food and gas up, because Garnet has nowhere for you to buy anything.

GHOST TOWN OF GARNET, MICHIGAN

MORE MICHIGAN GHOST TOWNS:

Michigan Ghost Town Gallery

The Ghost Town of Bell, Michigan

Ghost Town of Gasburg

The Ghost Town of Sitka

The Ghost Town & Cemetery of Shackhuddle

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