Who Remembers This Houghton Lake Souvenir Shop?
I used to visit the Houghton Lake area almost every summer. Driving up through Prudenville, hittin’ up the Music Box back in the 1960s, eating at Bill Oliver’s restaurants, staying in cottages on the lake, and visiting the numerous souvenir shops.
Anyone who has driven Houghton Lake Drive around the south end of the lake has passed by this little, stand-alone souvenir shop: Zubler’s Indian Craft Shop.
Looking at the photos, you probably recognize it. How many times have you passed it by, thinking “I’ll stop in and take a look before I leave” but you never did? Well, too late now. It’s been closed since 2016.
Located at 3282 W. Houghton Lake Drive, this old gift shop stands empty. These were genuine Indian pieces of craftwork, as nobody else can make them. One of the things that made this place stand out was the display of little teepees and totem poles on the side lot, complete with picnic tables that made you feel like you were picnicking in an Indian village.
History on this place is extremely disappointing. As I tried to locate – online – the year it opened, each site mistakenly listed the date as ‘1983’ which is WRONG WRONG WRONG! There are old postcards of Zubler’s that go back to the 1960s! Why can’t someone get the opening year correct? Frustrating, man. If I knew what it was, I’d list it.
Meantime, scroll down and take a look at the photo gallery below and see if you remember!