Mackinaw City in Emmet County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Cope Family Icehouse

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 25, 2025

1. The Cope Family Icehouse Marker

Inscription.
This icehouse was built by Oliver C. Cope to serve his hotel, dining hall, and other businesses in Carp Lake, a small town seven miles south of Mackinaw City on US-31.

In 1865, Oliver C. Cope (OC) left Pennsylvania at age 21 to join the Civil War Union Army. In 1876 he left Pennsylvania for Michigan with his new bride Sarah Elvira Shaffer (Ella). In 1884 after "proving up," they received title to 160 acres of homestead land.

By 1880 Carp Lake had a railroad depot, with passenger trains enabling Carp Lake to become a flourishing resort town. Taking advantage of the tourist trade, OC and Ella started a hotel and dining establishment called the Olympia Hotel. They built this icehouse to support the hotel. They also operated a boat livery and rented driving horses for buggy rides around the lake.

Erected 2022 by Mackinaw Area Historical Society & Heritage Village.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. 45° 46.654′ N, 84° 46.227′ W. Marker is

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in Mackinaw City, Michigan, in Emmet County. It is at the intersection of Headlands Road and Wilderness Park Drive, on the right when traveling west on Headlands Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 501 Wilderness Park Dr, Mackinaw City MI 49701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Michigan Lower Peninsula,

on the Straits of Mackinac,

and in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ice Harvesting (here, next to this marker); Maple Ridge Farm (within shouting distance of this marker); Heritage Chapel (within shouting distance of this marker); The modern history of this land (within shouting distance of this marker); The early European history of this land (within shouting

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 25, 2025

2. The Cope Family Icehouse Marker

distance of this marker); Mackinaw's General Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Sawmill (within shouting distance of this marker); Grebe Tool Shanty (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mackinaw City.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 81 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 30, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.