Frankenmuth
Frankenmuth, population approximately 5000, is located in the East Central Region of Michigan. Frankenmuth which is often referred to as “Little Bavaria” is home to famous restaurants, German culture and tourist attractions.
Frankenmuth is known for its famous chicken dinners and little did a German American family know when they set up restaurant in an off
the track part of town and served classic fried chicken would their town become so famous for those chicken dinners.
Thousands of people travel to Frankenmuth each year for those dinners and to visit the quaint shops and boutiques around town. The two central are locations are two restaurants both owned by Zehnders, one of which is housed in a colonial building and named Zehnders and the other named the Bavarian Inn which is located in a Bavarian Style building across the street.
Things to Do:
The Bavarian Inn Glockenspiel Tower is located on the outside of the Bavarian Inn. It is a moving clock and each day at 11:00AM,
noon, 3:00PM, 5:00PM, 9:00PM and 10:00PM figurines reenact the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamlin.
The Holtz-Brucket Covered Bride is located behind the Bavarian Inn and the 239 foot long bridge crosses the Cass River. The bridge weighing 230 tons was built in thetraditional 1820 design and it thought to be the only wood covered bridge built in the 20th century. The
bridge is crafted from Douglas fir and was put in place by a team of Oxen.
The Bavarian Belle is a stern paddlewheel boat that features tours of the Cass River. The Bavarian Belle is in operation from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland is open 361 days a year and is a huge Christmas complex housed on 45 acres. Each year it attracts more than 2 million visitors and features every kind of ornament, lights, nativity set and decoration that one could imagine.
Frankenmuth’s Cheese Haus features homemade cheeses and spread of every kind including chocolate, jalapeno and horseradish,
Zehnders Splash Village is a 30,000 square foot water park which is also a hotel and suites that families with kids just love.
Special Events:
The Bavarian Festival is held each June and attracts both local and distance folks with German ancestry. They come for the food, the beer, and the polka bands.
Each fall, in late September, Frankenmuth holds it’s Oktoberfest that features foods, crafts, beer and bands and draws visitors by
the busload.
