Walker Tavern Complex at Cambridge Junction Historic State Park

The Walker tavern is part of the buildings which makeup the Cambridge Junction Historic State Park, owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The original wooden structure Walker Tavern was built in 1832, and marked an important intersection on the route between Chicago, Illinois, and Detroit, Michigan (1). At Walker Tavern, two major US roadways converged: Chicago Road (US 12), and Monroe Pike (M50). In the 1800s, it would take settlers roughly five days to make this complete journey, and they found the hospitality at Walker Tavern to be a welcome stop along their extended journey. For decades, the comforts of the roadside inn and tavern was a welcome sight to weary travelers, but with the growth of the US highway system, change was inevitable in the Irish Hills. Where the Walker Tavern was once a place of rest and comfort, roadside tourism blossomed in the area, and people became more interested in the theme parks and stops along the side of new highways. 

   Among the popular roadside stops were the infamous, Frontier City, Prehistoric Forest, and Mystery Hill. Frontier City opened in 1960, and was a one-stop shop for all fans of the American Western aesthetic (2).The City featured classic Western buildings like a bank, and general store, as well as Western music, and themed events for the whole family. In 1963, Prehistoric Forest followed suit, appealing to a vast dinosaur enthralled audience. Families could take a train ride through the forest, brave the waterslide, or take a dangerous walk through dinosaurs across the property. Finally, Mystery Hill was on the map with varying names and sources of attraction between the 1930s and 1960s. Here, guests could experience the gravity-defying thrills of the mysterious location. While each of these modern roadside attractions were not without their own rises and falls in popularity, they represent a category of attractions that flourished due to the development of the US highway system, marking a shift in the historical narrative surrounding the Walker Tavern from one of necessity, to one of luxury.

   The Federal Aid Road Act of 1916 was just the beginning of American road systems (3).The government project saw the implementation of roads that were pre-existing routes of travel across the nation. Just ten years later, in 1926, Michigan highway US12 took shape and marked the route throughout the Irish Hills. Walker Tavern enjoyed nearly 100 years of guests stopping at their corner, before the implementation of US12 changed roadside tourism forever. The concept of roadside tourism was born out the new consumer boom of the 1920s (4). Fresh off of World War I, Americans had a newfound sense of vibrancy and optimism, and markets across the nation knew just how to appeal this new customer: entertainment. For decades, travel was simply a means of getting from one place to another, and any stops along the way were borne out of necessity and exhaustion. Instead, the 1920s proved an all-new combination of the popularity of automotives, and the development of entertainment everywhere one goes. Thus, roadside tourism entered the scene. Michigan’s Irish Hills quickly took advantage of the highly traveled US12, and the region instantly became known for it’s entertainment stops along the road.

Mystery Hill opened to customers in 1930. A must-see phenomenon with no gravitational forces drew crowds of curious travelers. Located just off the side of US12, Mystery Hill boasted an easily accessible stop that could jam-pack endless family fun into a short amount of time(5). It was crucial that roadside stops like this marketed themselves as day trip locations, or as quick stops of fun along a longer journey. After all, the whole appeal of the new age was instant entertainment, and there was no longer an attraction to spending days on the road with nightly stops at local inns. Why waste so much time traveling, when a day trip could bring instant family fun! Following suit, Frontier City opened in 1960, and the village transported guests to a popular American era: the wild west. Particularly appealing to families with children, the stop boasted regular performances, interactive tours, and old-fashioned shops that proved the perfect day trip for families on the road. Prehistoric Forest joined the US12 lineup in 1963, and the larger than life displays begged families to stop, as they could see the fun that awaited them from the road.

In an ironic nod to the evolution of road systems throughout the country, each of these once trendy, modern roadside stops felt the tables turn during the late 1960s, as National Interstates began to replace statewide roadways. Though the Federal Aid Highway Act was implemented in 1956, the effects of these changes did not start to reach the Irish Hills until some years later, and by 1974 Frontier City had closed it’s saloon doors(6). By 2002, Prehistoric Forest closed, and Mystery Hill is the only roadside attraction borne out of the new consumer boom that remains open today. Just as these sites once replaced Walker Tavern, they themselves were replaced with attractions like the Michigan International Speedway, and popular scenic parks by the early 1970s. 

By studying archaeological and historical evidence related to Walker Tavern, a clear picture of changing times can be uncovered. Early travelers came by foot and stagecoach to the Walker Tavern, as a necessary stop along their five-day journey. Then, when pathways were paved and statewide road systems entered the picture in the 1920s, the Tavern saw fewer visitors, and neighboring roadside tourist attractions caught the eye of new consumers instead. By the 1970s, a new age once again caught up with the Irish Hills, as international highway systems brought less traffic directly through the area, and travelers were instead drawn to larger, well-renowned spots like Michigan International Speedway. While the fluctuation in popularity of these roadside stops varies, each era shares one thing in common: each was fueled by the current state of the road system in the area. 

The accompanying images and captions of this entry correspond to the following sub-categories: Dining, Lodging, Travelers, and Roadside Tourism.

Dining

Walker Tavern served as an important pitstop for travelers across southeastern Michigan. Since it’s construction in 1832, the site has served as a dining stop, a lodging stop, and then a historic stop. Guests with big appetites and low energy could stop into Walker Tavern, and leave feeling filled with energy to continue their journey. The function of dining was an important part of Tavern operations, and through an analysis of archaeological discoveries and photographic evidence, the function of serving food and drink becomes a clearly important qualification of Walker Tavern as a pitstop. 

Lodging

Just as Walker Tavern served an important role in feeding weary travelers, it was also a place to rest tired eyes and anxious minds. The lodging aspect of the site was a key factor in making it a popular resting ground for travelers along the Detroit to Chicago route. From dining to lodging, artifacts and images related to Walker Tavern, paint a clear picture of comfortable shelter and welcome rest. 

Travelers

While there are few historical records to indicate whom exactly stopped at Walker Tavern, evidence suggests that guests included those from all walks of life. In order to more clearly see the variety of guests that the site served, we can turn to historical and archaeological evidence.

Roadside Tourism

Walker Tavern was a common pitstop on the route between Detroit and Chicago, primarily due to it’s location at that intersection. It was also popular largely due to the necessities of the era. Travelers needed to stop, to eat, and to rest for any period of time, as the journeys they made were arduous and trying. However, as the years passed, the post-World War I consumer boom was reflected in the growth of the US highway system, and new interests in luxury and entertainment. People began to travel, simply as a means of entertainment, rather than a means of necessity, and thus the prosperity of Walker Tavern dwindled. Roadside tourism flourished in Michigan’s Irish Hills, as the popular US 12 was home to Prehistoric Forest, Frontier City, Mystery Hill, and many other entertainment stops. People came by the hundreds to visit these easily accessible, and instantly gratifying sources of family entertainment, and the necessity that once was Walker Tavern, simply did not attract customers anymore. 

1. Camden Burd, "Imagining a Pure Michigan Landscape: Advertisers, Tourists, and the Making of Michigan’s Northern Vacationlands," Michigan Historical Review Vol 42, No 2 (Fall 2016): 37.
2. Tribe, John, "Research Trends and Imperatives in Tourism Education," Acta Turistica Vol 14, No 1 (2002): 68.
3. Brinkman, Jeffrey, and Lin, Jeffrey, "Early Interstate Policy and Its Effects on Central Cities," Cityscape, Vol 22, No 2 (2020): 83.
4. Olney, Martha, "Buy Now, Pay Later: Advertising, Credit, and Consumer Durables in the 1920s," University of North Carolina Press, 1991.
5. Jamal, Tazim, Taillon, Justin, and Dredge, Dianne, "Sustainable Tourism Pedagogy and Academic-Community Collaboration: A progressive Service-Learning Approach," Tourism and Hospitality, Vol 11, No 2 (2011): 135.
6. Esperdy, Gabrielle, "Roadside Metropolis," American Autopia Vol 2, No 13 (2019): 39.

Reference

1. Street, Sarah, and Yumibe, Joshua, Chromatic Modernity: Color, Cinema, and Media of the 1920s. New York: Columbia University Press, 2019.
2. Michels, John, Permanent Weekend: Nature, Leisure, and Rural Gentrification . London:McGill-Queen's University Press, 2017.