Stacey Schlueter from Orange County, California, holds up her daughter, Kate, to feed a buck at the Deer Ranch on US-2 in St. Ignace Wednesday, July 28. The local tourism industry is relatively robust this summer despite the recession, say owners of tourism attractions in St. Ignace. The city's tourist stops have a rich history, each offering a unique view of the Straits area. Here is an overview of attractions, and their reported traffic trends so far this summer:

The Deer Ranch

At the Deer Ranch on US-2 west of St. Ignace, guests see deer up close, feed them carrots, and take photographs along a wooded trail. The attraction claims is the oldest whitetail exhibit in North America and has more than 50 deer, including bucks, does, foals, and albinos. About 25,000 people visit each season.

“We've gotten a lot of people [from] out of state this summer,” said Harold Kriesche, who as a third generation owner, has been running the business with his wife, Sally, for 23 years. “We've had visitors from Maryland, Alabama, and Arkansas. They're getting out of the south.”

Jeannine (from right) and Jim Wiss, along with his younger brother, Joel, of Detroit peer through the display outside of Indian Village on State Street in St. Ignace. The Indian Village features birch bark decor and a Fort de Buade display. Celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, the ranch draws mostly repeat customers, Mr. Kriesche added, estimating that about 90% of the groups have someone who's been there before.

John Ogle founded the Deer Ranch in 1950 and was succeeded by Tom Harrington, who sold the store to the Kriesches in 1988.

“We were thinking about retiring and selling the business a few years ago,” Mrs. Kriesche said, “and we've had people come up and say they're happy we're still here.”

Manager Lisa Bigelow poses in front of the Fort DeBuade model at Indian Village in St. Ignace. Answers to common questions about the deer are available to visitors at the park entrance. One commonly asked question is why some of the does look skinny. It's because they consume much energy while pregnant and, later, nursing the fawns. Another interesting fact is that deer antlers are nature's fastest growing organism, increasing in size about one inch every day.

In addition to the white-tail exhibit, the ranch has a souvenir shop with rustic items for sale, including many deerskin products, such as moccasins.

The Deer Ranch is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Mystery Spot

Drivers along West US-2 cannot fail to see the large sign advertising “The Mystery Spot.” And as those who've visited can attest, the attraction in the forest is an excellent eyebaffling optical illusion.

Paul Stevens, manager of the Weird Wax Museum on US-2 in St. Ignace, demonstrates how gold mining was done in the 1900s, sifting mine rough out of a sluice using water from a wooden trough outside the museum. Among a variety of gems, “miners” here can discover fool's gold, fossilized shark teeth, rose quartz, and quartz crystal. In addition to 25-minute guided tours throughout the day, the Mystery Spot built two zip lines of 650 and 385 feet this summer and has an 18-hole mini golf course and a gift shop.

The zip lines are geared toward families with teenagers from 14 to 18 years old, said owner Dan McCarthy.

“The zip line is going to be a great fall attraction,” he added. “It's a chance to be outdoors.”

Sales are slightly down this summer in comparison to last year, which Mr. McCarthy largely attributes to the change of weather. Cool, rainy weather is good for his business.

A group of tourists atop Castle Rock in St. Ignace. “Last summer was cool and quite wet, and on those cooler weather days, I feel that fewer people go to the beach and Mackinac Island,” he explained.

Last summer drew more visitors from western states such as Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana, he said, attributing the trend to advertising from the Pure Michigan advertising campaign.

“The ads were stronger in the western market,” he said, explaining that the state significantly cut funding for the campaign this year. “In my opinion, that funding is extremely important.” For every dollar spent, he said, multiple dollars are returned to the state's economy.

The Mystery Spot is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Dan McCarthy, owner of The Mystery Spot on US-2 in St. Ignace, propels through the air on a 650- foot zip line, one of two that were constructed on the site this summer. Opening to the public Saturday, July 31, the zip lines are geared toward teenagers, Mr. McCarthy said. Prices are $15 for two rides, or $10 for those who take a guided tour of the Mystery Spot. The Weird Wax Museum

The Weird Wax Museum, neighboring The Mystery Spot on US-2, features 34 wax characters depicting Michigan historical folklore legends. Each display tells its own unique story, such as the King of Beaver Island, the Ghost of Calumet Theater, and the Michigan Dog Man.

Owners Neal and J.B. Biezke of Detroit launched the museum in 2007. The brothers used to tell ghost stories while camping in northern Michigan during their youth, said manager Paul Stevens, which is what sparked their interest in opening the museum.

At left: Dave and Jennifer Vanderklok of Lansing, along with their daughters Kinsley (left) and Teagan, visited the Deer Ranch on US-2 in St. Ignace for the first time Wednesday, July 28. “We have so many deer in our yard, but we never get so close,” said Ms. Vanderklok, whose daughters fed the deer carrots. “They started researching some of these stories and discovered strange historical facts, some true and some legend,” he said. “They had seen wax museums [across the country] and found out there was nothing like that in Michigan.”

Business traffic at the museum is slower this summer than last year, Mr. Stevens said, with fewer out-ofstate visitors. Because of Michigan's economic crisis, the tourism industry now largely relies on visitors from out of state, he said.

Like Mr. McCarthy at The Mystery Spot, he said the state's Pure Michigan ads are important locally.

Suzan Ferguson and her daughter, Emmy, of Brownstown pause in front of the statues depicting Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox at Castle Rock in St. Ignace. “I first came here when I was five years old,” Ms. Ferguson said. “You have to go outside of your home state to bring these people in. When [the state] slowed down advertising for the Pure Michigan ads, that hurt us a little,” he said.

Families comprise most of the business at the museum, which draws up to 250 visitors on weekends. This summer has brought guests from throughout the Midwest, as well as North and South Dakota, New York, Pennsylvania, and Canada.

The museum also features an outdoor mining experience that hearkens back to the 1900s, a gift shop, and a concession stand offering softserve ice cream. In the mining experience, visitors sift mine rough out of a sluice using water from a wooden trough to discover a variety of gems, including fool's gold, fossilized shark teeth, rose quartz, and quartz crystal.

Nancy Dandona, owner of Totem Village on US-2 in St. Ignace, in front of a display of souvenirs at the gift store. The store includes a museum with historical artifacts and Native American totem poles, and a wildlife viewing area. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Totem Village

A long-standing attraction on US-2 enjoyed by generations of visitors is Totem Village, a souvenir shop that includes a museum and wildlife viewing area. The museum was launched in 1950 by Ralph McCarry, who contributed a vast collection of historical artifacts, including full-size Native American totem poles and historically accurate dioramas depicting scenes from St. Ignace and Sault Ste. Marie.

“People come in and say, Wow. They say it's different than other souvenir shops,” said owner Nancy Dandona, adding that she tries to sell as much local artwork in the store as possible. “I want people to realize they're up north when they walk in the store.”

Stepping outside of the museum, guests can see marsh deer from Japan, a tundra fox, bobcat, porcupine, and painted turtles at the wildlife viewing area.

Most people who visit her store also stop by the other attractions on US-2, Ms. Dandona said, and merchants in the area do a good job of referring people to other places.

In 2009, the museum was named a historic Michigan roadside attraction by the Michigan Historical Museum in Lansing, as were the St. Ignace attractions Lehto's Pasties, Castle Rock, The Mystery Spot, and the Deer Ranch.

“People who like the attractions like all of them,” she said. “It's important to help people have a really good experience in our community.”

Totem Village is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Castle Rock

North of St. Ignace on I-75, Castle Rock towers nearly 200 feet above Lake Huron, offering a spectacular view of Mackinac Island and the surrounding area.

Millions of tourists have climbed Castle Rock since the attraction opened in 1929, said third-generation manager Mark Eby, whose grandfather, Clarence, opened the business in 1929. He estimates between 75,000 and 80,000 people visit each season.

“Daily, we have people come in here and parents who say they visited while they were young and are bringing their children back,” he said.

In comparison to last summer, business traffic is slightly down, Mr. Eby said, attributing the decrease to fewer school groups visiting in the spring. The majority of business at Castle Rock comes from families on vacation, he said.

“In the summer time, which is mid-June through Labor Day weekend, probably 80 to 90 percent of the people that walk through the door are families,” he said. “In the latter part of the season, it's mostly couples.”

Word-of-mouth advertising draws a large percentage of visitors, said Mr. Eby, who added that his goal is to create a positive experience for all of his visitors. The staff actively talks with tourists about the area and helps plan their trips.

“We want people to have a good time while they're here,” he said. “We ask people how long they're going to be in the area and recommend trips for them.”

At the base of Castle Rock are large statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe, his blue ox, and an oldfashioned birch bark souvenir shop offering T-shirts and a variety of U.P. souvenirs.

Castle Rock is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Indian Village

Indian Village is a historic gift shop that offers Native Americanthemed souvenirs, including wooden products, jewelry, Tshirts, and moccasins. The shop is on State Street in St. Ignace and designed to look like an Indian longhouse. It also has free museum decorated in birch bark and featuring Native American artifacts collected by original owner Clarence Eby, who opened the store in 1927. Mr. Eby was also the owner of Castle Rock.

Manager Lisa Bigelow estimates that approximately 50,000 people visit Indian Village each season, many of whom have been coming since they were young.

“The fact that it's been here for this long” brings in repeat customers, she said. “People remember it from when they were little.”

In the 1930s, bark teepees were constructed on the site by Mr. Eby, featuring baskets and other handmade wares. Native American men and women worked at the store in the early days, making crafts such as baskets, bows, and arrows for children, and tourist goods like wooden tomahawks, drums, and canoes.

“People would line up waiting to purchase products as fast as the women could make them, a lot of the time,” said Mark Eby of St. Ignace, Clarence Eby's grandson.

Many of the original artifacts are on display at the Indian Village's museum today, including a model of Fort de Buade in 1689.

The store is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Museum of Ojibwa Culture

Also downtown is Marquette Mission Park and Museum of Ojibwa Culture, which has Native American artifacts on display offering a window into what life was like in the Straits of Mackinac 300 years ago. The museum, housed in the old Catholic church built in 1837, also has a gift shop featuring locally made Native American products.

Galleries illustrate the subsistence culture of the Ojibwa, Huron, and Odawa Indians. Another display illustrates how the French fur traders impacted the Native American culture when they arrived in the 1660s.

A longhouse outside of the museum represents the abodes of the Huron, and an information kiosk at the Fr. Jacques Marquette memorial site explains how the tribes gathered at Fr. Marquette's Jesuit Mission in the 1600s.

Manager Shirley Sorrels said revenue for the city-owned museum, which draws about 10,000 visitors each summer, is up from last year. She said that about 60% of visitors are from Michigan and the rest are from other states or overseas, such as France, Germany, and Asia.

“I think it's because people are looking for authentic Native American products more,” she said of the traffic passing through the museum, adding that the museum is selling art and crafts made by tribal youth this summer.

She also added that her staff helps answer visitors' questions about other attractions in the St. Ignace area.

“We try to provide a destination experience,” she said.

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission is by donation.

Fort de Buade Museum

Featuring more than 3,500 historical artifacts and 90 display cases, the Fort de Buade Museum houses a collection that starts before the first European settlers and covers the Native, French, British, and American eras all the way up to the present day.

The museum was originally opened in 1976 by Dr. Donald Bensen, a Lansing orthodontist who had an extensive personal collection of historical artifacts. Mr. Bensen passed away in 2005, and, in 2007, the Bensen family sold the building to the City of St. Ignace and donated his personal collection to the city. The purchase price for the building was contributed to the city by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. The museum is operated by the Michilimackinac Historical Society.

Laura Quinn of Brighton, Mr. Bensen's daughter, said that the family feels grateful to the city and historical society for keeping the museum alive, noting that it had always been her father's goal to preserve his collection for future generations.

“It's one of the largest that I've ever seen,” she said of the collection, “and to think that it's a personal collection, not a state collection, by one person who had an interest that turned into a business to preserve the history of the St. Ignace area.”

The 6,700 square-foot museum is loaded with artifacts from the French fur trade, the French and British colonial period, the French and Indian War, and the Civil War, and it contains extensive military and Indian weapon collections. It also has a gift shop offering Native American artwork and souvenirs.

Manager Connie Sweet noted that the museum has attracted visitors from across the state and outside of the country. This summer the museum has had visitors from Canada, China, Korea, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, and Latin American countries.

Ms. Sweet said the museum staff emphasizes hospitality and assists visitors in any way they can..

“We want to give [visitors] a good impression of the city,” she said. We ask them where they're going and give them directions. It's all about creating a positive experience for them so they return.”

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is by donation.