For five decades, families, schoolchildren, and visitors from across Michigan have stepped back in time at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad, where the sights, sounds, and traditions of the 19th century continue to come alive just outside Flint.
Now, the beloved historical attraction is celebrating a major milestone.
Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad — part of the Genesee County Parks system — is marking its 50th anniversary this summer with special events, historical exhibits, and family friendly activities designed to honor both the attraction’s rich history and the community that helped build it.
Since opening during America’s bicentennial celebration in 1976, the recreated village and heritage railroad have become one of Genesee County’s most recognizable destinations, blending living-history education with classic family entertainment.
Visitors this season can ride the iconic Huckleberry Railroad, enjoy performances at the historic Colwell Opera House, explore restored buildings, and watch skilled artisans demonstrate traditional trades that once shaped everyday life in Michigan.
For Scott Burnett, manager of Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad, the anniversary celebration is especially meaningful.
“We’re very excited to celebrate this historic attraction’s 50th anniversary,” Burnett said, noting the timing also coincides with the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebration and Genesee County Day on Aug. 29. Admission to the village on Aug. 29 will be free for Genesee County residents.
Although Burnett has served as manager for less than a year, his connection to Crossroads Village stretches back much further.
He grew up just a few miles away and visited often as a child.
“This really is a dream job for me,” he said.
When the opportunity arose to help manage the historic attraction, Burnett said he saw it as a chance to give back to the community while helping preserve and promote one of the region’s most treasured destinations.
“We want people to experience the history here while also creating new memories with their families,” he said.
Celebrating the Past While Creating New Memories
Planning for the anniversary season has been months in the making.
Burnett said staff members have worked tirelessly organizing special events for Genesee County Day, including local historical organizations, a nostalgic parade, antique tractors, a Model A Club display, fireworks at dusk, and appearances by the Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution.
One of the season’s highlights is a special museum exhibit dedicated entirely to the attraction’s 50-year history.
“We’re very proud of that,” Burnett said.
Younger visitors also have something extra to look forward to this summer.
Thomas the Tank Engine events are now exclusive to Huckleberry Railroad in Michigan, giving families another reason to visit.
For those curious about what Crossroads Village was like in its earliest days, Burnett points to one employee who has been there almost since the beginning: Barb Newtown, one of the attraction’s original staff members, who still shares stories and historical knowledge with guests today.
Newtown, 79, of the Swartz Creek area, began her role at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad when she was 29 years old. She said she’s been there the longest, but she’s not the oldest. She explained that she’s always loved crafts and historical attractions similar to this. “This was my kind of place,” she said. She’s been a weaver and a wool spinner over the years but focuses more on quilting now. She volunteers with Project Linus, a nonprofit that provides handmade blankets for seriously ill children.
While working part time at the attraction, she went back to college and earned her associate’s degree to become an American Sign Language interpreter. She’s retired from her ASL work and continues working two or three days a week at Crossroads.
Newtown enjoys working at Crossroads. She said it keeps her active. She mostly sells tickets at the 1912 C. W. Parker Carousel and the other rides. She also said the wide range of ages of her coworkers makes for an enjoyable time. She has no plans of leaving this job that she loves.
One significant change she’s seen over 50 years is the size of the trees. In 1976, the trees that line the streets in the village were just sticks; now they are massive. She also noted that when she first started, many of the older visitors were born in the 1800s. She recalls learning so much from them about the history of the attraction’s collection. “The older visitors used to tell me their stories. Now I’m one of the older ones,” she said.
A Railroad With Deep Michigan Roots
This summer, visitors riding the Huckleberry Railroad will experience both historic steam and diesel power.
The recently rebuilt diesel Engine No. 12 will pull trains on Thursdays, while Engine No. 152 — a coal-fired locomotive built by the legendary Baldwin Locomotive Works — will operate on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The narrow-gauge railroad also features a collection of 11 original and replica wooden passenger coaches, along with its classic red caboose.
But the railroad’s story began long before Crossroads Village itself.
The rail line dates back to the 1870s, when it operated as part of the Flint River Railroad before later joining the Pere Marquette Railway system. Portions of the line were abandoned during the 1930s, but the surviving tracks were revived in 1976 as Huckleberry Railroad.
According to local historians, the railroad’s unusual name comes from an old saying that the train traveled slowly enough for passengers to hop off, pick huckleberries, and jump back on before it passed.
Today, the railroad remains one of the attraction’s signature experiences.
Preserving Genesee County History
The vision for Crossroads Village began taking shape in the 1950s, when local leaders started planning recreational space along the Flint River.
During the 1960s, rapid development and highway construction — particularly the construction of I-475 — threatened many historic buildings throughout Genesee County. In response, local preservationists and the newly formed Genesee County Parks & Recreation Commission began relocating and restoring endangered structures.
According to the Genesee County Historical Society, those rescued buildings became the foundation for what would eventually become Crossroads Village.
The goal was ambitious: create a living-history town that reflected life in Michigan during the late 1800s.
Crossroads Village officially opened during the nation’s bicentennial era and has continued growing ever since.
Today, the village features more than 30 restored and reconstructed historic buildings, including a general store, schoolhouse, opera house, blacksmith shop, grist mill, farmhouse, and various trade buildings.
More than just a tourist attraction, Crossroads Village serves as an ongoing preservation project — safeguarding pieces of Genesee County history that otherwise may have disappeared forever.
Its unique blend of historic preservation, living-history education, railroad heritage, and family entertainment has helped it remain a treasured destination for generations.
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Barb Newtown, shown here working with wool, began working at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad in 1976, when it first opened. Now 79, she continues working part-time selling tickets to the historic carousel and other rides.
School children across mid-Michigan regularly take field trips every spring to Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad. Many dress in era-appropriate clothing to enhance their experience.
Visitors of all ages enjoy riding on the historical 1912 C. W. Parker Carousel at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad.
