Our goal is to make sure that all guests feel welcome and have an enjoyable experience when they visit the store. We have a fun beach-going atmosphere in the store with an energetic welcoming staff. Our ideas for food and product are completely customer focused and strive to have something for everyone.

We are conveniently located on the public beach. When you visit the beach you will be steps away from great food, ice cream, rentals, fishing supplies, floaties, beach toys, towels and any and all supplies you may need for a great day at the beach or a week of camping. Come on into the store or access our online menu under the Shop tab and order everything you need for your day. Come inside the store or have our complimentary delivery service bring your order to the lagoon or campground.

Inside the store we have ice cold beverages both from the fountain and fridge. We are stocked up with your favorite Coke products, teas, juices, energy drinks, & dairy products. We are excited to announce we are carrying “Tractor” brand organic juices. Made from only real ingredients (the ones you can pronounce), Tractor proudly pours Certified Organic, Non-GMO beverages that feel as good to drink as they do to serve. For information or allergy info https://drinktractor.com/

We have paired with a few local vendors so we can not only support our community but bring local fare to visitors. These vendors have supplied us with fresh breads, cookies, pastries, charcuterie boxes, subs, salads and more. We are thrilled to offer Michigan made items from around the state including snacks,candy, honey, maple syrup, stickers, apparel, coasters and more. We also have original Higgins Lake designed apparel, blankets and drinkware.

As the State Park Store we will carry camping essentials including sewer hoses, extension cords, flex paste, water hoses, ice, wood and much more. We also have all the picnicking must-haves such as charcoal, starting fluid, condiments, paper plates, and silverware. I’m sure we have whatever you left at home.

We haven't forgotten our boating and fishing community! We will have all the portable snacks, candy, and grab and go food you can imagine, along with ice to replenish your coolers and ice cream to cool you down on those long hot days. We will have fishing poles, lures and bait for a successful fishing venture. We will also provide a limited amount of boating supplies as demand deems.

We are thrilled to be continuing the tradition of hand dipped ice cream. We will have all your Michigan favorites so you can continue to carry out your family’s tradition. If it’s too cold for ice cream (that’s never, in my opinion) , come inside the store and sit by the fire with a hot coffee, hot chocolate or tea and local hand made pastry to warm you on the inside. We have board games and puzzles you are welcome to use while you're warming up. We will be offering non-motorized watercraft (kayaks, paddle boards, water-mats), beach games (cornhole, horseshoes and bocce ball), umbrellas and sand toys for daily/weekly rental. Proceed to the Rentals Tab to learn more!

The South Higgins Lake State Park campground opened in 1927 with just 15 campsites on 100 acres. Eight years later “The Store” (previously known as The Lodge) was erected by the local Civilian Conservation Corps, Camp Pioneer, for the caretaker of the campground. The Store was built with native local white pine timber. The previous and current upkeep of The Store is done by the local DNR. A visit to the store will surely take you back in time as you witness the building's classic architecture.

Today the State Park encompasses Marl Lake and parts of the Cut River to include 1000 acres and a mile of Higgins Lake shoreline. The Store is no longer a residence but is an icon and also an essential spot for campers and beach-goers to purchase everything from food to unique Michigan related merchandise.

Higgins Lake is a large, spring-fed body of water known for its clarity, fishing potential and recreational boating; it has a large boating access site with a boat basin, nine launches and a boat-washing station. The basin was created during the last glaciation. Higgins Lake was likely once part of a larger lake that included what is now Houghton Lake and the Houghton Lake Flats area. It is part of the watershed that flows into Lake Michigan. Higgins Lake is over 100 feet deep – that’s over 5 cars stacked bumper to bumper—and has an area of over 15 square miles.

Higgins Lake is named in honor of Sylvester Higgins, one of the state’s first surveyors. Going further in history, the Anishinaabe (translation “The Good Humans”), which includes a number of culturally similar indigenous people, groups and tribes including the Ojibwe (including Saulteaux and Oji-Cree), Odawa, Potawatomi, Mississaugas, Nipissing and Algonquin peoples of northern Michigan and Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Canada named the lake Majinabeesh, which means “sparkling water”.

Native and naturalized fish people might catch while fishing include: Lake Trout, Rock Bass, Yellow Perch, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Bluegill, Pumpkinseed.

Native and naturalized birds people may see on and around Higgins Lake: Ring-billed Gull (NOT a seagull. Seagulls live by the sea, whereas Higgins Lake is entirely freshwater!), Pileated Woodpecker, Loons, Wood Duck, Mallard Duck, Canada Goose, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadees, Red-eyed Vireo.

Leave No Trace: Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories.

Why shouldn't I carve trees? Bark is like skin. It protects trees from bugs and disease. Slicing the tree's skin helps bugs and pests burrow into the wood and allows other critters to transfer disease between trees. This can hinder their growth, and even cause them to die. Still need to memorialize you and your sweetheart's love? Check out our gift shop for an alternative.

Why shouldn't I stack rocks? Did you know? A rock is a home! Aquatic macroinvertebrates, or small water-dwelling insects, cling to submerged rocks to complete the first stages of their life cycles. These bugs are an important food source for small fishes, frogs, and even birds. Some grow up into gorgeous dragonflies. Still want to practice your precision and photography skills? Try and snap a photo of a dragonfly or damselfly before it zips away.

Why should I clean-up my trash? “Micro-trash” on the beach, including small plastic parts from toys, lost jewelry, and cigarette butts, can be ingested by wildlife like birds and fish, killing them. It also makes the beach less enjoyable for other visitors.

Why should I clean, drain, and dry my boat, waders, lifejackets, etc.? Prevent the spread of invasive species with clean-drain-dry. When introduced to an ecosystem, invasive species can “take-over” and push out or kill the wildlife you know and love. Invasive species also grow and spread fast, sometimes becoming a pest to humans. Eurasian milfoil, an aquatic plant introduced to Higgins Lake during the 90's, continues to pose problems by clogging boat motors or forming mats in otherwise nice boating areas. Protect your fishing, boating, and swimming future by cleaning, draining, and drying your gear every time you go to a new body of water. Be sure to visit the Higgins Lake Boat Wash station for a free wash.

The Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) is a national service program that began in response to the Great Depression, giving young single men the opportunity to make some money while giving back to America’s environmental infrastructure. Nationwide, the CCC has built roads, fire-breaks, bridges, and more, while living in CCC camps with other members. The CCC around Higgins Lake was critical to reforesting Michigan via their service at the Higgins Lake Nursery. The Higgins Lake Nursery was once the largest tree nursery in Michigan, spanning over 40-acres. This nursery grew thousands of white pine, red pine, jackpine, and spruce seedlings. Today, the site hosts a museum and the historic buildings used by the CCC boys. Need to see it to believe it? We recommend taking the 15-minute scenic drive around Higgins Lake and visiting the CCC Museum yourself!