Holly 

Village of Holly

Holly is still an area of open land and homes on acreage. It is growing daily with the area townships keeping the high density growth to a minimum. It is located 3 miles from I75, 3 miles from Fenton and US 23. There is a large medical complex to the north approximately 7 miles to the north. This community has worked hard to retain its traditional, Victorian brick architecture in the downtown area, and it is worth a drive to see it. The narrow streets, old-style lamps, unique shops and the Historic Holly Hotel
make for a delightful visit to yesteryear, whether winter or summer, rain or shine.

Skiing in Holly

Mount Holly Ski Resort

Ski Holly

Skiing in Holly

Skier friendly Mt Holly has something for everybody! Inside and out! Two cafeterias, a pizza room, and a snack bar give skiers a variety of dining choices. The slopeside cafe features a food court layout with taco and mexican food bar, a self serve drink island, and a walk up grill for your dining pleasure.

The newly remodeled "Lift Lounge" will feature libations in a relaxed setting that includes two new grand fireplaces. The Lift Lounge offers guests over 21 great food and drinks in a pleasant atmosphere which overlooks the slopes. Enjoy your favorite specialty drink and appetizers while you take a break from the slopes with friends and listen to the music.

Outside? A vertical drop of 350 feet with 18 slopes for beginner, intermediate & advance skiers. Our Mach 1 Express Superlift is southeast Michigan's only high speed detachable chairlift! Easy load and unload.

If you are one of Mt. Holly's veteran snowboarders our newly developed terrain park, located on the former slalom hill will be your favorite ride this season. With a bit steeper grade, they can create bigger and better features.

Hope to be skiing and snowboarding you soon!

Holly Park

  
Holly Parks

The Village of Holly has many parks for your enjoyment. Lakeside Park, located on Bush Lake off Hollybush Drive has a beautiful new playscape and also is home to Holly's Skate Park.

Crapo Park is the home to the Concerts in the Park series, as well as many other events. It has a lovely wooden gazebo, swingsets and more. It is located on Martha Street just east of Broad Street.

Aaaron Ganshaw Park, located on Bevins Lake on North Saginaw Street, also has a gazebo and is a favorite stop for lunch and for ice fishermen in the winter.

The Water Works Park is located on Broad Street right across from the Mill Pond Dam. It is the site of the former Holly Mills.

Cyclone Park is located just south of East Maple Street and is home to many softball games and other fun activities.

The Holly Township Beach is located right next door to Lakeside Park. It has a beautiful sandy beach, pavillions, swings and more. It is located on Bush Lake off Hollybush  Drive.

History of Holly

Holly Then

Holly Now

Holly's roots go back 150+ years, to the arrival of its first settlers in 1831. Many followed, and by 1843, one of these, Ira C. Alger, had dammed the Shiawassee River and constructed a sawmill to provide lumber for homes and schools. A year later he built a gristmill to process the grain from the surrounding agricultural land. With these assets, Holly was able to attract the railroads, and in 1855, the first train rolled into town, marking the beginning of Holly's growth era, and the development of downtown Holly as
its hub.

The 1860's saw more rail lines completed through Holly, and the town became the site of the first rail junction in the state. Hotels sprang up near the depot north and south of the tracks along Broad Street, so-named for its wide expanse prior to the railroad tracks being laid. Business established themselves on Broad Street, where bustling activity promised success, and spread up Martha to Saginaw Street.

Holly's early commercial buildings were frame structures built with the readily available supply of local lumber. In 1875, a fire that threatened the whole downtown was fought by bucket brigade, but all of the buildings on the east side were destroyed. Soon after (1877-79), these buildings, and most of the remaining frame structures in the downtown area were replaced with brick structures that remain today.

With the advent of the automobile, the railroad declined importance, especially for passenger transportation, and many businesses sprang up to cater to rail travelers found themselves with fewer customers. The center of business activity shifted away from the railroad tracks to Saginaw Street, where automobiles access was easier.

Many buildings fell into disuse, and some, like the old "Balcony Block" on Broad Street, were eventually torn down and replaced with structures of more modern construction.The automobile and other elements of progress brought many changes to the downtown: gas stations and parking lots, street lights and traffic signals, signs sized and lit to attract passing motorists, new businesses selling new products growth and change have altered the appearance of the downtown that has stood for over 100 years.

Holly Water Tower

Holly Village