Locomotive and crew from the M&ORR. Photo from the Mason County Historical Society Rose Hawley Archives.
PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Back by popular demand, the Mason County Historical Society will host another abandoned railroad tour this spring.
“Touring the Mason & Oceana Railroad” will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 30.
The event begins at Historic White Pine Village, where participants will start with a presentation by historian and Mason County Historical Society President James Jensen.
Participants will then travel by bus along the former railroad route, stopping at various locations where costumed interpreters will portray historical figures and narrators will tell the story of the railroad once dubbed the “Miserable and Ornery.” The program will focus on the railroad’s role in the economic development of Mason and Oceana counties. Guides include Mike Hankwitz and Rob Alway, both Mason County Historical Society directors.
The cost is $75 per person and includes the tour, dinner and admission to Historic White Pine Village. Tickets are available online.
The event will serve as a fundraiser for the Mason County Historical Society, a nonprofit organization supported by memberships, admissions and donations.
The Mason & Oceana Railroad was founded in 1874 and connected Ludington with communities to the north and east, terminating north of Hesperia. Built primarily to support the region’s lumber industry, the line transported timber from inland forests to mills and ports along Lake Michigan.
The railroad later expanded to carry passengers and agricultural goods, becoming a vital transportation link in western Michigan. It also connected with lake steamship operations in Ludington, helping move freight and passengers across Lake Michigan.
By the early 20th century, as timber supplies declined and transportation patterns shifted, the railroad’s importance diminished. Portions of the line were gradually abandoned, though its legacy remains tied to the growth of communities throughout Mason and Oceana counties.
A locomotive on display at Historic White Pine Village is the same model that was used by the M&O.
In 2024, the society hosted a bus tour that traveled through parts of Mason and Manistee counties of the former Manistee & Grand Rapids Railroad. That sold out tour received high praise.
The Mason County Historical Society, founded in 1937, preserves and promotes local history through its museums, programs and archival collections. It operates the Rose Hawley Archives, Historic White Pine Village, Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and the Mason County Emporium.
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