Community
Thumb Coast
Sanilac and Huron counties — Sandusky, Croswell, Lexington, Port Sanilac, Harbor Beach, Bad Axe, Caseville, and the Lake Huron shore north of the Blue Water Area.
About Thumb Coast
The Thumb Coast is the Lake Huron shoreline of Huron and Sanilac counties, from Caseville and Port Austin at the tip of the Thumb down to Lexington. It is farm country meeting the water, with small harbor towns, sandy state parks and some of the darkest skies in southern Michigan. We cover county news, Thumb-area football and the festivals and outdoor trips that bring visitors north. Small-town festivals fill the summer calendar in nearly every harbor. Summer is busiest, but fall color along M-25 is worth the drive.
Top things to do in Thumb Coast
- Kayak to Turnip Rock from Port Austin (by water only).
- Camp or hike at Port Crescent State Park.
- Visit Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse near Port Hope.
- See ancient carvings at Sanilac Petroglyphs Historic State Park (seasonal).
- Join Caseville’s Cheeseburger in Caseville festival in August.
- Visit the Huron City Museums near Port Austin.
Guides
Latest from Thumb Coast
News · October 20, 2026
Applegate farmer Matt Frostic becomes the first Michigan grower to lead the National Corn Growers Association, pressing Washington on E15 and a farm bill
Frostic’s priorities are year-round E15 sales, a farm bill and new markets for corn, after leading the group’s task force on high input costs.
Michigan Travel · October 19, 2026
Things to do on the Thumb Coast Oct. 24: Caseville’s Witch Walk parade, a Port Sanilac ghost hunt and Port Austin’s last farmers market
A witch parade and runway show in Caseville, a ghost hunt in an 1870s mansion and a Christmas-themed last market fill Saturday.
Community · October 19, 2026
What is Telly's Bar & Grill? Emmett's new family sports bar, explained
Opened in April 2026 on Dunnigan Road in Emmett, Telly's is a family-friendly restaurant with a sports-bar feel, known for ribs, kabobs and pizza.
Election 2026 · October 18, 2026
Huron County asks voters for a new 10-year public safety tax, three months after approving four county millages
The 0.4-mill levy would raise about $1.22 million a year for deputies, the jail, courthouse security and EMS. Lake Township is back with two road renewals that failed in August, one by a single vote.
News · October 16, 2026
Seven Sanilac County townships and villages ask for road, fire or safety millages Nov. 3, and Yale tries again on a $20 million bond
Road and fire millages are on Nov. 3 ballots in seven Sanilac County communities, along with a second $20 million Yale school bond try.
Sports · October 15, 2026
Bad Axe hosts Kingston in 8-player football Friday after back-to-back routs
Hatchets (3-4) outscored their last two opponents 88-8; Kingston (4-3) has lost two straight. Kickoff 7 p.m. Friday at Bad Axe.
News · October 15, 2026
Harbor Beach starts state-required drinking-water cross-connection inspections
Harbor Beach is surveying homes and businesses for unprotected plumbing links that can let contaminants siphon into the public water system.
Michigan Travel · October 14, 2026
Port Sanilac’s Haunted Village and Port Austin’s Zombie Crawl fill Saturday night on the Thumb Coast
Haunted Village returns Oct. 17 at 228 S. Ridge St. in Port Sanilac. Port Austin’s chamber also lists a Zombie Crawl starting at 3 p.m. at Lake Street Local.
News · October 14, 2026
Sandusky’s new McKenzie hospital is on track to see patients by August 2027, its CEO tells Sanilac commissioners
The $74 million replacement for McKenzie’s 1967 downtown hospital is “relatively on schedule, on budget,” CEO Steve Barnett said, with work moving indoors for the winter.
Sports · October 13, 2026
Harbor Beach visits Laker Friday after first win of the season
The Pirates (1-6) snapped an 0-6 start with a 21-8 win at Reese. Laker (5-2) brings a four-game winning streak into the 7 p.m. kickoff in Pigeon.
Michigan Travel · October 12, 2026
Fairy Tale Trail in Port Austin Saturday, then Caseville’s Witch Walk the next weekend
Nightmare on Prospect at the Caseville Museum runs noon to 4 p.m. during Witch Walk; the evening parade starts at 6.
Sports · October 8, 2026
North Branch ends a four-game skid with a 42-3 win over Croswell-Lexington
North Branch won 42-3, ending its four-game losing streak. Croswell-Lexington is 2-5.
Michigan Travel · October 8, 2026
A flashlight corn maze, a Saturday market and an herb fair filled a Thumb Coast weekend
The Oct. 9 flashlight maze was $12, cash only. The Port Austin market runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, through Oct. 24.
Sports · October 7, 2026
Laker rolls past Cass City 49-6 on homecoming in a Big Thumb meeting
Laker won 49-6 over Cass City on homecoming and is 5-2.
Sports · October 7, 2026
Bad Axe soccer shares the Big Thumb title after a 3-3 home draw with USA
Unionville-Sebewaing/Cass City came to town for the conference finale Thursday. Neither side left alone with the trophy.
Michigan Travel · October 7, 2026
On the Thumb Coast this month: Haunted Village, harbor walks, and a fiber festival
Port Sanilac’s historic village has one Haunted Village night left, Oct. 17. Lexington’s lakeshore still has fall vendors and a Fiber & Folk Arts weekend later in the month.
News · October 7, 2026
Harbor Beach launches Patrons of the Theatre after Bad Axe’s screen goes dark
A new 501(c)(3) says the county’s last movie house runs $12,000 to $15,000 in the red each year — and will honor leftover Bad Axe punch cards.
News · October 7, 2026
Two Thumb health networks each get $750,000 to widen rural opioid care
HRSA’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program is sending Impact awards to Bluewater Healthcare Network in Marlette and Thumb Community Health Partnership in Sandusky.
News · October 7, 2026
Caseville harbor installs a HandiCaptain so boaters can board without the hard step
The Lake Leelanau-built lift, funded through the Department of Natural Resources, is meant for disabilities, mobility limits and age — and Mayor Kenneth Rathje took a ride.
News · October 7, 2026
Port Sanilac’s Loop-Harrison House gets $85,000 to stop the water damage
Michigan’s State Historic Preservation Office is sending rural heritage money to the 1872 mansion at the Sanilac County Historic Village and Museum.