Michigan: Lakeport’s Lakeshore Smokehouse
This weeks Fun Food Friday was featured back in 2019, but so much has changed there, we felt the need to give them another shout out. It is absolutely one of our favorite places for some delicious smoked meats, which you can tell are cooked with pride. Lakeshore Smokehouse in Lakeport, MI just north of Port Huron. It is a great place to take the family for not just some good food, but an afternoon adventure. There are tons of things to do and it is even dog friendly!
In 2011, in the height of the foreclosure crisis, Gary and Vicki Brown purchased this property, which at the time was a small landscaping company call Northland Gardens. They already owned landscaping and lawn service companies and thought it would be a nice addition to their businesses. In 2012, they decided to add a little trailer, selling some smoked ribs, brisket and pulled pork, to attract some tourist drive-bys and people from the state park across the street…thus Lakeshore Smokehouse was born. At first glance, this unique eatery might not catch your eye. In fact, you might have driven past Lakeshore Smokehouse during previous trips without taking a second look.
The smokehouse boasts a rustic yet relaxing outdoor setting. It takes your BBQ experience to a new level. You will definitely want to go back again and again. There are cute little gardens throughout the property, fun games, Koi pond with waterfall, and lots of fresh air. It’s basically impossible to have a bad time. Lakeshore Smokehouse also has a stage and is home to frequent live music performances.
Of course COVID changed the way we all do EVERYTHING, and Lakeshore was not immune to this. In order to survive the crowding or people waiting in line (and there could be long lines during peak times) they switched to drive through ordering only. It is a pretty cool set up. First it makes you drive all the way around their property to get in line for the drive through. This is cool because you get to see everything they have going on. When you get to the front you place your order, pay, and then they deliver the food to your car. From there you can park and sit anywhere to eat and there are a lot of places to sit. When finished, you can walk around and check everything out. You can easily spend a couple of hours here.
Lakeshore Smokehouse is located at 7269 Lakeshore Rd (M-25), the entrance is just south and across the street from the entrance to Lakeport State Park campground. This is a seasonal place, they are currently open 11:30-7 Fri-Sat-Sun. Their season usually starts in mid to late April and run through the end of October so there is still time to get there before the end of this season.
Until next week…Live Well, Eat Well! Enjoy Life!
- Keith & Teresa Becker