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US 23 Heritage Route

Pure Michigan Byways Logo SignThe US 23 Heritage Route is a Pure Michigan Byway, a program under the Michigan Department of Transportation. It begins in Standish and travels 200 miles up the Lake Huron shoreline to Mackinaw City. US 23 Heritage Route connects to a River Road National Scenic Byway in Oscoda.

US 23 logo

Visit the US 23 website heritage23.com!

US 23 Management Council

US 23 is overseen by a Management Council - this Council sets the direction of the US 23 program and provides feedback to the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (who manages and provides staffing and technical support for the program).

Current US 23 Management Council Members:

Cheboygan County:

Cheboygan Chamber of Commerce: Carole Yeck (Cheboygan Area Chamber of Commerce Director)

Mackinaw City Representative: Pat Wyman (Mackinaw City Village Manager)

Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce: Amy Millard (Mackinaw City Chamber Director)

Presque Isle County:

Presque Isle County: Anne Belanger (Presque Isle Library and Bon Ami Filmworks) - Management Council Chairperson

Rogers City: Kaelie Fessler (Rogers City Main Street Director)

Presque Isle Township: Steve Lang (Township Supervisor)

Alpena County:

Alpena Chamber of Commerce: Adam Poll (Alpena Chamber Director) (alternate Mike Mahler, Target Alpena)

City of Alpena: Montiel Birmingham (City Planning Director), Rachel Smolinski (City Manager) and Kevin Fisher (Parks Coordinator)

Alpena Township: Nathan Skibbe

Sanborn Township: Ken Gauthier

Alpena CVB: Mary Beth Stutzman (Alpena CVB Director)

Alpena County: Bill LaHaie, Alpena County Commissioner (alternate Travis Konarzewski)

South Bay Corridor : Larry Clark

Alcona County:

Alcona Township: Marlena MacNeill (Alcona Township Supervisor)

Alcona County: Mary Ellen Jones (Mitten Women Productions)

City of Harrisville: Jacquelyn Schwanz (Harrisville City Council)

Iosco County:

Iosco County: Rich Castle (Develop Iosco)

Iosco County: Dave Wentworth (Heritage Coast Sailing & Rowing)

Oscoda CVB: Erin Kellstrom (Oscoda CVB Executive Assistant) - Management Council Vice-Chairperson

Sunrise Coastal Coalition: Belle Flora (alternate Pat Shiftlet)

Oscoda Chamber of Commerce: Palma Leonatti

Arenac County:

Arenac County: Heather Bauman

Au Gres: Dale Wiltse

Organizations, Agencies & Other:

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Sarah Waters

Friends of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary: vacant

Museums: Chris Witulski (Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan Director) and Brenda Matt (Standish Historic Depot)

Michigan Department of Transportation (Local): Kevin Schaedig and Garrett Dawe 

Michigan Department of Transportation (State): Heidi Phaneuf and Clayton Sigmann

Michigan Department of Natural Resources : Blake Gingrich and Eric Ostrander

Michigan Sea Grant : Brandon Schroeder

Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe: Don Seal (alternate Frank Cloutier)

US Forest Service: vacant

Private Tourism : Ian Dockrill (Lost Lake Woods)

Private Tourism : Scott Susalla

Senator Stamas' Office: Beverly Bodem

Corridor Management Plan:

The US 23 Heritage Route is governed by a Corridor Management Plan - click here to download.

Staff:

US 23 Heritage Route Program Manager: Denise Cline