The Fly Factory, Michigan’s oldest fly shop and fly-fishing guide service - established in 1876, and Ray’s Canoe Livery will have its Grand Reopening this Saturday, May 10.

The shop’s owners for the past 29 years, The Steve Southard Family, have invited friends, customers and the public to join them to celebrate the Grand Re-Opening with Sales Promotions and refreshments that will be served throughout the day. The Fly Factory is located on the I-75 Business Loop @ the AuSable River Bridge, 205 Ingham Street, Grayling, Michigan.

The actual ‘ribbon cutting’ at The Fly Factory http://www.troutbums.com/ will happen at 11PM Saturday night when a group of friends of The Fly Factory, the bluegrass band Chasin’ Steel http://www.chasinsteel.com/ arrives at the shop following their performance at the Kirtland Center For The Performing Arts. http://www.kirtland.edu/kcpa/0708series/9.htm

This is the fifth location of this historic fly-fishing business which is only 20 yrs. younger than fly-fishing industry pace-setter, the C.F. Orvis Company of Manchester, Vermont. Through The Fly Factory’s 132 year history, all five locations of the business have been within 50 yards of each other, directly adjacent to where the I-75 Business Loop crosses the AuSable River Bridge in Grayling.

In 1876, Chief David Shoppenagon, a Chippewa from the Saginaw Bay area, built his house on the north-east corner of this river/road intersection, directly in front of the new shop location. The Chief served as a hunting and fishing guide for lumber buyers and other visitors to the Grayling area in the late 1800's & early 1900's. The Southard Family has been in contact with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Mt. Pleasant and is working with the tribe to explore the potential for establishing an interpretive display on the site.

In recognition of The Fly Factory’s late-1800’s beginnings, the shop’s new location is being finished in 1890’s-stylefeaturing flooring, ceiling, exterior-siding and decorative log products from the area’s sawmills and lumber suppliers including: Tony Warren Sawmill; John Stampfly’s Sawmill; and, Legendary Log, owned by Jay Stephan, Jr.

The staff and guides at The Fly Factory are pleased to carry on the tradition as "The AuSable River's Original Fly Shop & Guide Service."

The Grand Re-Opening of The Fly Factory & Ray’s Canoe Livery is supported by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Mt. Pleasant and will be attended by a tribal elder.


That's all for now...from the spot where it all began 132 years ago with Chief Shoppenagon...until next time, this is Jack Pine Savage signing off.