Saturday, October 6, 2012

Doug Plasman Remembers the Barrel

Having grown up in Holland, MI in the 1950-60 the Saugatuck Mt Baldie was a every summer event.  My family and two other families from Holland would have a picnic every summer at the picnic table area at the foot of Mt Baldie.  A classic hamburg fry using the Coleman stoves made for a delicious meal.  The kids would all climb Mt. Baldie and view beautiful Lake Michigan.  No matter how much we had for supper it was never complete unless we stopped at the famous root beer barrel for the ice cold root beer that was served in frosted mugs.  If I am not mistaken I believe car hops would serve us.  It was some of the best root beer I would have ever taste.  I have lived in Grand Rapids most of my adult life and my wife and I would often take rides in  in the summer to Saugatuck.  I would often mention the famous root beer barrel to my wife and tell her the stories but so wished I could find out what ever happened to the famous barrel.  In 2010 we were coming back from a sunset at the Oval Beach andwe talked about the barrel again.  I took a few side roads and there we spotted the old barrel probably 50 yards off the road.  We got out of the car and walked by it.  Unbelievable!  We had found it!!!