Area Information
The community of Chelsea was founded in 1834 by two brothers. The community grew
with the railroads making frequent stops in town, bringing settlers to the area
and transporting goods from local farms. At one point, Chelsea was one of the largest
export centers for wool in the country. Before the 20th century, Glazier Stove Works
became the world’s largest distributor of oil and wood burning stoves. In 1930 Mrs.
Mabel Holmes created Jiffy Mix. The family owned business, Chelsea Milling, is still
thriving.
In 1991, local resident turned professional actor Jeff Daniels returned home to
Chelsea to open a Michigan based theatre and production company. The Purple Rose
theatre has 168 seats and is regarded as one of the finest regional theatres in
the nation. With four shows running over 40 weeks throughout the year, it is something
not to be missed.
Get outside and enjoy the outdoors at the Waterloo Recreation Area. With over 20,000
acres and 11 lakes it is the largest park in the Lower Peninsula. Activities include
swimming, fishing, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, 12 miles of interpretive
nature trails and 47 miles of hiking trails.
The historic downtown has many multigenerational and eclectic new businesses. Well
know for its vibrant arts community, Chelsea has several art galleries, antique
shops and is home to the Chelsea Center the Arts. Saturday mornings from May through
October, local growers, artists and crafters sell their goods at the Farmers Market.
One of the highlights of these days is the "Chef at the Market" cooking
demonstration.
Families and groups find plenty to do while in Chelsea. Two local companies offer
tours of their operations. The Jiffy Mix plant has tours throughout each week and
consists of a slide presentation, refreshment period and a walk through their packaging
plant. The Teddy Bear Company also offers tours that let you step onto the production
floor and see the design and delivery of teddy bears. Also, less then 30 minutes
away is the Michigan International Speedway. There are three races throughout the
year in June, July and August.
