

1990… Frankenmuth Agricultural Park opened (Frankenmuth Cheese Manufacturing Company, Frankenmuth Pretzel Company, and Gepetto’s Restaurant.).1989… Frankenmuth Riverboat Tours opened.1989… Bavarian Inn Lodge opened phase two (98 additional rooms.).


1980… Frankenmuth Holz Brücke (covered bridge) constructed.1977… A Main Street Historic District was formed to encourage preservation of existing architecture and use of “Bavarian” architecture in new construction.1977… Marv Herzog and Harold Mitas organized the first Summer Polka Fest.1976… Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland built new building on south end of Frankenmuth spurring development of south end of town.1970’s… Bavarian Mall opened on north end of Frankenmuth spurring continued development of north end of town.1969… Location of Bavarian Festival moved to Heritage Park.1963… Civic Events Council formed to organize and manage Bavarian Festival.Frankenmuth chose Gunzenhausen, Germany, as Sister City. 1962… Frankenmuth became third city in America to join the People-to-People program.1960 & current… More buildings adopt Alpine-style architecture.1959… Bavarian Inn Grand Opening (later developed into annual Bavarian Festival.).1959… City of Frankenmuth incorporated.1958/59… Zehnder family redecorated the Fischer Hotel in the “Alpine-style” architecture, renaming it the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn.1957… Rupprecht’s Sausage was the first building built in the “Alpine-style” architecture.A dike was built along the bank of the Cass River, controlled annual floods allowing expansion of the downtown area. 1950’s… I-75 constructed, providing easy access to the area.1945… Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland founded.1927… Zehnder’s purchased Exchange Hotel.1904… Village of Frankenmuth Incorporated.1901… State decrees separation of local tax support from St.Later became Carling Brewing Company, Carling-National, and G. 1899… Frankenmuth Brewing Company founded.Kern (Commercial House) served “all you can eat” chicken to a bridal party from Saginaw. 1880 – 1900… Fischer Hotel (later Bavarian Inn), Kerns Commercial House, Stahl’s Eagle Hotel, Goetz Hotel, and Hotel List built.Today, Star of the West is just one of a handful of mills operating in 20th Century Michigan. 1874… Star of the West Milling Company formed joining hundreds of flour mills across rural 19th century Michigan.1868… Local German mutual aid insurance organization created, later developed into today’s Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance Company.1862… Cass River/Geyer’s Brewery built.1854… Frankenmuth township created.1856… Exchange Hotel built (today Zehnder’s Restaurant).
