ARAL

NAME: Aral COUNTY: Benzie ROADS: 2WD GRID: 3 CLIMATE: Road maintained in winter, beautiful in summer. BEST TIME TO VISIT: All seasons

COMMENTS: There are no residents or surviving buildings at Aral, whichis located at the west end of Esch Road, about 5 miles south of Empire, Michigan. Esch Road is paved to the site, which is now within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Bring a bathing suit, a picnic lunch, and suntan oil--this is one of Lake Michigan's nicest and best-maintained beaches. Not much swimming in winter, but you might see rafts of offshore ducks, such as Oldsquaws or Mergansers in winter. REMAINS: Virtually nothing.

Aral existed as a sawmill town from 1880 to 1911, and period photos (posted at the site) suggest a poulation of maybe 100. Submitted by: Jim Turner

BACK