Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary, 1698 M-66, Athens MI ~ 10/5/24

Opened in 2007, this sanctuary for reptiles and amphibians was built by David Critchlow to house and care for unwanted or injured animals. And when you see the hundreds of alligators in particular, you have to question the sense of people who buy them as pets. The animals come from all over the country through adoption, donation, rescue, or from other institutions. And none of these residents are bought, sold, or traded. They spend the rest of their lives here.

Some of the stories of how the animal was acquired are displayed.

There are also a few animals on exhibit inside the gift shop.

The staff is super friendly and informative and they will provide a guided tour if you would like one. Otherwise, you are free to wander at will around this remarkable place. If you want to hold or feed an animal, there's an additional cost, which is understandable when you consider the cost of caring for them 24/7, year round. The sanctuary is closed in the winter and the animals live in heated, adapted shipping containers on the premises. They'll re-open sometime in April so check them out next spring!

On a side note, just south of the sanctuary we found the lovely John Wilson Park.

Thanks for a lovely visit, Athens!

Findlay Cemetery, 2 Mile Rd NE, Ada MI

The sign is hard to read in the bright sun but this is the well-known Ada cemetery that is allegedly haunted by the "Lady in White" a/k/a the "Ada Witch." People have claimed to see an apparition on nearby roads and paranormal seekers have themselves haunted this cemetery. The myth goes as follows: a man follows his cheating wife to the woods where she is meeting her lover. The husband kills them both and in the scuffle, the husband dies as well. The problem is that there is not an iota of evidence to support the story. And this is the woman who people come to visit and leave mementos: poor Sarah McMillan who died of typhoid on November 25 in 1870. Again, there is not one piece of proof that Sarah died at the hands of an angry husband. Typhoid as cause of death is engraved on her stone. And how did "witch" ever enter the myth?

By all means, visit Sarah's grave but don't claim that she's the Ada Witch.

There's more of interest in this well-maintained, small cemetery including so many large and intricately engraved tombstones. Here are a few.

These two huge headstones have engravings on both sides.

Norma Rae has a nice seat for a stone with a famous poem engraved on it. (The poem is usually attributed to Mary Elizabeth Frye but was really written by Clare Harner in 1934.)

Here's another unusual rock headstone.

I found one person that I knew,

and another famous Ada name.

The DeJonges have a nice sitting area.

But the Havengas have the most unique area, tucked into a corner of the cemetery.

The littles are always the saddest.

Susie lived to be 78 but still has a lamb by her stone.

There are a lot of Swans here.

Some very old graves can be found here, some from the 1800s.

George Barkley died when he was 17 years old.

A few veterans can also found.

Laura Ward had some flowers propped up.

Edward Pettis had five wives (and a very interesting life) and I randomly found two of them.

Lesley Ensign Verlin is still alive but has her epitaph already written.

The cemetery has a one loop road and has nearby houses. So if you're thinking of visiting at night, the cops will probably be called. It's also down a dirt road so be prepared for that. The closest address for the cemetery is 7182 2 Mile Rd NE and that is a house across the street. But it will get you there.