Hamtramck, Michigan: Disneyland, 12087 Klinger Street and the Polish Village Cafe, 2990 Yemans Street ~ 2021

Hamtramck was established in 1798, became a village in 1901, and is surrounded by the City of Detroit on most sides. We were passing through and visited what Hamtramck calls its Disneyland. 

That is what it is called but it's really an artist created environment on two adjacent properties in a residential neighborhood. Dymtro Szylak immigrated from Ukraine, worked at GM, and after retirement he started his art project. Some of the items were made and others were purchased.  He was constantly modifying his project from the 1980s (or 90s) until his death in 2015. 

In 2016, a local organization, Hatch Art, purchased the property for $100,000.00 and have since maintained it. The two houses contain 3 rented apartments and one apartment for an artist-in-residence.

Here are some photos we took from the alley.

If you want to see the yards and take an actual tour, you'll have to arrange that ahead of time. But the alley is always available.

It reminded us more of The Heidelberg Project in Detroit than Disneyland but that is an entire neighborhood full of found objects/art and this is two back yards/garages. If you're nearby, take a drive by and be entertained.

On our way out of town, we stopped at the historic Polish Village Cafe. The building was first established as a hotel and the restaurant was opened in 1979 by Ted Wietrzykowski. It still serves up authentic Polish food in its basement bar setting.

White bread in individual plastic bags 😊

Great food, service, and old school ambience 😊