Laurie Hoffman, keeping her books, and surrounded by The Line Shack goodies.
Laurie Hoffman, originator of the idea of The Line Shack, describes herself as a crafter with “a lot of interests,” and then found there were a number of friends with the same idea.
And Hoffman adds still another idea: mule drawn carriage rides, weather permitting.
What was needed was a place to display those crafting projects, and Hoffman says, “there was this grainary, probably close to 100 years old, in another field, with two floors yet. It would be ideal.”
The building was moved to its present location on the corner of four roads marking political divisions, hence, the name Line Shack, and it is filled with the most diverse, quaint, and charming hand-crafted items to meet any taste. Hoffman has provided complete information at 231-750-4033 and themulestore.com
The items on the main floor are a cohesive mix of exquisite quilts, hand knitted garments, American Girl doll outfits, baked goods and special snack foods, engraved glass, photography, soy candles and cuddly stuffed toys.
But these are not just any toys. They are a variety of stuffed mules that can change your ideas of them. The mule toys are only the surface of what Hoffman displays that are “gift items for people who have mules or admire them.”
The second floor/loft is furnished with a wide selection of antique furniture. An unusual combination by Lori Jager is a stuffed cowboy doll sitting in a restored rocker for which she made the seat by weaving belts she bought at Goodwill.
Around corners are clothing and more mule items.
Your step back in time does not stop inside The Line Shack. Hoffman’s love of mules extends to the real animal. Weather permitting, she has arranged different mule wagon rides.
“We can offer a two-seater wedding carriage, a two-person cart, and the larger wagon rides,” she says. “The mules are driven as one mule, or depending on the ride, a two-mule team. The mules are well-behaved, have a good personality, and are fun.”
You can drive to The Line Shack by taking Fruitvale Road to Lamos Road. Turn north on Lamos Road, go two miles to the corner of Lamos and Skeels Roads, and The Line Shack is on the east corner. The address is 9570 S. 64th Ave., since Lamos becomes numbered at their corner where the road enters Grant Township in Oceana County.