Y'all, I went out to Sugar Creek Flower Farm & Craftery last week (I borrowed some kids to take with me), just planning on us cutting some flowers — and I left two hours later having done about four different crafts I didn't even know existed. Let me explain.
If you haven't been to Sugar Creek before, the flower-picking part is fun and simple. You choose your vessel — they've got all kinds of jars to pick from — add your water, grab some scissors and head out into the rows to cut your own flowers. One tip I picked up on Friday: strip the leaves off the stems before you drop them in your jar. You'll fit a whole lot more flowers in there once the leaves aren't taking up space, and your bouquet looks fuller for it. Thanks, Stephanie, for the heads-up. Another pro tip – we left our jars sitting on the picnic tables under the pavilion and only carried our scissors with us. It was ok that we made more than one trip, but it’s hard to hold a jar of water AND scissors AND cut flowers at the same time. Don't forget to snap a pic, or it didn't happen. There are tons of little photo ops around!
I opted for the all purple theme, and yes, I totally took a pic in portrait mode.
Here's the part most people don't know yet — Sugar Creek was closed last summer due to an owner surgery, and while they were shut down, they clearly weren't sitting still. They've added several new activities that haven't made it onto everybody's radar, so consider this your heads up.
First: the Snugglers. You pick out a plush animal (monkeys and bears and sloths and anteaters and the like), stuff it yourself, tuck a little heart inside or add a digital sound box, and fill out its very own birth certificate before decorating its little t-shirt. There's a whole wall of outfits if your new stuffed friend needs a wardrobe upgrade before you head home. I will not be sharing how long the girls spent picking one out. I will say that they went through several options before settling on their ultimate decision.
Then there's the new bead bar — bracelets, pens, keychains, purse charms, you name it. It's the kind of activity where you sit down for "just a minute" and somehow forty-five minutes go by. I made a funky little bag charm for my laptop case.
They've also added a ceramic painting activity — you choose your piece, paint it however you like, and they send you home with the glaze you need to finish it off. Simple, no pressure, and a nice quiet one if you want a break from the sun. And they built onto the original building, so there's a whole new room now — perfect if you're planning a birthday party out there, which I imagine is about to become a popular request.
Don't think this is just a summer stop, either — when the holidays roll around, Sugar Creek does Christmas arrangement and wreath making too, so keep them on your list come November and December. It's an easy add-on if you're already headed to Grand Rivers to see the Christmas lights at Patti's 1880's Settlement — make an afternoon of both while you're out that way.
One thing I'll tell you: follow them on Facebook. Hours shift with the season, and that's also where they post the most current info on parties and events before anybody else hears about it. Last year, all my kids got hand painted ceramic Christmas trees (with lights, of course) that I got from Sugar Creek.
If you're staying with us at The Lakehouse Inn, Sugar Creek is an easy afternoon trip — bring your fresh-cut flowers back and let them brighten up your room for the rest of your stay. It's super easy to book a room!
See y'all at the lake!
Cindi
The Lakehouse Inn at Sledd Creek 270-362-4254 | www.LakehouseInn.com
updated 7-29-26