Lake Orion (/ˈɒriən/ ORR-ee-ən) is a village in the northern outskirts of Metro Detroit in Oakland County, Michigan, United States.

Lake Orion began as a resort town and over time has incorporated elements of a bedroom community.

[5][6] The settlement grew into a bustling commercial center with a sawmill, tavern, post office, general store, blacksmith shop, school and cemetery.

"[11] The Village of Lake Orion was served by trains on the Michigan Central Railroad from 1872 to 1976, and the Detroit United Railway interurban system from 1899 to 1931.

[12] Lake Orion also had a flag stop, Rudds Station, on the MCC line east of the village near Clarkston and Kern Roads.

With the automobile's increased popularity and the paving of M-24 in 1929,[14] passenger service on the DUR ended in 1931,[citation needed] and track was scrapped during the 1940s for a World War II metal drive.

The original MCR rails and track east of M-24 were completely removed, and the line from the village south toward Rochester, now serves as the recreational Paint Creek Trail.

[18] A short section of the track was still in use as of 2014, operated by Canadian National Railway specifically to connect the General Motors Orion Assembly plant with the CN main line in Pontiac, but all track north of Orion Assembly was eliminated and removed by 1985.

In 1993, a Rails to Trails federal grant was awarded and matched by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, providing more than $728,000 to purchase the right-of-way from Grand Trunk.

The corridor now serves as the recreational Polly Ann Trail, connecting Lake Orion with Oxford, Addison Township, and Leonard.

The addition of the Michigan Central Railroad track in 1872 set the stage for Lake Orion as a major summertime resort for those traveling on the line, especially between Detroit and Flint.

In 1874, several prominent citizens formed the Orion Park Association to capitalize on the growing number of travelers to the area.

Over time, the Park Island Amusement Park grew to include a penny arcade, carousel, souvenir booths, refreshment booths, lunch stands, dining rooms, dance halls, and a wooden roller coaster named "The Thriller.

"[9] The swimming beach on the north side of Park Island had both a men's and ladies' bathhouse, a waterslide, and numerous diving boards, the highest 42 feet above the water.

Lake Orion was stocked annually with bass, pickerel, and pike, and fishing tournaments and contests were held seasonally.

Several double-deck boats, including the "City of Orion," offered lake excursions replete with bands and a dance floor on the upper deck.

[20] Once a premier destination among vacationers, the park suffered through the Great Depression and several fires, gradually losing business before closing in 1955.

Detroit and other newspapers joshingly suggested, upon hearing of the behemoth, that Orion residents should 'drink more well-water in the future.

[27] The Park Island bridge has a lower clearance that allows only canoes, kayaks and rowboats to pass underneath.

Little remains of the island due to erosion save for a solitary tree, and the shallow waters can be a hazard to boaters.

Sweet's Island is home to the Lake Orion Boat Club, and features a private boathouse and docks for LOBC members.