Sometime in the mid-to-late 1980s, a construction man who had come from Italy in his twenties drove the back roads of Lapeer County and settled on a piece of land in North Branch Township. His granddaughter Danielle Conklin told MLive that Angelo Iafrate Sr. bought it as a "safe haven and sanctuary." It grew to a little over 500 acres of lake, woods and flat farmland, with bison, deer and, at one point, elk.
Since July, that land has been Bottom Creek Brewery at 5772 Old State Road. This is its first fall, and the property runs on two schedules. The restaurant, taproom and market are open Wednesday through Sunday. The trails and the corn maze, the part of Bottom Creek you can't find at any other brewery in the county, open only on Saturdays and Sundays, and only when the weather allows. When you go decides which of the two places you get.
How a Family Property Became a Public One
Angelo Iafrate Sr. died in 2019 at 93 and left the land to his grandchildren. Conklin told MLive about Sunday barbecues in the barn while the family house was going up, plus fishing, ATV rides and time with the animals. She told MLive the family found the land "too special to kind of keep to ourselves."
The family started talking about sharing the property six or seven years before the June 2026 article. That led to years of design work and a building of nearly 16,000 square feet, designed with Texas architecture firm OPA and Detroit interior design firm Pophouse. MLive named the owners as Danielle and Mike Conklin, Anthony and Heather Iafrate, Sandy and Angela Iafrate, and Jacqueline Iafrate, with Anita Zanetti as general manager. Ryan Shafer is the brewmaster and Shawn Gann is head chef. Angelo's home and barn stay with the family and sit apart from the public development.
Mid-Michigan Now reported on July 11 that Bottom Creek was open. Anthony Iafrate told the station the project started about six years earlier and construction began about two years earlier, and called it the "up North experience within an hour of Metro Detroit." That "up North" part is the land, and the land keeps the shortest hours.
The Two Schedules, Side by Side
Here are the hours posted on Bottom Creek's website for each part of the property. Everything is closed Monday and Tuesday.
| Wed–Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Kitchen | 11 a.m.–9 p.m. | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | 10 a.m.–8 p.m. |
| The Taproom | 4–9 p.m. | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | Noon–8 p.m. |
| The Market | 11 a.m.–9 p.m. | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | 11 a.m.–10 p.m. | 10 a.m.–7 p.m. |
| Trails | Closed | Closed | 11 a.m.–6 p.m. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. |
| Corn maze | Closed | Closed | 11 a.m.–5 p.m. | 11 a.m.–5 p.m. |
The table shows two gaps. On Wednesday and Thursday, the Taproom doesn't open until 4 p.m., even though the Kitchen has been serving since 11 a.m. And Friday, the busiest restaurant day by hours, has no trail access at all. Last entry to the trails is 5 p.m. on both weekend days, so in late fall the outdoor window runs from late morning to late afternoon.
What the Weekend Adds
The trails
Trail admission is $3 for anyone 14 and older. Kids 13 and under get in free, and so do North Branch residents who bring proof of residency. A same-day purchase of equal value at Bottom Creek also covers trail access, so lunch at the Kitchen or something from the Market makes the trail free. Before you head out:
- Check in at the Trail Check-In Building and get a wristband.
- Fill out a one-time waiver, either at check-in or online through a QR code. A parent or guardian signs for anyone under 18.
- Leashed pets are welcome.
- Access depends on the weather, both days.
The website links to a trail map and trail rules. The Explore page also lists waterfront gathering spaces, an outdoor pavilion and concert bandstand, walking paths and a kids' play area.
The corn maze
The maze covers 10 acres and is cut in the shape of the Bottom Creek Brewery logo. It has two separate mazes, one harder than the other. Admission works like this:
- Ages 14 and up pay $10, which includes a Tier One draft for guests 21 and older or a complimentary refreshment from the Market.
- Ages 3 to 13 pay $5, and anyone under 14 has to be with an adult.
- Ages 2 and under get in free.
The latest maze date on Bottom Creek's event calendar is Sunday, Nov. 1, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Counting from this Thursday, that leaves two weekends: Oct. 24–25 and Oct. 31–Nov. 1. After that, check the calendar before planning around the maze.
The Building Fills In the Rest
Inside, the Kitchen menu runs from shareable starters and burgers to steaks, seafood and pasta, including a wild mushroom and truffle ravioli and a shrimp tortellini. Sunday brunch started Sept. 13. It runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and costs $30 for adults and $12 for kids ages 3 to 10, with coffee, tea and soft drinks included. The regular menu takes over from 2 to 8 p.m. Brunch ends at 2, and the trails open at 10 a.m. on Sundays, so you can fit both into one late-fall Sunday morning.
The current core beer list has six beers: Ultimate Bison Lager, Moose Tipper DIPA, Goose Chaser IPA, Pub Ale, Whitetail Wit and Farmer Ted's Oatmeal Stout. The Market sells Bottom Creek apparel and glassware, gifts, specialty goods and locally sourced honey. For now it's in-store only, and the website says online ordering is coming soon.
The only adults-only night on the October calendar is Boos N' Brews, a 21-and-over Halloween party on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 7 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $20 and cover a buffet and dessert bar, with a DJ and a costume contest. It's the same day as a maze afternoon, so the property stays busy from late morning until midnight. Bottom Creek's October live music lineup lists the month's performers.
The Same Two Weekends in Downtown Lapeer
Saturday, Oct. 24 is busy across the county. The Lapeer Downtown Development Authority's Downtown Treat Walk runs from noon to 2 p.m. Families start at Gallery 194, collect treats and vote on storefront decorations. That fits before an afternoon in the maze up in North Branch.
Here's what else is on the county calendar this fall:
- Friday, Oct. 23: Dinner and Dueling Pianos at American Legion Post 16 in Lapeer. Doors open at 5 p.m., with dinner and entertainment from 6 to 9 p.m., per the Lapeer Area Chamber calendar.
- Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30–31: Lapeer Community Theatre stages Dracula at the Pix Theatre at 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 6: The Family Literacy Center hosts Camel Races at Metamora Lions Hall, 3790 N. Oak Street, with doors at 5:30 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 13: The DDA's Fall Ladies' Night Out runs from 5 to 8 p.m., starting at the Pix Theater and Gallery 194.
Our earlier look at the eight days between Lapeer's last concert and its biggest weekend covered the downtown fixtures that keep running all year. Bottom Creek's outdoor side works differently. It's open two days a week, it depends on the weather, and it runs on what the land is doing that season.
If you own land in Lapeer County and are thinking about what's next for it, Helm & Associates handles vacant land and acreage listings along with homes. You can request a free home value (CMA) or talk with our Broker about your property and your options.
