Our History
What is now known as the Skyline Event Center opened as the Michigan Magazine Museum (MMM) on July 4, 1998. It began as an idea by Adelbert (Dell) Vaughn and Barry Stutesman who were the originators of the Michigan Magazine television show in the 1990’s. Their idea for the museum was to have a place to showcase items from the television show. The nonprofit Michigan Magazine Museum Incorporated was established for “educational purposes to promote American ideals and Michigan entrepreneurship by operating and maintaining a Michigan Magazine Museum.” (Articles of Incorporation for Domestic Nonprofit Corporations, March 16, 1998).
Simon (Sy) and Krystal Yoder deeded the land to the MMM for use as the nonprofit. Sy Yoder and Reule Detweiler then designed and built the log building, breaking ground in December of 1997. The museum flourished for several years with thousands of attendees visiting the museum collections and many special events focused on Michigan history, nature, music and arts.
​
Unfortunately, as attendance waned, the cost of running the museum was no longer sustainable and the Michigan Magazine Museum had to adjust their focus and converted the nonprofit venue into a more cost effective structure as the Skyline Event Center. The purpose of the nonprofit was changed in 2018 “to promote the arts and music through entrepreneurship in Oscoda County” ( Michigan Nonprofit Corporation Annual Report, October 3, 2018). In 2019 the name Skyline Event Center became an official assumed name for Michigan Magazine Museum Incorporated and has remained the same.
​
Here's a YouTube link from spiritofmichigan showing the Michigan Magazine Museum Groundbreaking
Our Future
Bringing musicians to the Skyline Event Center and maintaining the building and property is a community labor of love. All of the work to schedule, set up, tear down, provide light snacks, accommodations for the artists, and venue rentals is conducted by volunteers. Several business sponsors help to keep the basic functions of the building going (electric, propane, snow removal, lawn care, septic, wifi, insurance). They also have sponsors who help to cover some of the costs of bringing wonderful artists to the stage.
Prior to mandated COVID-19 shutdowns, the concerts were nearly all selling out the 70-seat capacity. During the shutdown, there weren’t any concerts to attend causing peoples habits to change. Now that restrictions have been removed, entertainment venues around the state are struggling to get their attendance levels back to ones which can sustain the venue expenses. In recognition of the need to encourage people to come back out and experience live music again, the Skyline Event Center is striving to keep the ticket prices affordable for those who enjoy a variety of quality live entertainers.
Outside of ticket sales the secondary revenue is from rentals of the Skyline Event Center for private events (birthdays, showers, family reunions, weddings) and business events (art sales, craft sales, training sessions). These venue rentals support the Skyline Event Center continuing to bring great music to Oscoda County. Without these rentals the Skyline Event Center would likely be in a similar situation as the museum.
So come out to experience the place where the Michigan Magazine Museum started and then blossomed into the Skyline Event Center in Comins Michigan. It’s brings you the best independent and original music on the planet in an inviting and comfortable listening room environment.
Tribute to Michigan Native Americans
One of the permanent artworks on the property and definitely worth the trip to see is a stunning thirty-five ton sculpture in tribute to Michigan Native Americans created out of drilled and pegged Onaway stone with stainless steel feathers by Tom Moran (Moran Ironworks) which he donated to the Michigan Magazine Museum in 2004.
Here's a YouTube link from spiritofmichigan showing the Sculpture Installation
