Original Mackinac Island Fudge Company (2024)

FAQs

What is the oldest fudge company on Mackinac Island? ›

In 1887, Mackinac Island's first candy shop opened as Murdick's Candy Kitchen. Henry Murdick continued to make sails in the back of the building, while up front, Rome crafted fudge using his mother's recipe.

To obtain the world famous taste, the fudge is slowly cooked in traditional copper kettles over a gas flame. Once the desired temperature is reached, the mixture is poured onto marble slabs for a cooling period and then hand-paddled into loaves. Joann's Fudge does not contain any preservatives or powdered ingredients.

While fudge was not invented on Mackinac Island, it most certainly – and most deliciously – was perfected here.

Can I send Ryba's Mackinac Island fudge as a gift? Absolutely! We can help you send corporate gifts to clients across the country or as a 'just because' to your aunt with the sweet tooth. Ryba's Mackinac Island Fudge makes the perfect gift for every occasion.

While all of Mackinac Island, the landform, is located within the corporate limits of the City of Mackinac Island, today 82 percent of the island's landmass is owned by the State of Michigan and managed by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission (MISPC).

Whether you visit Mackinac Island on National Fudge Day in June or any other day – maybe during the Mackinac Island Fudge Festival in August – come find your favorite flavor and experience the fudge capital of the world!

What celebrity lives on Mackinac Island? Do any celebrities live on Mackinac Island? Yes, celebrities have houses on Mackinac Island. A few are actor Vince Vaughn, Director Ron Howard, and Michigan's own Bob Seger.

Shelf life at room temperature – 12 weeks. Shelf Life refrigerated -24 weeks. In a freezer – indefinitely.

Mackinac Island is a charming place steeped in history. Horse-drawn carriages and bicycles take the place of cars because motor vehicles have been banned for more than 100 years. It was the ideal setting for another movie starring Reeve, the time-traveling cult classic, “Somewhere in Time.”

Fudge's story began in the United States around the 1880s. The first documented instance of fudge being made was at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York when a student named Emelyn Battersby Hartridge heard of a fudge recipe and made 30 pounds of it for a senior auction.

What Michigan town is known for fudge? ›

On Michigan's world-renowned Mackinac Island, the sweet aroma of fudge wafts out onto the street from four unique Ryba's Fudge Shops. Passersby stop to watch as confectionary artists handcraft the…

Fudge is a rich, chocolate candy made with plenty of sugar, cream, and butter. Fudge is usually cut into squares and eaten in small quantities. While fudge comes in many different flavors, it's usually chocolate. In the US, another kind of fudge is smooth, melted chocolate that can be poured over the top of ice cream.

No cars, no horns, no sirens and no motorcycles. Of course, getting around on foot is always allowed. Does this sound like a step back in time? It is, and has been this way of life on Michigan's Mackinac Island since the late 1800s.

Our Price: $13.95

Each slice is approx. 1/2 lb.

May's Candy

There is only one shop on the Island that can tout itself as the oldest offering genuine Mackinac Island Fudge, and that is May's. Harold May started his business in Atchison, Kansas in 1881. He came to the Island to work for Murdick's, and when they left, he brought his family business to Mackinac Island.

We opened the original Uranus Fudge Factory and General Store in Missouri in 2015. In 2023, we were lucky to find a fabulous new location in Richmond Indiana/Cedar Springs Ohio (the property is in both states) on National Road 40 and Interstate 70.

Fudge's story began in the United States around the 1880s. The first documented instance of fudge being made was at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York when a student named Emelyn Battersby Hartridge heard of a fudge recipe and made 30 pounds of it for a senior auction.

Canada The first European likely to have seen Mackinac Island is Jean Nicolet, a French-Canadian coureur des bois, during his 1634 explorations. The Jesuit priest Claude Dablon founded a mission for the Native Americans on Mackinac Island in 1670, and stayed over the winter of 1670–71.

“They've become a part of the history, ambiance, and character” of the Island, said Phil Porter, director of Mackinac State Historic Parks. Summer and permanent residents own the 40 historic cottages on the East Bluff and West Bluff and along the shore by the marina, and many of which are worth several million dollars.