Donkey Kong would like a word! Just kidding - it does totally remind me of The Bubbly Barrel at Epic Universe, but this obviously came first. They serve Sprechers but I think I learned that I don't like root beer on tap - tastes like diet soda to me. So, next time, I'll get a float. Also, their picnic tables ARE pup friendly (double-checked with the person taking my order). Anyways, a friend told me about this place otherwise I may not have found it (maybe from going to Outside Coffee kitty corner?) but it's a gem! read more

Douglas Root Beer Barrel - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

Cute little root beer float stand. Plenty of outdoor seating. Lots of teens are employed here and I think that's pretty cool. The menu is quite small because the Root Beer Float is the star of the show. It's tasty and the Root Beer tastes homemade 8/10. Ice cream was great!! Definitely tastes different than A&W and Barqs. I didn't care for the Mac n Cheese 2/10. Had an odd cheese flavor. The Chicago Dog looked pretty but the mustard overpowered the whole bite 4/10. They also have some cool merchandise to purchase like shirts, cups and hats. Overall it was a really neat experience for us to try. Will stick with just the Root Beer Float. read more

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Really cute place, seems like a local institution. We had to stop by for some root beer and floats while we were in town for a weekend trip. After leaving Oval Beach, we grabbed some root beers and floats (made with hard scooped ice cream). We noticed the hot dogs that other people ordered, looked great. We planned on coming back to get hot dogs, but never did. The root beer was good, nothing that blew my socks off, it did taste better in the float. I can see the nostalgic setting would be a draw for the generations visiting this spot. I would come back, next time I'm in town. read more

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From inside from the iconic root-beer-barrel-like structure, they pour a good root beer, and make fine floats, which they push outside through a window. There are tables and grass between two parking areas, which is very nice, but you have to keep a close eye on little ones as either direction has some potential for danger. Toward the southwest side, there is another outbuilding with restroom. Thanks Douglas Root Beer Barrel, for a good "brew." read more

Douglas Root Beer Barrel - Root Beer Float in collector mug. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

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So cute! We saw this place as we were driving and absolutely had to stop. Where I live, root beer is nonexistent. It's around, but rare. I figured, "Hey, I'm in Michigan, let's give it a try!" and I'm so glad I did. It was busy with a slight line, but they helped people quickly. There were a lot of seats in the area, but all were taken. I took that as a good sign! People were ordering a lot of hotdogs, but I skipped that day. I'd definitely return to try one though since people looked pleased. I shared a root beer float and it was perfect for a hot day! I loved the flavor and it was just what I needed. I spent some time reading the historic notice nearby and I'm so glad that the town bought it FOR A DOLLAR and saved it. I love it! read more

This was such a fun stop on my way out of Saugatuck. It's hard for me to pass up a restaurant that is shaped like anything - much less of a barrel serving hotdogs. I was kind of in a hurry and I was in and out with a hotdog and root beer in my belly within 10 to 15 minutes. The people working there were real quick and the hotdog were delicious. The seating area is nice and grassy with picnic tables and also has a sign so you can learn about the history of the barrel! I only feedback is that I wish there was more than one spot showing the menu because when kids are hanging on the sandwich board (which seems common) it's quite hard to see what the options are! I ordered a normal hotdog, but definitely would go back and order a more special one next time. read more

Douglas Root Beer Barrel - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

Had to stop in and so glad I did - this place is such a fun concept. Tasted a few different root beers and the vibe of the space is super cool. Worth popping in! read more

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A must when you are in the Douglas/Saugatuck area. It's definitely a local attraction. Drinks: Root Beer, Diet Root Beer, Orange Ice Cream Soda. For the floats comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Food: Hotdogs There is plenty of sitting area around. In summer the likes are always long but it's worth it to check out! read more

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What a unique and fantastic spot. The root beer is amazing as you would guess and the hot dogs are fantastic too. Lots of parking and outdoor seating. Perfect for a pre- or post- Oval Beach visit. read more

This was right down the street from our vacation rental. They were out of the orange and the diet root beer at the time we went so we just got regular root beer. It was tasty and is served with no ice. I would like to try a float. The employees are friendly and the barrel is cool. read more

Super cute spot for root beer, and to grab a hot dog or Mac n cheese, etc. lots of picnic tables to sit at and corn hole to pass the time read more

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Stopped by again this year and I have to say, I'm even more of a fan. It's just such a fun spot to grab a bite and root beer and hang out. They've got plenty of picnic tables but also adirondack chairs, benches, and even cornhole to play while you're there. My husband and I were here in late August, just in time for yellow jacket season, and I was pleasantly surprised to find netting around pretty much all the picnic tables, keeping the bugs at bay so you can enjoy your meal. First meal I'd had that week where I wasn't even a little bit stressed about getting stung. Very appreciated! read more

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What a cute little place to stop by for an ice cream float. We vacation in the area and stop by the root beer barrel every night for floats during our week in Michigan. The kids love, trying out all the flavors and ice cream sundaes. It is true nostalgia to see this place every year, and we hope that they continue their success. They also offer sausages and hotdog style for lunches. I haven't tried that yet, but it's on the list. read more

Best root beer we have had in a long time. It had a very robust root beer flavor which I don't feel you get from the rootbeer sold in stores. read more

Our family stopped here on the way back to our cottage from Oval Beach. We have driven past it for years but never had time to grab a bite. It was a happy surprise to find good food at very reasonable prices. All the seating is outdoor and there are several picnic tables with bench seating. We stopped by at dinner time and the tables could have used a little wipe down from all day use. Other than that no complaints and I'm excited to stop here again next season. read more

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Our visit to Douglas Root Beer Barrel was decent, but there were a few areas that could be improved. The coney dog was average, and the root beer didn't have a particularly unique taste. Honestly the Great Lakes Michigan Cherry BBQ chips were the highlight--they were crispy and complemented the food nicely. Since it's a walk-up concession stand, and outdoors, the atmosphere was casual and laid-back, which we appreciated, but the place was quite busy. Seating consists of a handful of picnic tables, most without shade, even though there are umbrellas. Additionally, the parking situation can be hit or miss, so be prepared for potential challenges in finding a spot. Overall, our experience at Douglas Root Beer Barrel was satisfactory, but nothing stand out that will put it on our *must visit* list on future visits to the area. read more

Douglas Root Beer Barrel - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

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This is such a unique place to visit! The service is quick and friendly! The menu is small, but has a lot of great options, and of course the root beer is great! Such a cool place to visit, it's family friendly and has lots of outdoor seating! read more

ONLY 5 EXTRA DOLLARS FOR A MUG WITH DISCOUNTED REFILLS?! I already got 3 refills within 2 days. Great area and very family friendly. Totally recommend for anyone in the area!! read more

Awesome chili dogs and Chicago dogs! The root beer is pretty darn tasty as well. It's inspiring that the town rallied behind the preservation of this iconic landmark! read more

Our family loves this place! Hot dogs and root beer floats at an unbeatable price! Such a fun part of our vacations! read more

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Stopped at this place because of the building. I wish I left after taking a quick picture. The place is completely infested with bees, they were out of chili and Mac and cheese which is a pretty big deal considering their menu is already limited. Also as a side note, they were playing music with a lot of swearing. I'm not a prude or anything but it just seemed inappropriate for a family restaurant. All of that being said, the bees were really what made it intolerable. There were more bees in their dining area than I've ever seen in one place. read more

How could this giant barrel stand not catch your eye as you're in the area? I saw the building and I needed to stop by to check it out. It was apparently an old drive thru stand in it's past and was restored and moved to it's current location. The root beer is from Sprechers in Wisconsin, so I thought that was a bit odd since we were in Michigan. But I thought the snacks were a good value. The hot dogs were unique (like Mac n cheese dog). The Mac and cheese was actually legit good, so good that we ordered another while we were there. The root beer float was a good refresher during the afternoon we were there. The location also had some nice umbrella covered picnic tables and games like bags available for play. Nice spot, glad to have checked it out and stretch the legs and a photo op as well read more

Root beer had a great flavors and as well as the hot dog. My only issue is that the hot dog was lukewarm. read more

Douglas Root Beer Barrel - Chicago dog and root beer - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

Root beer floats are still the way to go, however we had their hot dog options and they were excellent! Got a Classic Chicago dog with all the fixings piled high. Got a chili cheese dog and it couldn't even be picked up because their was so much goodness on top. Got the "Robbie" that had peppers, onions, Swiss cheese, and A-1 sauce. Also, the side of Mac and Cheese for $4 could feed a family! All the food was great and the floats were awesome as always. The line looks long, but it moves quickly! read more

Douglas Root Beer Barrel - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

One of our favorite places near Saugatuck. Well worth the wait and decent prices. Have been here multiple times and we will always stop in when we visit nearby. Hard to pick a favorite since all are delicious. They are cash/check only. read more

Super cute building, good hot dog and lukewarm root beer. If I lived nearby, it might be a regular stop, but otherwise probably not.

Like most people, I came here mostly out of curiosity. A giant barrel is sure to grab most people's attention while on the way to the beach. Basically they had this giant barrel somewhere else in Douglas and there was this big community effort to restore and repurpose it into a root beer stand. I must say, I don't drink a lot of root beer floats but this was by far the best root beer float I've had. I would highly recommend! read more

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Found this by total accident and had to stop for root beer floats! Outstanding and super fun! My husband just got the regular draft root beer and it was out of this world! So tasty, not sickening sweet and so fun! I highly recommend! read more

Douglas Root Beer Barrel - Giant barrel in back! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

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This place was so delicious. They were set up with two lines: one for food & one for if you just wanted drinks. We were two people so while one waited on the food line the other ordered root beer floats for us to drink while waiting in line. Those floats are amazing - I think they have the root beer on tap and it not syrupy sweet. The food was worth the wait! But be warned they are short staffed and the wait is long. We no joke waited over an hour in line - so be prepared for a long wait if there is a line. Also they are Cash Only! read more

Douglas Root Beer Barrel - I don't remember the names! But one is the dog with Mac & cheese w/bacon & the other baked beans - both delicious! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

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Yep, this utterly charming vintage barrel rocks great 'Dog N Suds' in a park-like street corner setting. There's plenty of shaded eating areas and the off-street parking is adequate. The prices are, well, a bit rich but then again, practically everything is in the Saugatuck area. (That said, bring cash or your checkbook as credit/debit cards are not accepted.) All in all, a wonderful little local treasure! read more

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This is a must visit landmark while visiting the Douglas/Saugatuck area. My mom used to visit The Root Barrel when she was little and we were so excited when they reopened it a couple of years ago. The line can take awhile to get through but, once you order the food is prepared quickly. The wait is well worth it! My husband and I had large root beers and my son had a large root beer float for drinks. I had the BLT hot dog, my son the Barrel Dog and my husband the Dune dog. The hot dogs are are plump and flavorful and the toppings are fresh and generously put on! My husband had a side of fully loaded chili and my son Mac and cheese. We would highly recommend everything we ordered. They accept only cash or checks. read more

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I had hot dog with Mac n cheese and chili. Mac n cheese is delicious! My husband had the Chicago dog and New York dog with tomotoes added. If you like sauerkraut get the NY dog! The Chicago dog was good too. My hubby said the potato salad was one of the best he has ever had! Atmosphere was great. They even provide nets over the picnic tables to keep the bees away. Root beer is Sprechers, always good. read more

Douglas Root Beer Barrel - 1:30pm on Sunday. No line when we arrived around 1pm. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

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Really happy we stopped here for lunch! Food was really good! Our waitress was very friendly! (Young girl, wish I knew her name) A relaxing, cute neighborhood! Will definitely stop again if we find ourselves in the area. read more

Douglas Root Beer Barrel - BLT dog, mac n cheese with bacon and the baked bean dog. So good! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

The nostalgic barrel is worth the stop. It's the turn before you get to some of the best beaches in Michigan and they are known for their quality root beer floats. My girl friend ordered it and she said it was very good. I ordered the Donna Dog which was decent. It was your standard dog with your simple bun and some Mac n cheese on it. The Mac n cheese wasn't spectacular but overall the dog was pretty good. They have corn hole, and a badminton court set up for families or competitive people to fill a little time while they wait for their food. Great spot to stop after the beach to wind down before driving home. CASH ONLY! I went to pay with card and was informed that accept cash only. If you plan on going make sure you have cash on you. read more

Douglas Root Beer Barrel - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Douglas, Michigan

this unique place caught our eye on the way to the location where we stayed at, so we made it a point to visit during our trip! Parking wasn't too difficult, however It was quite busy and the line was long & slow. One suggestion I have is to have someone taking orders in the line to move it along faster. There were many menu items to chose from & although I did not order, I really appreciate how vegan options were offered. It takes a bit more time since it is cooked to order, but this is definitely an item I want to try next time. I ended up ordering a classic hot dog & a chicken salad sandwich. Both tasted great. Root beer was delicious as well. read more

We had fun visiting this old time Douglas classic on a hot June afternoon. The entirely outdoor setup of the business make it ideal for social distancing with a handful of covered picnic benches found throughout the space. There's a large marker that shares the history of Douglas Root Beer Barrel and how the community came together to save the local treasure. Each of the wooden slats of the barrel were sponsored by locals in the community. The menu is simple with root beer and root beer floats standing out as the stars. They also offer a handful of snacks like loaded coney dogs. We opted for a small root beer float which was quite delicious. The prices are on the higher side with floats kicking off at $5.99 for a small. It was quite busy during our visit but we were able to easily find a table. Note that this is also a dog friendly business with water available for your pups. read more

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Cool place, once you figure it out! People standing everywhere so look for the signs. One line to order, they give you a ticket. Then a second for food, you wait in line to give them said ticket. I think maybe a third line for ice cream and floats? Long line 2pm on Saturday to which I say, good for them! They serve hot dogs. Don't expect anything else. We ordered two chili dogs, received only one - check your food before walking away. We decided to skip waiting in line again to fix it. Special was a brat with onions, peppers, Dijon mustard. Pretty much okay, nothing special but it filled me up. They add mustard/ketchup to order so pay attention when they fulfill your order. Potato salad was unique, very creamy. The root beer? Outstanding!! Wish I would have ordered a float...this place was busy despite current life. Way to go! read more

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Took a drive to Saugatuck, Mi. And Showing some local love at the barrel. This place has some goodies and Souvenirs with great service. Happily, The barrel is enforcing 6ft distance and the service is wearing gloves, mask, as well as a plastic covering on the window. We ordered 2 chocolate cookies-- warmed up and a medium foot beer float. Such a great Experience and taught the kids a little about Saugatuck's history. Fun fa If your looking for a fun way to incorporate a history lesson-- look no farther! Next time we will come on an empty stomach to enjoy Chicago Style Hotdogs! Update-- the dogs were so good! Enjoy the sunshine, Jennah read more

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Great place to stop on the way to or from oval beach! After spending the day at oval beach we stoped at the root beer barrel. Place had a decent crowd of people with very fast service. My wife and I split a chili dog with a draft root beer which was phenomenal. Service was fast and friendly and place had picnic tables to enjoy your meal. Place is great for a quick bite and great root beer. Everything was fairly priced and building was neat and unique. Everything was outdoors. Will definitely visit again during future trips to the area. read more

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The cutest Rootbeer spot ever! We went on a Thursday afternoon and there was no wait! Their menu sticks to rootbeer, hotdogs, sandwiches, sides and ice cream. It was my first time and I was not expecting to have the best hot dog ever! I love that they use all beef and you can tell they use high quality buns. I ordered the "Donna" - it has their mac n cheese on top and oh my gosh - it's amazing! Craveable. I can't wait to go back for another. My mom ordered the "New Yorker" and it came with sauerkraut and thousand island, she loved it. We also got a couple plain hot dogs for the kids! Their rootbeer is on tap and is smooth and creamy. We decided to get rootbeer floats and although messy, they're the best! They have a cute set up and even have picnic tables with nets around them to keep the bees and fly's away! Corn hole is set up as well and the kids enjoyed it. read more

Douglas Root Beer Barrel - Corn hole - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Douglas, Michigan