Taking Tipsy Canoe Out for a Paddle

Summer adventure “tips” from the Platte River livery and tiki bar

Tipsy Canoe Rental & Brew is bringing tropical vibes to northern Michigan’s short summers, so pull up a stool, add a dollar bill to the bar, and enjoy a cool cocktail at this open-air tiki joint overlooking the Platte River.

When Zelda Gray purchased 10 acres along U.S. 31 and the Platte River near Honor, she always envisioned opening up the riverfront for others to enjoy. It took nearly 20 years, but her vision is finally a reality. Tipsy Canoe Rental & Brew includes a canoe livery, a tiki bar and restaurant, and an ice cream shop.

“It was just so beautiful, why not share it with everyone?” Gray says, standing behind the bar at the Tipsy Tavern preparing to open on a Friday afternoon.

In 2023, the Tipsy Tiki opened overlooking the Platte River, at the spot where a bridge on US-31 crosses the river near Marshall Road before entering Honor.

“Really, it just came to me one day,” she says of the tiki bar. “I wanted to help people feel like they’re on vacation. Where do you go on vacation? A tiki bar.”

Vacation Vibes

Gray, who grew up in Frankfort, bought the property in 2004 and built a car dealership and auto repair shop, Northern Auto & Tire Inc., which her adult sons now mostly manage. The automotive service center, at 10155 Honor Highway, sprang from Gray growing up in the car business.

Looking to utilize her riverfront property, she launched the canoe livery business a decade ago. Tipsy Canoe offers canoe and kayak trips on the upper, middle, and lower Platte River as well as pontoon and SUP rentals and guided excursions.

Then she had another idea: “I wanted people to be able to have a hot dog and a beer on the river.”

The Tipsy Tiki—now decorated with dollar bills reminiscent of a Key West vibe—features local craft beer and summery cocktails with live music on the weekends. Patrons can watch kayakers float by or come in for a landing after a trip on the Upper Platte, or relax around a fire and enjoy a summer night along the river.

“I really did think it was going to be for the kayakers and canoers, but I have more locals,” she says. “People started putting dollar bills up around the bar. I have a stapler out all the time.”

Gray says the word is starting to get out about Tipsy Tiki, attracting more attention from passersby on the highway.

“I think it’s going well,” Gray says. “I just had an idea and kept slowly working on it. It is awesome to see a dream come to fruition. Perseverance always prevails.”

Tiki bar patrons can also order food from the Tipsy Tavern’s menu, which includes burgers freshly ground at the nearby Honor Family Market and 100 percent angus beef hot dogs with custom toppings. Pizzas, subs, salads, fries, pretzel bites, brat bites, and other pub fare rounds out the menu. The adjacent Tipsy Scoop is a walk-up ice cream shop, featuring Hudsonville Ice Cream and other cool treats.

Gray attempted to wrap and heat the tiki bar and open it during the winter, but the winter of 2025 proved to be a snowy and cold one. Stay tuned because she may try it again! She also spent the off-season renovating the interior of the Tipsy Tavern, even creating a table made of driftwood and Petoskey stones and painting a mural of a summer lake scene on the wall.

Water Outings

Now that the weather has warmed up, Gray is back to business as usual. Tipsy Canoe offers kayak and canoe trips on the Platte from spring through the September salmon run and fall color tour. Guests can start early and enjoy a quiet, lazy sunrise float or book a guided sunset paddle on Lake Michigan. Tipsy Canoe also rents stand-up paddleboards and tubes and delivers rental fishing and pontoon boats to inland lakes.

For the river-faring clientele, Gray recommends launching before 11am or after 3pm to avoid the party scene and high-traffic areas, especially on the Lower Platte, which ends at the outlet near Lake Michigan and Platte River Beach in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Gray’s trips vary in length, from a 45-minute paddle on the Middle Platte for the nature lovers to nearly four-hour floats on the Upper and Lower Platte. The Upper Platte is recommended for experienced kayakers.

According to the trip description on the website, “The tipsy rate on the Upper Platte is higher than the Lower Platte and the launch is fast and furious. The river and fauna on this trip are breathtaking and worth getting wet for!”

“It’s super clear and beautiful,” Gray says of the Upper Platte. “It’s more exciting and challenging, and there’s not as many people.”

Gray has some crystal kayaks if you want to see the water as you kayak, plus equipment with LED lights for sunset excursions. Her team can customize group trips, help celebrate special occasions, or take you out on a guided paddle.

“I have some college girls who love to do the guided trips,” Gray says. “We have guided sunset paddles where we float down into Lake Michigan, and the kayaks have lights.”

To avoid crowds and enjoy nature, Gray says to try a paddle on the Betsie River, a designated Michigan Natural River, for a slower, more scenic experience.

The Tipsy Canoe team handles all the details, from launching to loading and shuttle service for all tours. They also rent coolers and sell snacks and supplies in case you forget to bring anything.

“All you have to do is show up and we take care of the rest,” Gray says.

Gray also encourages best practices on the river—don’t get too tipsy (in alcohol parlance), be good stewards of nature, and collect your trash along the way—and likes to share information about the watersheds and how to be responsible on the water with guests.

Find Tipsy Canoe Rental & Brew at 10187 Honor Hwy in Honor. Visit their Facebook page for hours, live music, and specials. (231) 325-1234; tipsycanoeandbrew.com

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