1 / 2The Black-Barn
📍 Gaylord, MI
The Black-Barn is a recently opened indoor entertainment venue at 121 S Indiana Ave, Gaylord, MI. Activities include fowling (football bowling) and axe throwing. Full birthday party packages available.
The people working were very nice and the activities were set up very well! Seems like a great place to take the family especially when the weather is bad and you need to find something indoors.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for families with kids aged 6 and up, especially during Michigan's colder months when outdoor options dry up. Birthday party packages are a strong fit for groups of 8–15 kids — staff manage the full session. Fowling is easy to learn and highly physical, making it engaging across a wide age range.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →112 Google reviews
Kai Chantry
“The people working were very nice and the activities were set up very well! Seems like a great place to take the family especially when the weather is bad and you need to find something indoors.”
Darian Griffith
“New place that recently opened up and it is a fun weekend activity! We participated in the fowling (football bowling) and it was so much fun! They also have axe throwing which we will try next time ❤️ definitely recommend if you need something to do!!”
Linzie Schmidt
“Had my son’s Birthday party here and he and his friends had the BEST time! The birthday package was WELL worth it, and after 2 hours we had 11 sweaty red faced kiddos that were all asking to come back again. Staff was absolutely amazing and SO accommodating. They added to the fun and handled a pack of excited kids with patience, fun and kindness that you just don’t see many places anymore! 10/10 can’t wait to come back again! Thanks for everything!”
Lacey Fugate
“Great place, good vibes. Owner and employees are welcoming and friendly. Prices are low and laughter is high. 1000% recommendations… we attend a 9 year olds birthday party tonight there, the kids were all treated so kindly and free to be kids.”
Reviews from Google
Overview
The Black-Barn opened in Gaylord as Northern Michigan's indoor entertainment option when outdoor weather shuts down. The venue anchors its lineup around fowling — a hybrid of football and bowling where players knock down pins with a football — alongside axe throwing lanes. Birthday party packages are comprehensive, with staff handling setup and activity coordination for groups of kids. Multiple reviewers 11 children left a two-hour party exhausted and asking to return.