Attractions & fun / Shelby Township
Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site
What's left of Packard's 1928 test track in Shelby Township, including Albert Kahn's Gate Lodge.
01 / The story of this place
Make time for these
Packard bought 504 acres here between 1926 and 1928 for $175,846 and opened the proving grounds on June 14, 1928. There was a 2.5-mile concrete oval with banked turns and 12 miles of test roads. On opening day Leon Duray set a 148.17 mph closed-course record that stood for 24 years. In World War II the Army leased the site to Chrysler and it became a tank proving ground, testing 252 vehicles of 69 types over 570,000 miles. Packard left on August 15, 1956; today the Packard Motor Car Foundation looks after about 17 acres, a State of Michigan historic site since 2005 and on the National Register since 2007.
- Opened June 14, 1928
- Gate Lodge and Repair Garage by Albert Kahn
- Leon Duray's speed record held for 24 years
- World War II tank testing center
- On the National Register of Historic Places since 2007
A closer look
Photos were taken at different times; images are resized and cropped on cards.
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¼ · Stay
Sleep right around the corner
Sources & fact check · Checked: 2026-10-23
An independently written bilingual guide. This collection is not an attendance-based ranking.
03 / Events
Events at this place
Published events automatically linked from our event guide. Times are local to the venue.
Oct 25, 2026, 1:00 PMAnnual Fall Open House — Sunday, October 25, 2026
Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site hosts its Annual Fall Open House on Sunday, October 25, at 1 p.m. in Shelby Township. A simple way to visit a historic site.
Oct 25, 2026, 1:00 PMHistorical Speaker Series – Gems from the Vault: Stories from the Packard Archives
Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site hosts a Historical Speaker Series talk on Sunday, October 25, at 1 p.m. at the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site in Shelby Township, featuring stories drawn from the Packard Archives.
Nov 1, 2026, 12:00 PMHarvest Holiday Market
Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site hosts the Harvest Holiday Market on Sunday, November 1, at 12 p.m. in Shelby Township. Go for the setting at this storied historic site.
Nov 15, 2026, 1:00 PMHistorical Speaker Series – The Tuskegee Airmen – From Tuskegee to Detroit: A Legacy of Aviation
The Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site's speaker series turns to the Tuskegee Airmen on Sunday, November 15, at 1 p.m. in Shelby Township. The talk is titled From Tuskegee to Detroit: A Legacy of Aviation.
Nov 22, 2026, 1:00 PMWedding Garage Sale – wedding planning should be exciting, not overwhelming
Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site hosts a Wedding Garage Sale on Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 1 p.m. in Shelby Township. The aim is simple: keep wedding planning exciting, not overwhelming.
Nov 28, 2026, 10:00 AMModel Train Show
Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site hosts a model train show on Saturday, November 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Shelby Township. It’s set at the historic Packard Proving Grounds.
Jan 10, 2027, 1:00 PMHistorical Speaker Series – The Road Safety Divide
The Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site hosts The Road Safety Divide, part of its historical speaker series, on Sunday, January 10, at 1 p.m. in Shelby Township.
Jan 24, 2027, 1:00 PMHistorical Speaker Series – The Clinton River Watershed
The Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site's historical speaker series turns to the Clinton River watershed on Sunday, January 24, at 1 p.m. in Shelby Township.
Feb 7, 2027, 1:00 PMHistorical Speaker Series – Tank Testing at the Packard Proving Grounds
The Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site hosts a talk on tank testing on Sunday, February 7, at 1 p.m. at the historic site in Shelby Township.
Apr 18, 2027, 12:00 PMSpring Fling Handmade Market
Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site hosts its Spring Fling Handmade Market on Sunday, April 18, from noon to 4 p.m. in Shelby Township.
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