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.
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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