Former G-P Particleboard Plant in Gaylord Michigan to Become Hardwood Sawmill

The former Georgia-Pacific particleboard plant just outside of Gaylord, Michigan is coming back to life after being dormant since its closure in 2006. The 850-acre site was purchased in January 2020 by Michigan Lumber and Wood Fiber Inc. of Comins Michigan. It was purchased by the company to replace at state-of-the-art sawmill that was destroyed by a fire in June of 2019. Todd Johnson, president of Michigan Lumber and Wood Fiber said that currently “We are logging and chipping on that site right now. The next step is construction of a building to house a state-of-the-art sawmill over the next year or two.” Given the challenges of building in 2020 and now the shortage of many essential electrical and machinery components, the company, which had hoped to have the first log through the mill by Q3 2021, has pushed the opening date into 2022. When the mill begins operations, it will begin by producing what is called cut stock lumber that is used to make pallets and crates for shipping products. Eventually we will also produce a higher grade of lumber at that site that can be used to make solid-wood furniture, cabinets and flooring.