Topinabee ( ) is an unincorporated community in Cheboygan County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The community is located within Mullet Township along the southwestern shores of Mullett Lake. As an unincorporated community, Topinabee has no legally defined boundaries or population statistics of its own but does have its own post office with the 49791 ZIP Code. Geography Topinabee is located in Mullett Township in Cheboygan County along the southwest shores of Mullett Lake. It is in the Northern Michigan region of the Lower Peninsula around south of the Mackinac Bridge. The lakefront community is centered along M-27, which is known locally as North Straits Highway. Interstate 75 runs about to the west. Located along Mullett Lake, Burt Lake is to the west. The Indian River is to the south and connects the two large lakes, and this stretch of waterways is known as the Inland Waterway. The city of Cheboygan is about to the northeast. The census-designated place of Indian River is directly to the south. Numerous other lakefront unincorporated communities are located to the north along M-27, including Long Point, Birchwood, Silver Beach, and Mullett Lake. Topinabee has its own post office with the 49791 ZIP Code, which is primarily used for post office box services. The post office is located in the center of the community at 1593 North Straits Highway. Most of the community itself is served by the Cheboygan 49791 ZIP Code, while areas to the south are served by the Indian River 49749 ZIP Code. The Mullett Township Hall and Fire Department is located in Topinabee at 1491 North Straits Highway. The fire department serves the community, the portion of the Mullett Township on the west side of Mullett Lake, and portions of the neighboring townships. The community is served by Inland Lakes Schools centered just to the south in Indian River. History The community was founded as early as 1881 when Michigan Central Railroad officials planned to establish a resort here on the southern shores of Mullett Lake. That year, hotel proprietor H. H. Pike moved to the area and platted the community. He named it for Potawatomi tribal leader Topinabee (Great Bear Heart), who ultimately signed the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. The treaty gave large areas of native lands to the European settlers, including Fort Dearborn. While Pike suggested the name Topinabee, the railroad company suggested the name Portage, but