Author Archives: Mike Sonnenberg

The Disappearance of Tawas Beach

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Tawas Point SP beach in 2013

On my recent trip to Tawas Point State Park, I was shocked to see how much the beach has changed. I took this photo of the beach in 2013. This is the main beach at the tip of the point near the lighthouse. It was a beautiful sandy beach with a volleyball net and plenty of room on the sand to lay out and soak up some rays.

Tawas Point SP beach in 2019

This is what the beach looks like today. Most of the sand is gone. I am not sure if it is just the high water levels or erosion or both. The beach is not what it used to be. It still is a great place to hang out and cool off on a hot summer day. The water in Lake Huron is still cool, clear and refreshing and there is a long shoreline at the point but the beach has changed a lot this summer.

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Lost Visitor

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On our recent stay at Interlochen State Park, we were sitting by the campfire late at night when a friendly dog came up and sat down next to us. We looked around and could not find anyone nearby and wondered where he came from. I told my wife to check his tags and she found one with a phone number. It was a 619 area code which is in California but we called it and my wife told the person on the other end that we have their dog. They were so grateful. They were setting up their tent about ten sites down and Wally, the dog, must have wandered off. We called them about the time they noticed he was missing and were more than thankful that we called them.

Yeah I know you are supposed to keep your dog on a leash at all times but things happen and the lesson from this story is to make sure you have a phone number on your dog’s tags.

P.S I have been busy camping and have not posted much lately but summer will be coming to an end and I will get back to posting more.

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The Next State Park?

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I often wonder about what will become the next state park. I have always wanted to visit the remote 14 Mile Point Lighthouse located on Lake Superior near Ontanogon. It is privately owned but has been for sale for a long time, about ten years I think. I thought it would be nice if the land could be purchased by a grant or from a non-profit and donated to the state. It would make for a nice tourist attraction and possibly help to preserve or restore the historic lighthouse.

Built in the late 1890s the lighthouse was discontinued in 1955 and sold for $5,200 in 1957. Tragically in 1984, the lighthouse caught on fire from a campfire that was not properly extinguished. The brick walls and cast iron lantern room is all that remains of the lighthouse. The lighthouse is in an extremely remote area without any roads leading to it.

The Lighthouse and property are currently for sale for $890,000. unfortunately, I don’t have that kind of money laying around but It seems like it would be something that would make for a nice park on Lake Superior.  You can see more about the property HERE

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From Ghost Town to State Park

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Near the entrance of the Port Crescent State Park campground, near the tip of the Thumb, is a round brick structure. It is what remains of a chimney that once reached into the sky in the town of Port Crescent. The town started in 1844 with a trading post and a hotel. It was named Pinnebog for the river that flowed next to it. Another town further upstream also took the name Pinnebog and so the town changed the name to Port Crescent.

During the late 1800s, the town prospered with two sawmills, a wagon factory, hotels, a brewery and several other businesses for the more than 500 people who called the town home. After the devastating fires swept through the thumb in 1871 and ten years later in 1881 the timber in the region was depleted and the decline of the town began. By 1894 most of the buildings were gone and only a few people remained to ship sand from the are to be used in glass making until 1936.

The state acquired 124 acres of property along the Saginaw Bay where the town once stood for a new state park. Port Crescent State Park was officially established on September 6, 1959.

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Stamp and Go Book

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I visited Bay City State Park this weekend for the Centennial celebration and although they were out of sticker the park did have some Stamp and Go books for $5 each.  They are a nice little book with a photo and a short description of each state park in Michigan.

The ranger also stamped my book on the Bay City page with a stamp that says ” PARK HERE ” I assume all the parks have the same stamp. I was hoping each park had its own unique stamp but it still is nice to get my book stamped. I think you can purchase them at any state park ranger station. or you can order them from Peninsulas HERE

If you are looking for a book with a lot of information about the parks in the Northern Lower Peninsula then check out the State Park Handbook HERE

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The Tower at Burt Lake State Park

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Burt Lake State Park was started in 1921 with the donation of 83 acres of land by Cheboygan County along the Burt Lake shoreline to the recently formed Michigan State Parks Commission. It was one of the first 25 parks the commission created. Shortly after the donation by the county an additional 40 acres was deeded to the State of Michigan which increased the park to 123 acres. From 1931-1939, through land exchange and transfers, additional acreage was acquired bring Burt Lake State Park to its present size of 406 acres.

The park also had a tall observation tower. I could find little information about it. I did see a postcard the referenced a telescope was at the top for visitors to look through. The postcards I found were dated back in the 1930s so it must have been constructed close to that time. I am not sure when or why the tower was taken down. I was told years ago by someone that it stood on the ridge near the corner of Old US-27 and M-68 where another shorter platform stood. I think that one is gone now also. It’s been a few years since I visited it. I am wondering with the tourists visiting the tower if that is what influenced the the Cross In The Woods Shrine.

If you want to read my full review of Burt Lake State Park check out the State Park Handbook HERE

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Grand Haven State Park Review

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Grand Haven state park is one of the most unique campgrounds in Michigan. It’s basically a parking lot on the beach with lines painted on the asphalt.  It’s kind of a love it or hate it park, If you love being on the beach and in Grand Haven you will love it. But if you prefer some trees and a more traditional campground you may not like it.

 

Pros

  • Right on the beach
  • Near downtown Grand Haven
  • New Bathrooms

 

Cons

  • Asphalt parking lot style sites
  • Sites are extremely small
  • No fire pits
  • No Alcohol
  • Extremely busy in the summer especially weekends

Campground

There must be a lot of people who love the beach in Grand Haven since this park is always full even though it’s not much more than a parking lot. I hope this review does not come across as negative, but I want to be honest. The sites are extremely small, no I mean really small. If you have a travel trailer that has a slide on both sides you will be the width of your site and the length of your site. If you are lucky you can open your awning without hitting the trailer next to you. Your truck will have to be parked in the lot next to the rangers shack at the entrance. If you have a small 20 foot or less trailer you could probably park your vehicle in your lot. Avoid getting a lot near a walkway to the park or bathroom or the beach because you will have people constantly walking through your site. The sites along the beach are the most popular. The park does not provide fire rings for the sites. I see most people bring their own, I would think a portable propane one would be ideal so you don’t have to deal with the ashes when packing up. If you like being on the beach and don’t mind the enormous crowds at the Grand Haven beach then you should give it a try.  The campground is laid out in loops with sand on the outside of each lot even on the inner loop. If you pitch a tent you can put it up in the sand. I have never slept in a tent on the sand but it must be kind of soft. Like sleeping on the beach.

 

Note that Holland State Park beach campground is similar, but the sites are about twice as large. So if you have camped there expect smaller sites at Grand Haven

 

Reservations

The park is extremely popular and you need to make your reservations six months to the day and if you can get a coveted spot along the beach consider yourself lucky and you should go out and by a lottery ticket.

 

Bathrooms

The park does have a new bathroom building and they are currently building another one which will be finished in the summer of 2018. One the other bathroom building is finished Grand Haven will probably have some of the nicest bathrooms in the Michigan State Park system.

Cell Service

Cell service is good since the park is right in town.

 

Beach and Boating

The beach is what Grand Haven State Park is All About at’s a huge Sandy beach on Lake Michigan just be aware that the day use parking lot is next to the campground and is flooded by beachgoers in the summer.  

The park does not have a boat launch

 

Shopping

The park does not have a camp store. Downtown is about a mile away but it’s mostly gift shops, bars, and restaurants. Meijers is about 3 miles away. It may only be about 3 miles but in the summer traffic, it may take you 20 minutes to get there. If you want to go to downtown you can walk or take a bike down the path that takes you where it will be easier than driving since you won’t have to deal with the traffic and then find a place to park.

 

Things To Do

Besides the beach and downtown shopping there Grand Haven lighthouse is on the pier next to the park. You can check out the musical fountain near downtown and enjoy ice cream from any number of places along the path from the park to downtown. If you want a break from Grand Haven you can visit Holland. Lakeshore Drive is a nice road along Lake Michigan that will take you to Holland State Park.

For more reviews and photos be sure to check out the Unofficial State Park Handbook HERE

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Michigan State Parks for Lighthouse Lovers

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Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state in the United States. Of the approximately 125 lighthouses still standing in Michigan, a few of them are located in some of Michigan’s State Parks. Here is a list of parks you will want to visit to see the lighthouses that call these parks home.

Ludington State Park 
Big Sable Point Lighthouse stands in the dunes along Lake Michigan. It is a few miles from the campground and parking lot but well worth the hike to visit it.

Belle Isle State Park

The only light tower constructed for navigation is the Livingstone Memorial Light that proudly stands on the east end of the Island.

Tawas Point State Park

The park is home to one of the most visited lighthouses in the state. While you are camping you can see the light shining at night.

Leelanau State Park

The Grand Travers Lighthouse stands at the lip of the Leelanau Peninsula and is a popular destination for tourist visiting the peninsula. They say the old lighthouse is haunted and tours on the weekends in October are a popular event.

Grand Haven State Park

The beach at the Grand Haven State Park is one of the most popular beaches in Michigan. The bight red Grand Haven Lighthouse stands on the pier separating the channel from the beach.

Fort Wilkins State Historic Park

The Copper Harbor Lighthouse is part of the state park. You can see it from a parking lot on the west side of M-41 that faces the harbor. The lighthouse is separated by private property and the road to the lighthouse is not open. Unfortunately the ferry service that took visitors to the lighthouse is no longer operating but hopefully, the state will be able to find a contractor to start the service again.

Sturgeon Point State Park 

The small state park on Lake Huron near Harrisville is home to the lighthouse maintained by the Alcona Historical Society.

Holland State Park

The lighthouse is known as “Big Red” guides sailors into the channel next to the state park beach. You can not access the lighthouse from the state park but you can get a good view and photographs of it from the park.

William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor

One of the newest lighthouses in Michigan stands on the Detroit River at the state harbor near the DNR’s Outdoor Adventure Center.

McLain State Park

The state lists a lighthouse at McLain State Park in the Keweenaw near Hancock. It’s more of a beacon that stands on a breakwater than a lighthouse but I figured I better include it on the list.

Silver Lake State Park 

The park is most noted for the sand dunes and ORV area but it does have a lighthouse. The Little Sable Point Lighthouse stands along Lake Michigan in the park and is open to visitors.

Colonial Michilimackinac Historic State Park

If you have ever driven across the Mackinac Bridge you have probably seen the Old Mackinaw Point Lighthouse that stands on the shoreline in Mackinaw City. It is one of the most popular places to stop and take a pic of the bridge.

Cheboygan State Park 

You probably won’t find a lighthouse listed at the state park probably because it is no longer standing. The foundation can be found off the hiking trails and is still worth visiting. From the shoreline where the old lighthouse once stood you can see the Poe Reef Lighthouse in Lake Huron.

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The Chapel in the Pines

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Hidden among the pine trees in the heart of Hartwick Pines State Park is little log chapel. It’s a peaceful little sanctuary away from the hustle a bustle of modern day life. It is the perfect place to sit down and reflect on the beauty of nature.

Inside the church on the altar is written Nature’s Prayer:

Our Heavenly Father, Creator of all that is nature,
We humbly come to you in the midst of nature’s splendor,
To thank you that as Americans we are free
To worship as we please, work as we please,
And move about as we please to enjoy all that is nature:
Its mountains, its hills, its valleys, its lakes,
Its streams, and the living things that dwell therein;
We pray unto you that someday the world may be at peace
And all men be free to enjoy nature’s abundance.
We ask you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
That we be guided to protect this priceless heritage
Which we, in America, are privileged to enjoy. Amen.

It is a short little hike through the woods ( I would guess about 200 yards) down a paved path from the parking lot for the museum. It is well worth a visit to the little chapel in the woods.

If you want a Camp Michigan Shirt they will only be available for a short time this spring. I have a lot of trips planned around Michigan this summer and it will be difficult for me to fulfill orders so I am taking a break from T-Shirt sales for the summer. Now is a good time to order, if you want one they can be ordered from my Lost In Michigan website HERE

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Camping Journal Giveaway

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Thank you to everyone who commented on what their favorite campground in Michigan is. Of all the comments Nancy Oleniczak Sturgul was chosen at random as the winner of the Camp Michigan Camping Journal. Please email me at mike@huronphoto.com with your address and I will send out your journal.

If you want to purchase a journal you can order them from my website HERE