Saugatuck Dunes State Park
| Saugatuck Dunes State Park | |
|---|---|
 Shoreline and a large wooded sand dune. | |
  Location in Michigan  Saugatuck Dunes State Park (the United States) | |
| Location | Laketown Township, Allegan County, Michigan, United States |
| Nearest city | Saugatuck, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 42°42′12″N 86°11′59″W / 42.70333°N 86.19972°W |
| Area | 1,000 acres (400 ha) |
| Elevation | 669 feet (204 m) |
| Established | 1977[1] |
| Administered by | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Designation | Michigan State Park |
| Website | Official website  |
Saugatuck Dunes State Park is a public recreation area covering 1,000 acres (400 ha) on the shore of Lake Michigan between Saugatuck and Holland in Allegan County, Michigan.[2]
History
[edit]The site was once part of the estate of inventor Dorr E. Felt, whose summer home, the Felt Mansion, is an in-holding within the state park[3] that is undergoing restoration.[4] Built by the inventor of the comptometer in 1928, the Felt's summer home was sold to the St. Augustine Seminary in 1949 and used as housing for young students, and later on, for cloistered nuns. In the 1970s, the building was purchased by the state of Michigan and used as a state police post, with nearby buildings serving as a prison. The state completed purchasing the site for state park purposes in 1978.[3]
Activities and amenities
[edit]The largely undeveloped state park features 14 miles (23 km) of hiking trails, 200-foot-high (61 m) sand dunes covered with trees and grass, and 2.5 miles (4.0 km) of beachfront located two-thirds of a mile from the picnic parking area.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "When were Michigan state parks and recreation areas established?" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- ^ a b "Saugatuck Dunes State Park". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "Saugatuck Dunes State Park General Management Plan" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. March 29, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ "Restoration". The Felt Estate. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
External links
[edit]
- Saugatuck Dunes State Park Michigan Department of Natural Resources
- Saugatuck Dunes State Park Map Michigan Department of Natural Resources
