Muskegon State Park, Muskegon
Muskegon State Park Sign
U.S. life boat station
Piers
Muskegon History
First, a little background on the Muskegon area. I will seek to further expand these history notes over time. The Ottawa (Odawa, actually...or better yet Anishinaabe) have used the Muskegon river and Muskegon Lake area as a summer camp for many years. At times, there were over 500 tribe members here. It proved to be a great place for fishing, to establish trade, and also to serve as a safe port for further travel. They would travel north or south easily by canoeing along the Sea Michigan shore line...and there was no more efficient transportation than in an canoe. (see the Science tab for info on those, with more to come). The Muskegon river also provided an excellent access to the region. The name Muskegon come from the masqui gon...”marshy river”...that better describes where the river approaches Muskegon Lake. Here, not only was fishing plentiful, but also the traditional wild rice could be planted. During the winter as the water froze, typically the tribe would move to their winter hunting grounds, closer to Grand Rapids.
Europeans did not permanently establish themselves in the area until the early 1800’s. They too recognized the values that the Odawa found in the location...commercial fishing, commerce, transportation. The Treaty of 1836 was one of many factors that served to push the Odawa out of the area, often moving significantly north or else west. Let’s put things into perspective here...the Anishinaabe have been in the region for 10,000 years...the Europeans for only about 250 years. Think about it.
With the great forests that used to cover Michigan, someone got the bright idea to cut down as many trees as possible, and float them downstream on the 219 mile Muskegon River (some say the longest river in Michigan, other say the second longest river....I give people the benefit of the doubt). There in Muskegon Lake, the various (up to 28 saw mills at one point!) would sort the logs, and mill them into lumber. If you are producing that amount of lumber, you need a way to transport them, and thus a highly active shipping industry emerged. Lumbering started in the 1850’s and it’s heyday was really 1870-1890. The trees were largely gone by then.
Over time, Muskegon became more established, thanks in no small way to Charles Hackley, the co-owner of one of the largest saw mills here. Here say indicates that it was his wife who encouraged him to make many donations to help establish infrastructure with their great wealth. Thus...Hackley School, Hackley Library, Hackley Hospital, Hackley Park, Hackley Museum, and Hackley other things. Muskegon even has a Hackley day in May at the public schools. You can visit the Victorian Hackley House downtown, by the way too. Muskegon went on to become quite industrialized, and a great number of folks worked at the multiple factories in town...including my father. Over time many of the factories went away, and Muskegon is finally in their renaissance era now....opening their eyes to the natural resources that are here (and protecting them I hope!)...and evolving toward sharing that with tourists and locals alike.
Beach View
Muskegon State Park
Muskegon State Park is one of the oldest state parks in Michigan. Some would say it was established in 1921, while others state 1923. So, over 100 years ago, we all lucked out and this beach, sand dunes, wooded area, and channel-side location has been preserved for all to enjoy. If you are a Michigan citizen, you own this! ;o) 800 acres were purchased from a saw mill that was situated on the back (east) side of the park. An additional 400 acres were added, so the park is an enviable 1200 acre space, with 2 miles of shoreline on Sea Michigan, the channel, and a good portion on Muskegon Lake.
Due to the growth of marine commerce, and Muskegon being arguably the best deep water natural port on Sea Michigan, if not of all of the great lakes.....marine safety became critical. Thus, in 1879 the U.S. Life Saving Service was established along the north side of the channel, not far from Sea Michigan. Also situated on what is now the park and along the channel, were a series of buildings and shanties, where the crews of the USLSS lived. It was quite common to have daily drills done by these crews to be prepared for the worst. Due to storm damage to the structure (plus perhaps a desire to again further widen the channel), a replacement building was constructed directly across from that location on the south side of the channel, in 1905. Ten years later the USLSS became the U.S Coast Guard organization. That is the building you can still see today, recently refurbished. The arrowhead break walls were established around 1931. This creates a large inner break wall area that also offers calmer waters and a different bathing experience than that on the true shoreline.
There are two campgrounds in the park....Lake Michigan Campground to the north, and the Channel Campground....well, along the channel of course! ;o) Both are enviable places to be and I encourage all campers to capture the experience of camping here. (see: www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails ) There are some great trails to check out, and I also recommend hiking to Lost Lake, a natural coastal plain marsh. Across from the main entrance to the Lake Michigan Campground, is the Muskegon Luge / Adventure Sports Park. (www.msports.org) that during the winter has a luge, outdoor ice skating, and paths for walking and cross country skiing. All of the above are on state park property. Fishing is easily available along the channel and north break wall, or if you are into surf fishing, doing so on the main beach. There are boat launch facilities at Snug Harbor, at the east side of the park.
A pavilion (sometimes referred to the Bath House, The Beach House) was established long ago in the middle of the massive beach at the park. That was just dismantled this summer, and a new one is being built this year (2025). When I was a kid, we always referred to this beach as the “North Shore”...in reference to being north of the channel, with Pere Marquette Park being to the south.
The main beach offers various picnic tables, extensive parking, a few BBQ grills, and enough beach where it is never unpleasantly crowded. This beach experiences just a fraction of the volumes of people that visit across the channel to the south. This is one of the best large, relaxing beaches that I can recommend to you to experience.
There is an extensive and largely natural dune area on the park....I think the best example of the natural dune formation of its kind, on the west coast of Michigan! We are all so fortunate that they are preserved from development, as a state park! I have many stories of walking these beaches, fore dunes, troughs, and rear dunes. I invite you to join me this summer, as I have developed a 2025 program of free, 90 minute Dune Walks. (see the EVENTS tab for specific dates) .
Demolition of the pavilion
The Block House
Additionally, a unique experience is presented by visiting the Block House, also within the park! Just a bit south of the Lake Michigan Campground, is a wooden log structure perched on top of a highest point in Muskegon County. It is a replica of Fort Dearborn, built in 1934 from salvaged Muskegon Lake pier wood. It was burned by wayward teenagers in 1962 (who were subsequently enlisted to help rebuild it in 1964!). Some of the park walking paths will nearly take you there also. There are two parking lots available. It is open and free to enter.
The block house