Petoskey State Park
Beachfront along Lake Michigan
Map showing the location of Petoskey State Park
Map showing the location of Petoskey State Park
Location in Michigan
Map showing the location of Petoskey State Park
Map showing the location of Petoskey State Park
Petoskey State Park (the United States)
LocationLower Peninsula, Emmet County, Michigan, United States
Nearest cityPetoskey, Michigan
Coordinates45°24′05″N 84°54′30″W / 45.40139°N 84.90833°W / 45.40139; -84.90833[2]
Area303 acres (123 ha)
Elevation630 feet (190 m)[2]
DesignationMichigan State Park
Established1961[3]
AdministratorMichigan Department of Natural Resources
WebsitePetoskey State Park

Petoskey State Park is a public recreation area covering 303 acres (123 ha) on Lake Michigan in Bear Creek Township, Emmet County, Michigan. The state park is located three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the city of Petoskey on Little Traverse Bay. It is surrounded by heavily vegetated sand dunes that are excellent examples of parabolic dunes.[4] Michigan's state stone, the Petoskey stone, can be found on the park beach.[5]

History

The park occupies part of the site where William Wirt Rice (1833–1891)[6] built a tannery in 1885 at the mouth of what came to be called Tannery Creek. The tannery occupied 180 acres that were eventually divided between Petoskey State Park and the commercial district on U.S. Highway 31. At its peak, the tannery employed some 200 workers and processed over 1000 hides—primarily buffalo—per day.[7] The tannery closed in 1952, and its buildings were torn down in 1963.[8] The City of Petoskey purchased a portion of the tannery's land north of Tannery Creek in 1934 and created the Petoskey Bathing Beach. The City of Petoskey purchased a portion of the tannery's land north of Tannery Creek in 1934 and created the Petoskey Bathing Beach. The Michigan Conservation Commission approved the creation of Petoskey State Park on the old tannery lands—with the potentiality of also purchasing the city's bathing beach for inclusion as well—in June 1961.[9] The large southern portion of the park property was purchased by the State in 1962, although no park development occurred for another several years.[10] The State of Michigan purchased the beach from the City of Petoskey for $150,000 in 1968, took title in 1969, and the first 90 sites in the park's campground opened in June 1970.[5][11]

Activities and amenities

The park offers a mile-long sand beach for swimming, a trail that ascends the Old Baldy sand dune, picnicking facilities, and a 178-site campground.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Petoskey State Park". IUCN. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Petoskey State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ↑ "When were Michigan state parks and recreation areas established?" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Dune Systems" (PDF). Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "Petoskey State Park". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  6. ↑ "William W. Rice". USGenNet Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  7. ↑ E. Lillard; et al. (April 2013). "Tannery Creek Watershed Management Plan" (PDF). Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Fifty Years Ago Today: Tannery buildings razed". Petoskey News. July 31, 2013. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Petoskey Park OK'd by State". Petoskey News-Review. Vol. 75, no. 212. UPI. June 9, 1961. p. 1.
  10. ↑ "Petoskey State Park Land Sale Is Completed". Petoskey News-Review. Vol. 76, no. 206. June 2, 1962. p. 1.
  11. ↑ "Petoskey State Park Opens Monday With 90 Camping Sites". Petoskey News-Review. Vol. 84, no. 205. June 12, 1970. p. 7.
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