Parks Archives - Lost In Michigan

Burt Lake Scenic Tower

Posted on August 1, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Forgotten Places, Parks .

There’s a smal parcel of Burt Lake State Park situated at the intersection of Old US-27 and M-68, just south of Burt Lake. It appears to be a forgotten corner, with overgrown grass and weathered picnic tables clearly in need of repair. A lookout platform, once offering breathtaking vistas of Burt Lake, now stands shrouded by the encroaching trees, its spectacular view a memory.

This overlooked spot holds a bit of history, as it’s the very site where the Burt Lake Scenic Tower once proudly stood. Built around the 1930s, this observation tower was a major draw for tourists throughout the early to mid-20th century. While the tower is long gone and details of its disappearance are scarce, old postcards offer a charming glimpse into its past as a cherished local landmark.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

A Neon Nostalgia Trip: Exploring Saginaw’s Historic Sign Park

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Parks .

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the vibrant glow of yesteryear at Saginaw’s unique Historic Sign Park! This isn’t your typical park with trees and benches; instead, it’s an open-air museum showcasing a dazzling collection of restored vintage neon signs that once illuminated the businesses of Saginaw.

Located in Old Town Saginaw, behind the Ippel building (at the corner of Court and Hamilton Streets), this quirky and captivating “park” offers a nostalgic journey through the city’s past. What started as a mission by local enthusiast Tom Mudd to rescue a single vintage sign in 1993 has blossomed into a collection of over 15 iconic signs, each with its own story to tell.

Wander through the parking lot turned outdoor exhibit and marvel at the craftsmanship and artistry of these luminous relics. From the playful water droplets of the Brenske’s Plumbing sign (dating back to 1958!) to the energetic, arrow-emblazoned Aubry’s Cleaners sign from the 1950s, each sign is a vibrant piece of Saginaw’s history. Don’t miss the towering Ippel’s sign, a 22-foot beacon that once graced the building that stood on the very spot of today’s Ippel building that replaced the historic one that burned down in the early 2000s.

What makes this park truly special is the dedication to preserving not just the signs themselves, but also the dying art of neon sign making. Local company Barrett Sign has been instrumental in the restoration and installation of these glowing treasures.

Make sure to visit in the evening, especially during the darker months, to witness the signs in their full illuminated glory. The warm neon glow adds a magical ambiance to the surroundings, making it a perfect spot for a unique evening stroll.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Center of the Lower Peninsula

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Historic Places, Parks .

This stone marker stands in Clapp Memorial Park in St Louis, Michigan. It declares that it is the geographical center of the Lower Peninsula. It stands near another stone that has a plaque on the top of hit that reads: Sidney S. Hastings placed this stone here in 1876 to mark the geographical center of lower Michigan. If you want to stand in the middle of the mitten this park in St Louis is the place to do it.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Map in the Park

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Parks .

Hagar Park sits in Jenison located west of Grand Rapids. It is in this Ottawa county park that you will find a landscaped field with the shape of a map of the United States. It even has some of the rivers and mountains shaped into it. I tried to get a pic of it but it does not show up well here is a pic from google maps that shows it next to the playground.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, if you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Paris In The Springtime

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Parks, small towns .

Michigan in early springtime can be rather gray and gloomy with brown grass and bare trees. I needed to get away so I headed to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower. No not the one in France but the one in Michigan a few miles north of Big Rapids. John Parish arrived in the area in the 1850s and platted the village in 1865. It was at first named “Parish” after him, but the name later became Paris.

The County park in Paris was the site of the second fish hatchery in the state of Michigan. The Paris Fish Hatchery opened in 1881, and from 1913 to 1938, salmon and brown trout fingerlings were shipped in trains in milk cans painted a distinctive red color. The hatchery operated until 1964. in 1972 it was acquired by the Mecosta County Park Commission and the land converted into a park. In 1980, Using old bed frames stored in one of the buildings, welding students from the Mecosta-Osceola Career Center in Big Rapids built the 20-foot-tall replica of the Eiffel Tower.

If you want to get away to see the Eiffel Tower and you can’t afford to travel to France, be sure to check out the replica in Paris, Michigan.

P.S. behind the tower is a trout pond. It was closed when I was there, but I will have to go back when it is open and the grass is green.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Spring Grove

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Parks .

South of Grand Rapids, Near Hudsonville is Spring Grove Park. It is a county park that has a stream flowing through it fed by a natural spring. The crystal clear water bubbles up through the ground into a pool of water. It reminded me of a small version of Kitch-iti-kipi at Palms Book State Park in the Upper Peninsula. If you are looking for a nice place for a stroll check out the little park in Southwest Michigan.

P.S. at one time there was a fountain for drinking water but it is gone now.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Parker Mill

Posted on June 23, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Grain Elevators, Parks .

Parker Mill sits in the appropriately named Parker Mill County Park situated between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. The grist mill was built by William Parker in 1873, along the Flemming Creek. After William died the mill was operated by his son and grandson until the 1960s. After the mill closed, it was purchased along with the land along the creek to create the county park. The mill still stands for visitors to see how grain was milled over a century ago. Visitors can also hike the trail along the creek to enjoy a bit of nature.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

The Concrete Bridges of McCourtie Park

Posted on March 16, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Bridges, Parks .

On US-12 in the town of Somerset Center is McCourtie Park. The park has some wonderful concrete bridges that span a little creek which flows through the park. A Historical marker tells the stories of these bridges and the park:

Somerset Center native W. H. L. McCourtie (1872 – 1933) was introduced to the cement industry by W. F. Cowham of Jackson in 1897. McCourtie soon went to Dallas, Texas, where he made a fortune speculating in oil and established the Trinity Portland Cement Company. During the 1920s McCourtie returned to Somerset Center. In 1924 he acquired his family’s home and turned it into a community showplace. McCourtie sought to create a model town. He gave free white paint to any home owner that needed it. He also hosted the community’s annual homecoming celebration. Thousands of people came to “Aiden Lair” to witness stunt flyers and enjoy baseball, local musicians, dancing and unlimited refreshments. At the height of the Great Depression, McCourtie offered his estate as a place “Where Friends Meet Friends and Part More Friendly.”

The W. H. L. McCourtie Estate may contain the country’s largest collection of el trabeio rustico, the Mexican folk tradition of sculpting concrete to look like wood. Around 1930, most likely inspired by work he had seen in Texas, cement tycoon W. H. L. McCourtie hired itinerant Mexican artisans George Cardoso and Ralph Corona to construct seventeen bridges on his property. The artisans formed the bridges with steel rods and then hand sculpted wet concrete to resemble planed lumber, rough logs, thatch, and rope. Different species of trees can be identified. Two concrete trees that stand on the property continue to serve as chimneys for the underground rathskellar and garage. The McCourtie estate is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Minnie Farmer Spring

Posted on March 6, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Artesian Springs, Parks .

Minnie Farmer Park stands next to the Tamarack Creek in the northeast part of Howard City. It is a little roadside park with a pavilion. Next to the creek behind the pavilion is a pipe sticking out of the ground with artesian spring water flowing from it. The well is a hidden little gem and I like to stop there and fill up my water bottle when I am passing through.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.

Little Girls Point

Posted on June 11, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Parks, upper peninsula .

Little Girls Point is a county park that stands along the Lake Superior shoreline west of Ironwood. A stone shed stands in the middle of the park. I am not exactly sure what it is used for, maybe an old well pump house. It is a beautiful place to stop for a picnic and watch the waves on Lake Superior.

The name of the park is a curious one and it has a unique story. Legend has it that a young Chippewa woman named Leelinaw lived with her family further to the north in what is now the Porcupine Mountains State Park. She loved to paddle her canoe along the shoreline of the great lake they call Gitche Gumee (Lake Superior). She was told not to stop at the point covered in pine trees because it was haunted by Puk Wadginees or “the little men of the wood”.

On the day of her wedding Leelinaw ventured, out as she had done before, and stopped at the point to explore the grove of pine trees. She never returned and by nightfall the point was searched using torches but she was never found. A wooden sign stands in the park telling the story of Leelinaw and her disappearance.

Thank you for Subscribing to Lost In Michigan, If you have not subscribed yet, It would mean a lot to me if you did.