Bay Harbor, Michigan facts for kids
Bay Harbor is a special community in Michigan, United States. It's a place where people live and go on vacation. It's part of the city of Petoskey and is a carefully planned community.
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Where is Bay Harbor?
Bay Harbor is located on the beautiful Little Traverse Bay, which is part of Lake Michigan. It's right next to the city of Petoskey and is easy to reach by U.S. Highway 31. A famous hotel called the Inn at Bay Harbor is also here.
The History of Bay Harbor
For many years, the land where Bay Harbor now stands was a busy industrial area. In the late 1800s, a limestone quarry opened here. Later, around 1917, a company called Petoskey Portland Cement started making cement. This plant provided jobs for hundreds of people for over 80 years.
However, after the cement plant closed in the 1980s, the area was left with a lot of industrial waste. It was a "brownfield," meaning the land was dirty from its past use and needed a lot of cleaning.
In 1993, a huge project began to clean up and transform this land. In 1994, the old cement plant smokestacks were taken down with explosions. Eight months later, a barrier was removed, and water from Little Traverse Bay rushed in very quickly. In just 24 hours, over 2.5 billion gallons of water filled the area, creating what is now Bay Harbor Lake! This was the largest land cleanup project of its kind in North America.
What is Bay Harbor Like Today?
Today, Bay Harbor is a beautiful place with lots to do. The main area is called the "Village at Bay Harbor." This is where the old cement plant used to be. Now, you can find many shops and restaurants here.
The Village is the heart of the community. It has a marina for boats, a public viewing platform, and walking trails. The Bay Harbor Company also gave nearly a mile of Lake Michigan shoreline and 70 acres of land to be public parks. These parks are connected by five miles of walking and biking trails.
Bay Harbor covers over 1,200 acres and has 25 different neighborhoods. It also has five miles of waterfront along Lake Michigan. There are three nine-hole golf courses that have been ranked among the best in the nation. The community also has a large, safe harbor for boats, an equestrian club for horse riding, and the 27-hole Bay Harbor Golf Club. This golf club is often called "The Pebble Beach of the Midwest."
Where to Stay in The Village
Bay Harbor has two hotels for visitors. One is The Bay Harbor Village Hotel, which is a smaller hotel overlooking the marina and the Village. The other is the Inn at Bay Harbor. In 2016, the Inn had a big renovation and became part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection Hotels. This means it's one of only about 100 special hotels in that collection worldwide.
Events at Bay Harbor
Bay Harbor hosts many fun events throughout the year in the Village and through its Community Foundation.
- In June, there's an Annual In-Water Boat Show.
- Also in June, the Bay Harbor Community Foundation holds a Vintage Car and Boat Show.
- In July, there are special events around the 3rd and 4th, including a parade featuring GEM cars. Bay Harbor even set a world record in 2009 for the longest parade of GEM cars!
Bay Harbor is a community where GEM cars (small electric vehicles) are very popular and used often.
Images for kids
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Http://www.bayharborfoundation.org
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Http://www.innatbayharbor.com
