Saugatuck Dunes State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saugatuck Dunes State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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![]() Shoreline and a large wooded sand dune.
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Location | Laketown Township, Allegan County, Michigan, USA |
Nearest city | Saugatuck, Michigan |
Area | 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) |
Elevation | 669 feet (204 m) |
Designation | Michigan State Park |
Established | 1977 |
Administrator | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
Website | Saugatuck Dunes State Park |
Saugatuck Dunes State Park is a fun outdoor area in Michigan. It covers about 1,000 acres (400 hectares) right on the shore of Lake Michigan. You can find it between the towns of Saugatuck and Holland in Allegan County.
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History of Saugatuck Dunes State Park
This park used to be part of a large property owned by an inventor named Dorr E. Felt. He was famous for inventing the comptometer, an early type of calculator. His summer house, called the Felt Mansion, is still inside the park today and is being fixed up.
The Felt family's summer home was built in 1928. Later, in 1949, it was sold to a religious group. In the 1970s, the state of Michigan bought the building. It was used by the state police for a while. The state finished buying all the land for the park in 1978.
Things to Do at Saugatuck Dunes
Saugatuck Dunes State Park is mostly natural and undeveloped. It's a great place to explore the outdoors!
Hiking Trails and Sandy Dunes
The park has about 14 miles (23 km) of hiking trails. You can walk through forests and enjoy nature. There are also tall sand dunes, some as high as 200 feet (61 meters). These dunes are covered with trees and grass, making them very beautiful.
Beach Fun at Lake Michigan
You can also find 2.5 miles (4 km) of beachfront along Lake Michigan. It's a bit of a walk, about two-thirds of a mile (1 km) from the main parking area, but it's worth it for the sandy shores and lake views.