Straits State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Straits State Park |
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View of Mackinac Bridge from the state park
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 Straits State Park
Location in Michigan
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| Location | 720 Church St. St. Ignace, Michigan 49781 |
| Nearest city | St. Ignace, Michigan |
| Area | 181 acres (0.73 km2) |
| Established | 1924 |
| Governing body | Michigan Department of Natural Resources- Parks Division |
Straits State Park is a fun place to visit in Michigan! It's located in St. Ignace, right on the northern shore of the Straits of Mackinac. This park is special because it offers amazing views of the famous Mackinac Bridge. You can also find the Father Marquette National Memorial inside the park. With 255 campsites, it's a great spot for camping adventures.
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How Straits State Park Started
Straits State Park first opened in 1924. Back then, it was a simple park for day visits. Its entrance was at the corner of Paro and Hombach Street.
In the mid-1940s, the park was redesigned. It gained about 32 campsites along the beautiful shores of the Straits of Mackinac. Around this time, the park entrance moved to the corner of Paro and Church Street.
Park Expands North
In the early 1950s, the park grew bigger. It expanded to the north, adding about 90 new campsites. These new sites were perfect for campers with travel trailers. The park entrance stayed the same, making it easy for visitors arriving by car ferry from the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The new northern land was not developed at first.
Mackinac Bridge and the Park
In the mid-1950s, construction began on the amazing Mackinac Bridge. The road for the bridge was planned to go right through the northern part of the park. Park officials and bridge builders worked out a deal. They agreed to build a pedestrian bridge over the new road. This would connect the two parts of the park. However, this connecting bridge was never built.
There were also plans for a Mackinac Bridge Museum. It was going to be built at the northern end of the bridge. This would have taken away more park land. The land was set aside for the museum, but it was never built. Today, that spot is the Upper Peninsula Welcome Center.
Park Updates Over Time
In the mid-1970s, Straits State Park got some big updates. The park entrance moved about 300 feet (91 m) north on Church Street. This is where it is located today. The park also updated its restroom buildings.
The lower part of the park grew to nearly 130 campsites. The upper part was developed with almost 145 sites. All campsites were equipped with electricity. A special bridge overlook area was also created. This area has a trail leading to the upper park.
Father Marquette Memorial
In 1975, a decision was made to create a memorial for Father Marquette. This memorial was planned for the park area west of Interstate 75. Again, there was talk of building a pedestrian bridge over the highway to connect to the park.
The memorial and museum opened in 1980. It included interesting trails to explore. But, just like before, no pedestrian bridge was built. Sadly, in 2000, the museum was struck by lightning and burned down.
Campground Renovations
In 2003, the Parks Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources approved major updates for the campground. The plan was to improve all five bathrooms. Each campsite would also get updated electrical service and a level camping pad.
The park stayed closed for most of the 2004 season. When it reopened, visitors saw two big changes. First, all campsites had updated electricity. Second, some popular "lake front" campsites were removed. This brought the total number of campsites to 255. Over time, some "lake front" sites were allowed to reopen.
Fun Things to Do at Straits State Park
Straits State Park offers many activities for visitors to enjoy.
- Playgrounds: There are three playground areas in the park. One is in the lower park, another in the upper park, and a third in the day-use picnic area.
- Swimming: You can swim anywhere in the park. However, not many people do. This is because there isn't much sandy beach area. The ground along the north straits is quite rocky.
- Picnic Areas: The two main picnic areas are great for outdoor meals. One is near the day-use parking and playground. The other is at the bridge overlook. Both areas have grills, picnic tables, and water fountains.
- Hiking: A hiking trail runs through the park. It starts across from site numbers 190 and 225. About 1,000 feet (300 m) from the start, you'll find a view of the Mackinac Bridge. This spot is believed to be the exact center of the bridge. The trail continues for nearly three-quarters of a mile. It then connects with the North Country Trail. You can follow the North Country Trail south to the Upper Peninsula Welcome Center. Or, you can continue east over the park road to an observation tower. The park trail is marked with yellow blazes. The North Country Trail uses blue blazes.
- Mini Cabins: The park has two mini cabins available to rent. Each cabin sleeps four people on two bunk beds. They are located near the lower park's east bathroom.
- Bridge Overlook: This is a special structure that lets you see the Mackinac Bridge from the side. It's accessible for everyone. There's a binocular scope you can use for a small fee to get a closer look.
- Group Camping: Located in the day-use area, this is a simple camping spot. It's mainly for youth groups. There's no electricity here. Up to 60 people can camp per site. There are two main areas and one overflow area for groups.
Images for kids
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The original park boundaries are outlined in green.
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The park boundaries after the northern expansion in the 1950s are outlined in green.
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The current park boundaries outlined in green
