Tawas Point State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tawas Point State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Tawas Point Light
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 Tawas Point State Park
Location in Michigan
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| Location | Baldwin Township, Iosco County, Michigan, United States |
| Nearest city | East Tawas, Michigan |
| Area | 183 acres (74 ha) |
| Elevation | 581 feet (177 m) |
| Designation | Michigan state park |
| Established | 1960 |
| Administrator | Michigan Department of Natural Resources |
| Website | Tawas Point State Park |
Tawas Point State Park is a super cool place to visit in Michigan! It's a public park right on the shores of Lake Huron, close to the town of East Tawas. This park covers about 183 acres. It sits on a long, sandy piece of land called a sand spit. This sand spit helps create a calm area known as Tawas Bay.
Many people call Tawas Point State Park the "Cape Cod of the Midwest". It's also a fantastic spot for watching birds. The park is home to the famous Tawas Point Light. This lighthouse has been updated many times. But it's still a great example of a true Victorian-style lighthouse. It's the only one like it on the Great Lakes.
Park History: How it Started
The park was created after the lighthouse property became available. The U.S. Government no longer needed it. In 1960, the Michigan state government decided to buy 175 acres of land on Tawas Point. They paid $29,250 for it.
Work on the park began in 1964. Tawas Point State Park officially opened its doors in 1966. Later, in 1993, a beach pavilion was added. This is a building where people can relax by the beach. In 2001, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources took over the lighthouse. They wanted to protect it as a historic monument. A year later, a house built for the assistant lighthouse keeper in 1922 was removed.
Bird Watching Paradise
Tawas Point State Park is known as a "bird watchers' paradise." It's located right along the Lake Huron Flyway. This is a major path that birds use when they migrate. Experts say it's the most important "migrant trap" in the Saginaw Bay area.
What does "migrant trap" mean? It means many migratory birds stop here to rest and find food. About 300 different kinds of birds have been seen in and around the park! The National Audubon Society has even named it an important bird area. This is because it helps so many different kinds of passerine birds. These birds pass through every spring and fall on their long journeys.
Fun Activities and Things to Do
Tawas Point State Park offers lots of fun things for visitors.
- Camping: There's a campground right on Tawas Bay. It's a great place to stay overnight.
- Swimming: The water in Tawas Bay is shallow and warm. It's perfect for swimming! The park has two miles of sandy beach.
- Lighthouse Tours: You can take tours of the historic lighthouse. It's open during certain times of the year. You can even climb to the top for amazing views!
- Tawas Point Celebration Days: For many years, the park hosted a special event. It was called Tawas Point Celebration Days. It happened every second weekend in June. This event celebrated American cultural heritage. It included historical displays and demonstrations of old crafts. There were also muzzle loader demonstrations and reenactors in old-fashioned clothes. The Friends of Tawas Point State Park helped put on this fun weekend.
