Page 11 - DNR-OAC May – September 2018

11 YOU OUGHT TO VISIT... Fayette State Park
Visit Fayette Historic State Park, which surrounds Snail Shell Harbor in Lake Michigan. Arrive by car or boat and explore the carefully restored historic structures in the park's Historic Townsite. Visitors can experience cliff-side hikes, hammock camp in the park’s campground or just soak up the tranquility that only the Garden Peninsula provides.
The 711-acre Fayette Historic State Park blends both nature and history. The park features a historic townsite, a modern campground, harbor slips, a boat launch, a beach and five miles of hiking and cross-country skiing trails with impressive views from the limestone cliffs that surround the harbor.
The historic townsite, a once bustling iron smelting industrial community surrounding Snail Shell Harbor, features more than 20 historic buildings. A visitor center provides ample opportunities to learn about life in a 19th-century industrial town through interpretation provided by the Michigan History Center. Visitors can take guided tours or self-guided walks.
On the second Saturday of August, the park is transformed back to its glory days with period displays, food and music during the annual Heritage Day event. The event celebrates the "hey-day" of Fayette as a bustling iron-smelting company town.
Snail Shell Harbor is located within Fayette Historic State Park. The protected waters of Snail
Shell Harbor are deep enough for larger pleasure crafts. The dock features 15 transient slips ranging in size from 1-38ft, 20-45ft and 46-60ft with 30/50AMP electrical pedestals which provide numerous overnight or day-use boating opportunities. Showers, a boat launch, grills, picnic tables, a visitor center and gift shop are located within walking distance.
Scuba diving is permitted in the harbor during certain times of the day. A fee and use permit is required. All submerged artifacts are to remain in place and nothing is to be removed from the harbor bottom.
Nearby destinations include:
Palms Book State Park / Kitch-iti-kipi
Campgrounds:
Fayette Furnace Hill Lodge 906-644-2603
$110 (Sun-Thur) and $135 (Fri-Sat and Holidays)
Fayette-Modern 800-447-2757 $25 (20/30 amp); $29 (50 amp) or $20-$25 (off-season)
FAYETTE