Fayette is My Favorite Michigan Ghost Town

I have to admit it’s been awhile since we’ve been to the Garden Peninsula where the ghost town of Fayette can be found on the shore of Snail Shell Harbor and Lake Michigan. Located 17 miles south of US-2, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, it was a little “off the beaten path” for us but well worth the time to go see it.

Map Courtesy of Michigan Historical Center

During our two previous visits, we had the historic town pretty much to ourselves. This gave us the opportunity to walk around the buildings in silence and let our imaginations take us back to another time ...

That time would be 1867-1891 … At that time, nearly 500 residents lived in the town of Fayette which existed to make pig iron (used in steel making). The massive blast furnace is noisy and the work is hard and dirty. During its 24 years, Fayette produced nearly 230,000 tons of iron. The local hardwood forests were used for fuel and the quarried limestone from the bluffs was used to purify the iron ore. When the market began to decline, the Jackson Iron Company ceased its Fayette operations in 1891. Eventually, the town and buildings were abandoned and another Michigan ghost town was born.

Limestone Bluffs at Snail Shell Harbor

The remains of the furnace complex and kilns  

Today, the town has been reconstructed and maintained as a museum. The historic town site includes 20 preserved buildings and structures. The hotel, company store, town hall, and some of the residences are open to the public.  The town site is open daily from mid-May to mid-October. There isn’t any admission fee to walk around the historic town site; however, a Michigan Recreation Passport is required to enter this State Park. 

Hotel

Company Store

Town Hall

Interior of Town Hall

Superintendent's House

Doctor's House

Views of Company Store, Town Hall, and Hotel from across the water

Of course, the well-preserved ghost town isn’t the only reason to come here. The park features close to five miles of hiking trails (used as cross-country ski trails in the winter).

Map Courtesy of Eye On Michigan

It’s an easy hike through the forest along the bluff trail to an overlook offering a panoramic view of the town and Snail Shell Harbor.

Forest Trail

Bluff view of Fayette and Snail Shell Harbor

How much time you spend here is up to you. We took our time … pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the views! However, a general recommendation is to allow at least two hours to tour the town site and enjoy the scenic beauty of this area.

On August 23, 1956, Fayette town site was designated a Michigan Historic Site. It became a State Park in 1959. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 16, 1970. A pretty prestigious proclamation for a properly preserved piece of property.

Thanks to the State of Michigan, Fayette is a ghost town that still lives to tell its story.  If you want to visit Fayette, the Park address is: 4785 II Rd, Garden, Michigan (USA) 49835

Telephone: (906) 644-2603

Looking for a place to spend the night? The State Park has a campground with 61 sites (some with electric service but no water or sewer hookups). Other lodging and food options can be found in Cooks (21.2 miles), Gladstone (46.4 miles), Escanaba (55.2 miles), and Manistique (33.6 miles).

Since opinions, preferences, and budgets vary, I recommend checking a trusted travel source for current reviews on food and lodging.

  

Family vacations created some of my favorite memories. To start planning your memorable trip to Fayette Historic Town Site/State Park, please click on the following link:

Fayette Historic Town Site

Interested in more ghost towns? I invite you to view some of my other blog posts by clicking on the following links:

Fallasburg Historic Village

Union & Nonesuch Mines - Abandoned Mining Towns in Porcupine Mountains State Park

Ghost Towns of Aral & Glen Haven in Sleeping Bear Dunes NLS

Grafton, UT - A BOO-tiful Spot for a Ghost Town

Alcona Village - Alcona County Historic Sites
Old Victoria - An Old Mining Town Finds A New Life

Geology Rocks the Imagination

Digital manipulation has taught us you can't believe everything you see ... but what if it is literally etched in stone?   Rock formations are geologic wonders created by time and circumstance.  For me, rocks aren't just piles of stones - they challenge my imagination.  Some people look at clouds and see interesting formations.  I look at rocks the same way.  Look closely ... what do you see?

I see an owl.

One of my favorite rock formations is in Alaska.  During a discovery cruise between Homer and Seldovia, the Captain of our boat told us to watch a certain rock in the water.  As we approach the rock, it looks like an elephant with its trunk in the water.

As we sail by the rock, it appears the elephant is holding its trunk up out of the water.  How cool is that!

When scanning a rocky landscape, we frequently find animal shapes.  Some features are unmistakable while others require a bit more imagination.  Here are a few of my favorites:

 

Humpback Whale - Blue Ridge Parkwway

Duck on a Rock - Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona

Camel Head - Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona

Sheep Rock - Arches National Park, Utah

Gopher - Arches National Park, Utah

Billy Goat Head - Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Head of a Triceratops Dinosaur - Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Plucked Turkey

Dolphin Head - Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

Head of an Animal Lying on the Ground - Arches National Park, Utah

Elephant & Cheese - Canyonlands National Park, Utah

Parade of Elephants - Arches National Park, Utah

Some rock formations evoke a more sinister mood.

I see a rock monster with its mouth open wide ... waiting silently ... but for what ... or who?

This eerie formation resembles a half-buried skull.

How about taking a walk through a valley filled with goblins?

Goblin Valley State Park - Utah

It doesn't take much imagination to see the "Mittens" or the "OK" hand sign of Turret Arch.

Monument Valley - Arizona

Arches National Park - Utah

If we have the time, we look for faces in the rocks but imagining the rocks as people is an easier task.  For instance, the Three Gossips or the Kissing Couple are good examples of this.

Three Gossips - Arches National Park, Utah

Kissing Couple - Arizona

Are you wondering if this post can offer a royal "happily ever after"?  Look no further than Miners Castle and the Golden Throne.

 Miners Castle - Pictured Rocks NLS, Michigan

Golden Throne - Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

The next time your family is visiting a scenic area, challenge each other to look for the imaginative shapes in nature.  It's a fun way to see why geology rocks!

Steppin' It Up at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

A couple of years ago, we spent some time in southern Utah.  Between the National Parks, National Monuments, and scenic byways, we keep returning to this area.  

On this particular trip, we will do something new for us. We will explore Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.  Obviously, we didn’t see all 1.9 million acres of it but the landscape we did see was pretty impressive.

Entrance Sign and Park Map

The main Visitor Center for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is in Kanab (745 E. Highway 89, Kanab, UT, 84741; 435-644-1300). However, you can find other Visitor Centers in Cannonville, Big Water, Escalante, and at Anasazi State Park.    

Visitor Center in Escalante

We were about 10 miles south of Fredonia when we got our first distant view of the “staircase” (at the time we were on our way to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon).   

I wasn’t sure what to expect but I found out this isn’t your typical stairway …

Hammin' It Up in the "Porkies"

This year during our fall color tour of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P for shore), we are spending a couple of days exploring the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park - "Porkies" for short.   

Park Map

The 59,020 acre park was established in 1945 to protect a large stand of old-growth forest. In 1972, Michigan passed the Wilderness and Natural Areas Act. This act gave the “Porkies” a new name - the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. In 1984, the park was designated a National Natural Landmark due to its natural and historical value. It is one of 12 such designations in the State of Michigan.

If you are like me, you can’t help but wonder how places get their names and the Porcupine Mountains certainly begged to be asked that question. If you didn’t know, here’s the answer …

M-119 - Scenic Tunnel of Trees Drive

Recently, we stayed at a B&B in Mackinaw City, Michigan (USA). We were having breakfast with a couple from northern Illinois. Later in the week, they were planning to go to Traverse City and driving the Lake Michigan coastline south on their way home. Since they weren't familiar with the Emmet County area, they asked us if there was something they "must see".  So, we gave the obvious answer - "you should drive M-119".  

In 2003, M-119 was officially designated a state Scenic Heritage Road (aka Pure Michigan Byway). According to Wikipedia, this designation is given to "a scenic, recreational, or historic route that is representative of Michigan's natural and cultural heritage".  

I didn't count them but one source reports there are 137 curves along this 20 mile stretch of road from Harbor Springs to Cross Village.  

What makes this scenic drive different?  Well ...

We're Heading South to the North Rim (Grand Canyon)

During one of our autumn vacations, we visited the American southwest. On a whim, we took a side trip to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The first thing we do is stop at the park entrance sign for a photo.   

NPS Park Map

During the 12 mile drive to the North Rim, the sun is shining, bison are grazing along the roadside (I wasn't expecting to see bison here!), and we are listening to jazz tunes by Pat Methany ... we are on our way to a great day here on the North Rim.  

So what makes the North Rim a good place to visit?

Let's Go To Bob-Lo (Bois Blanc Island)

I  have lived in Michigan all my life and done a fair amount of traveling around this awesome state. But there are still some places I have never visited – like Bois Blanc Island (located in Lake Huron – near Mackinac Island). So, now that the July 4^th crowds have gone home, my Hubby says, “Let’s go to Bob-Lo”.

Bob-Lo is another name for Bois (pronounced Bwa) Blanc island. It is French for “white woods”. It is believed that the name was given to the island because of the numerous white-bark trees that exist here.

I was surprised to discover what this quiet and laid-back island has to offer.