Port Crescent State Park

Port Crescent State Park is a public recreation area on Lake Huron five miles (8.0 km) southwest of Port Austin in Huron County at the tip of The Thumb of Michigan.[4] The state park covers 640 acres (260 ha) along state route M-25 in Hume Township. The park occupies the site of Port Crescent, a ghost town which once stood at the mouth of the Pinnebog River.[5][6] The park was designated a Michigan "dark sky preserve" in 2012.[7]

Port Crescent State Park
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)[1]
Beachfront and sand dunes along Lake Huron
Location in Michigan
LocationHume Township, Huron County, Michigan, United States
Nearest cityPort Austin, Michigan
Coordinates44°00′17″N 83°03′18″W [2]
Area640 acres (260 ha)
Elevation587 feet (179 m) [2]
DesignationMichigan state park
Established1955[3]
AdministratorMichigan Department of Natural Resources
WebsitePort Crescent State Park

History

The park's first 124 acres were purchased by the state in 1956. One of the last visible remnants of the vanished town of Port Crescent, the 120-foot-tall Pack & Woods Sawmill chimney, was razed in 1961, despite the objections of residents who felt the loss of the local landmark. The park was expanded with the purchase of an additional 455 acres in 1977.[5]

Activities and amenities

The state park offers swimming, picnicking, canoeing, fishing, 7 miles (11 km) of hiking trails, cross-country skiing, and a 142-site campground and cabin.[4]

References
  1. "Port Crescent State Park". IUCN. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  2. "Port Crescent State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. "When were Michigan state parks and recreation areas established?" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  4. "Port Crescent State Park". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  5. "General Management Plan – Port Crescent State Park" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 2011. pp. A-7, A-31. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  6. Foster, Mary Jane. Port Crescent: A Ghost Town. Central Michigan University Term Paper, 1968.
  7. Hicks, Mark (April 8, 2016). "Michigan's dark sky sites take the spotlight". Detroit News. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
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