Tawas Point State Park

Tawas Point State Park is a public recreation area located on Lake Huron in Northern Michigan near the city of East Tawas, Michigan. The state park encompasses 183 acres (74 ha) at the end of a sand spit that forms Tawas Bay. It has been referred to as the "Cape Cod of the Midwest" and is a notable bird-watching site. The park is home to the Tawas Point Light, which, although it has been remodeled several times, serves as the sole representative of a true Victorian-era style station built on the Great Lakes.[4]

Tawas Point State Park
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)[1]
Tawas Point Light
Location in Michigan
LocationBaldwin Township, Iosco County, Michigan, United States
Nearest cityEast Tawas, Michigan
Coordinates44°15′20″N 83°26′46″W[2]
Area183 acres (74 ha)
Elevation581 feet (177 m) [2]
DesignationMichigan state park
Established1960[3]
AdministratorMichigan Department of Natural Resources
WebsiteTawas Point State Park

History

The park was created after the lighthouse property was declared surplus by the United States Government. The 1960 Michigan state legislature authorized the purchase of 175 acres on Tawas Point for $29,250.[5] Development of the park began in 1964, with the park officially opening in 1966. A beach pavilion was added to the site in 1993. The Department of Natural Resources took ownership of the lighthouse for historic monument purposes in 2001, and a year later removed the assistant lighthouse keeper's house that had been built in 1922.[6]

Birding

Described as a "bird watchers' paradise,"[7] the park is located along the Lake Huron Flyway. It is said to be the most important "migrant trap" in the Saginaw Bay area. Some 300 species of migratory birds have been seen in and around the park.[8] The park has been recognized as an important bird area by the National Audubon Society because it "[s]upports an incredible diversity and abundance of passerine migrants each spring and fall."[9]

Activities and amenities

The park features a campground on Tawas Bay and water that is shallow and warm for swimming along two miles of sandy beach. The lighthouse is open seasonally for tours and climbing. For year, Tawas Point Celebration Days, held the second weekend in June, celebrated American cultural heritage with activities including historical and educational displays, demonstrations of traditional crafts, muzzle loader demonstrations, and encampments with reenactors in period dress. The weekend was sponsored by the Friends of Tawas Point State Park.[4]

References
  1. "Tawas Point State Park". IUCN. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  2. "Tawas Point 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 14, 2020.
  4. "Tawas Point State Park". Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved December 12, 2006.
  5. "Twenty-First Biennial Report 1961–1962". State of Michigan Department of Conservation. p. 4. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  6. "General Management Plan: Tawas Point State Park" (PDF). Michigan Department of Natural Resources. May 21, 2014. p. 7, Appendix A. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  7. "Tawas Point State Park: Bird Watcher's Paradise". Nordic Sports. Retrieved February 14, 2008.
  8. Bruce M. Bowman (January 8, 2011). "Bird Checklist for Tawas Point State Park". Retrieved February 14, 2008.
  9. "Tawas Point State Park". Important Bird Areas. National Audubon Society. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
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