Saugatuck Dunes State Park

Description

Saugatuck Dunes State Park is a 1,120 acre (4.5 km²) Michigan state park. It is located on Lake Michigan between Saugatuck and Holland in Allegan County, Michigan.

This day-use park features 14 mi (23 km) of hiking trails (some considered difficult) through scenic, stabilized and wooded sand dunes. It also has two miles (3 km) of Lake Michigan beachfront, located a mile (1.6 km) from the parking lot and requiring a semi-strenuous walk to get there. A picnic area is present, but no camping is allowed. A state park permit is required for entry.

Near this park is the state-owned Felt Mansion, which was built by inventor of the comptometer, Dorr E. Felt, in 1928. This was the Felt family's summer home until 1949, when it was sold to the St. Augustine Seminary and used as housing for young students, and lateron, for cloistered nuns. In the 1970s, this building was purchased by the state of Michigan and was used as a state police post, with nearby buildings serving as a prison. The whole is undergoing a restoration project.