Fayette State Park

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Key Information

Contact Info

906-644-2603

Location

4785 II Rd, Garden, MI 49835, United States

Opening Hours

9am–8pm

Fee

$5.

Introduction of Fayette State Park

The 711-acre Fayette Historic State Park combines historical and natural elements. The park has five miles of hiking and cross-country skiing paths with breathtaking views from the limestone cliffs around the harbour, as well as a historic townsite, harbour docks, a boat launch, a beach, and other amenities. Some of the campsites in the contemporary park have 50 amp service.

In the former industrial hamlet of iron smelting that originally surrounded Snail Shell Harbor, there are more than 20 historic structures. There are many possibilities to learn about daily living in a 19th-century industrial town at a tourist centre.

Phone number for Snail Shell Harbor is 906-644-2603 during the off-season. Coordinates 45° 43′ 18″ N; 86° 40′ 15″ W; marina. The dock has 15 transitory spaces with 30/50AMP electrical pedestals that range in size from 1-38ft, 20-45ft, and 46-60ft, offering a variety of overnight or daytime boating options. Within walking distance are restrooms, a boat launch, barbecues, picnic tables, a tourist centre, and a gift store. There is WiFi. safety at Great Lakes beaches.

At specific periods of the day, scuba diving is allowed in the port. Both a charge and a use permission are necessary. Nothing is to be taken from the harbour floor and no submerged objects are to be relocated.

view Fayette State Park — CC: Social Channel of park

Camping at Fayette State Park

As of 2006, there were 61 semi-modern campgrounds. All campgrounds have access to electricity service, as well as vault toilets and water. Most campgrounds provide plenty of shade. Snail Shell Harbor allows boat camping, however availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. On Sand Bay (Lake Michigan), next to the campsite, there is a beach. The picnic area, which is close to the beach, has grills, vault toilets, and a picnic shelter. There are horseshoe courts and playground equipment available.

Fayette State Park Activities

Boating

This offers access to the Big Bay de Noc and is situated halfway between the campsite and the day use area.

Hiking

Five kilometres of hiking paths crisscross the ancient townsite and beech and maple hardwood woodlands. The overlook route offers beautiful views for visitors to take in.

Fishing

Big Bay de Noc offers some of the best walleye, salmon, smallmouth bass, perch, and northern pike fishing in the Great Lakes. There are several places to fish in Fayette, including from the shore, the Snail Shell Harbor, and your own boat out on open seas.

Picnicking

This location, which is close to the beach, has grills, a picnic shelter, a drinking fountain, and vault toilets.

You may make reservations for this outdoor shelter by getting in touch with the park.

Historic Sites

The Historic Townsite provides a depiction of a once-active industrial neighbourhood (circa 1867-1891).

historic place Fayette State Park — CC: Social Channel of park

Hunting

400 acres are available for hunting.

RVing

You may find out more about RV opportunities by contacting the campground.

Water Sports

Popular water sports include swimming, fishing, boating, canoeing, and kayaking.

Winter Sports

Five kilometres of paths crisscross the ancient townsite and beech and maple hardwood woodlands. The trails are ploughed.

Fayette State Park History

One of the Upper Peninsula’s most successful iron-smelting businesses in the past was Fayette. Due to the demand for iron following the Civil War, Fayette was built around two blast furnaces, a sizable port, and several charcoal kilns. Nearly 500 people resided in and around the town that was founded to produce pig iron, many of them had immigrated from Canada, the British Isles, and northern Europe. Using local hardwood trees as fuel and limestone quarried from the bluffs to purify the iron ore, Fayette’s blast furnaces produced a total of 229,288 tonnes of iron during the course of their 24 years of operation. The Jackson Iron Company shut down its smelting facilities in Fayette in 1891 when the demand for charcoal iron started to dwindle. The use of limestone and hardwoods to purify the iron, which caused the local hardwoods to become depleted, was another factor that contributed to the downfall of the Jackson Iron Company. The Jackson Iron Company’s demise was therefore caused by this, which served as the primary source for purifying the iron. Many people left Fayette once business was shut down in pursuit of work elsewhere, however some choose to remain nearby and continue cultivating the land.

The town transformed into a tourist and fishing community as a result of the closure of the smelting facilities. A wealthy person bought it in 1916 and converted it to a summer resort. It remained in use until 1946, when another person bought it and finally fell delinquent on their taxes. Finally, the Escanaba Paper Company bought it and exchanged it for forest with the state of Michigan. Fayette thus became a state park in 1959.

Transportation

Driving

The park entrance is on the right after 18 miles after turning south on M-183 from US 2 at Garden Corners.

Parking

Parking is available.

Public Transport

Public Transport is available.