The Muskegon State Park Blockhouse: What’s Its Purpose?
This is not very grandiose, and it sits virtually all alone in the Muskegon County countryside.....but it’s still one of the coolest sites in Michigan
It’s the Muskegon State Park Blockhouse, located at 462 N. Scenic Drive near Muskegon.
The Muskegon State Park was established in 1923 on the site of a former lumber mill. The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) took care of the park during 1933 and 1934, beautifying it with new roads, vegetation and trees, making it suitable for campers.
The unique thing the CCC added was a square blockhouse, constructed - from wood from an old sailing ship - on the highest point in the County. Here, visitors could get an extraordinary scenic view.
But that is not the blockhouse that currently stands there.
The current one was built in 1962 thanks to local kids torching the old 1934 one and burning it down.
No, it was not an accident – it was intentional arson.
Why?
Because they're kids.
The kids were caught, convicted of arson, and made to help re-build the blockhouse.
Idiots still find it necessary to vandalize the blockhouse in the 2000s. The community has embraced this historic entity and raised enough money to restore the blockhouse once again...and they will continue to do so whenever necessary in the future.
So, to answer the question found in the article title, the purpose of the blockhouse is for the scenic enjoyment of tourists, travelers, and visitors. It's that simple.
Scroll down a bit to see photos, old and new...
