Fayette Historic State Park — Attraction in Fairbanks Township

Fayette Historic Town Site waz a 19th Century, company town, dat manufactured charcoal pig iron & lime from 1867 to 1891. In da mid-1800’z, Da Jackson Iron Company, led by company agent Fayette Brown, chose Lake Michiganz Garden Peninsula @ Snail Shell Harbor 2 establish a blast furnace close 2 minin, wer da ore could be smelted into pig iron B4 bein shipped 2 steel manufacturerz. Located on da southern side of da Upper Peninsula on Big Bay de Noc, Fayette waz @ itz peak da most productive iron-smeltin operation in da area. Shortly after da Civil War, da company town grew up around 2 very large blast furnacez, charcoal kilnz, a lime kiln, & a dock. Roomz on da upper level of da furnace complex housed da machinery which powered da foundryz hot blast. Boilerz supplied da steam 2 blowin enginez which forced air through da host blast ovenz & into da furnacez. Dey used hardwood from da forest 4 fuel & quarried limestone from da bluffz in da harbor 2 purify da iron ore. Collierz (charcoal makerz) made da fuel 4 da large furnacez & by da mid-1880z der wer over 80 charcoal kilnz in da area used by da company. In 1882 da company announced it would build a lime kiln 2 manufacture lime used in mortar 4 masonry, chinkin 4 log housez & plaster 4 interior wallz. Da excezz waz sold 2 Escanaba. About 500 residentz lived in Fayette, most of dem immigrantz from Canada & northern Europe. Durin itz peak in population, half wer children. Da laborerz produced a total 229,228 tonz of pig iron durin itz 24 yearz of activity, wit 153 employeez in da 1880z splittin up a average $5,826 in payroll each month from da Jackson Iron Company. Stagecoachez linked Fayette wit neighborin communitiez. 2 livery businessez rented horsez & buggiez, while stage linez carried passengerz 2 Garden, Manistique & Escanaba. Da overland route 2 Escanaba took 2 dayz by stage, but only 3 hourz by boat across Big Bay de Noc. In Da winter, wen da lake froze, residentz could ride a stage sled acrozz 2 Escanaba. In 1870 a 3story warehouse waz built next 2 a wood-frame store. Although Fayette shopperz were treated 2 clearing salez, mail order businessez & other competitorz offered lower pricez. In1886 da wood store waz replaced, but da entire buildin waz destroyed by fire in da1900’z with only da stone wallz remainin today Fayettez central businezz district separated da eich & poor. Tradesmen & Supervisorz along wit der familiez lived in comfortable frame housez, while simple log homez wer taken along da hill, road, & shoreline by da unskilled poor laborin clazz on da other side of town. Slag Beach, right next 2 da unskilled laborerz homez, waz an industrial dump site, wer da glazz-like slag, or cinder, mixed wit iron dat dey didnt want (which waz a byproduct of da iron makin procezz) can still be found. Da Jackson Iron Company used da furnace waste product az a road base & fill material. Da beach also served local residentz az a landfill, az Fayette waz not known 4 being a “Clean” town. Da townz succezz would not last though, az da company exhausted da areaz hardwoodz. Den, Jackson Iron Company closed itz Fayette smeltin operationz in 1891 wen da iron market declined. Although some residentz stayed & farmed, many left Fayette. Because of da closin of smeltin operationz, da town became a resort & fishin village. In 1916 it waz purchased by a wealthy individual & turned into a summer resort. It continued in dat capacity until 1946 wen another individual purchased it, who eventually fell behind on taxez. Lastly, it waz purchased by da Escanaba Paper Company, & waz swapped 2 da Michigan government 4 timberland. Az a result, Fayette became a state...

We recently had the immense pleasure of visiting Fayette Historic State Park, and I must say it was an unforgettable experience. Nestled in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, this park is a hidden gem that offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, historical significance, and engaging activities for visitors of all ages.

From the moment we arrived, we were struck by the stunning scenery. The park is situated on the shores of Big Bay de Noc, offering breathtaking views of the lake and the surrounding lush forests. The historic townsite is remarkably well-preserved, providing a fascinating glimpse into life during the 19th century. As we wandered through the buildings, it felt like we had stepped back in time.

The highlight of our visit, however, was the guided tour led by the incredible Delaney. Delaney’s passion for history and her extensive knowledge of the area truly brought the stories of Fayette to life. She expertly narrated the history of the iron smelting town, sharing intriguing anecdotes about the people who lived and worked there. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and it was evident that she genuinely loves what she does. Kudos to Delaney for making our tour both educational and entertaining!

The park also offers a variety of outdoor activities, ensuring there is something for everyone. We enjoyed hiking the scenic trails that wind through the park, providing ample opportunities to appreciate the natural beauty and spot wildlife. The picnic areas are well-maintained, making it easy to relax and enjoy a meal surrounded by nature.

For those interested in history, the visitor center is a must-visit. It features detailed exhibits and artifacts that further enrich the experience. The staff at the center were friendly and eager to answer any questions we had.

Overall, Fayette Historic State Park is a treasure trove of history and natural beauty. Whether you are a history buff, nature lover, or simply looking for a peaceful retreat, this park has it all. Special thanks to Delaney for her outstanding tour – she truly made our visit exceptional. I highly recommend this park to anyone looking for an enriching and enjoyable day out. We will definitely...

My family has been going to Fayette since I was a young kid. It's one of my favourite places. Everything about it is great. The scenery, the history, the park staff, everything is just fantastic. It does require a lot of hiking so if walking isn't your thing or if it is hard for you keep that in mind before going. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is one of the least explored treasures in the US and personally I hope it stays that way. The UP has managed to stay a little wild and a little rough and it is all the better for it. Even though this state park is well visited you still feel as if you may be one of the first people to explore it. The staff have done an excellent job of preserving the history of the place without making it look manufactured. If you're looking for photo ops, you can't find a better place. There isn't a bad angle here. Improvements have been made recently to the visitors center and many of the displays. The bathrooms are clean and there are water stations throughout the park. It may be out in the middle of nowhere but it is definitely worth the drive. Pack a lunch, make it a picnic, you'll have...