park area next to Riviera Motel

Can anyone tell me if the park area next to the Riviera Motel is a state park or can anyone go and sit there to enjoy Lake Huron scenery and the bridge? Where can you park?

park area next to Riviera Motel

I don%26#39;t think its a state park. Or at least if it is you don%26#39;t have to pay or have a parking pass to be there. We used to hang out there all the time when I was in school.

There are a couple different parking areas along Huron Street. One is in front of the lighthouse (which is part of the state park so you do have to pay to go in there but you can walk around it) and the other is further east on the other side of the motel.

Hope this helps.

park area next to Riviera Motel

No, it is not a state park. You can go and use this park as much and as freely as you want to. Like the other poster said, there is a charge to go up in the lighthouse, though you can go in the gift shop free of charge (of course!). The beach isn%26#39;t all that great, as there isn%26#39;t much sand to ';lie'; out on; but plenty of picnic tables, fantastic views, and you can get quite close to the bridge, under it in fact. There is a bench that sits behind the building and is under the bridge. In the latter part of the day, it is a quiet spot to read or look at the view. Nice walkways now that they have spruced up the park.

On another note, the Riviera Motel is a nice place to stay, with great views, nice staff, clean rooms. Could use updating, for sure, but otherwise a great place, in a great location.

thanks for the info. Very helpful.

The land from the Riviera toward the Bridge is a state park. Part of Mackinac State Historic Parks which includes Fort Michilimackinac, Mill Creek Discovery Park and over 80% of Mackinac Island. With the exception of Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and the two smaller adjacent buildings inside the picket fence, access to that stretch of land is presently free.

Until the later 1960s, much of that area was a state campground. When the Fort Visitor%26#39;s Center and entrance was moved beneath the foot of the bridge, for a number of years that area was mostly fenced in and turned into a maritime park. It severely limited access to the water and was unpopular locally. A replica of the 1770%26#39;s sloop Welcome was built in the Mackinac Maritime Park.

Alexander Henry Park on the other side of the Riviera is a free city park made from what was the end of Henry Street.

I didn%26#39;t know that, Light! Thanks for correcting the info I gave earlier. And it was interesting, too, I had no idea that it was a campground. I do remember the boat being built there, but I thought it was over by the marina....so much for my memory...lol.

This question is to Lighthouse. If you go to Riviera%26#39;s

website and click on photo gallery there is a picture there which I think describes the point you were trying to get across. Is the state park area have some type of white fence barrier that surrounds it. What I would like to know, is if you can tell me, that area I see behind the beginning of that white barrier where I see some cars is that a place where I can park and walk around to the walkway area that is in front of the Riviera? Also I understand there is some kind of walkway along the shoreline that goes toward the bridge. Am I able to walk along that shoreline as it goes towards the bridge? That parking area I mentioned earlier is that part of the state park? If it is, where would I be able to park since I%26#39;m not a guest of the Riviera and be able to sit by that beachy area in front of the Riviera?

Gotcha Weeds,. The parking is part of the park but does not require a park permit. The only area restricted is maybe less than an acre and you can walk around all sides of it. You can walk all the shoreline up to the edge of the Fort grounds on the other side of the bridge.

Tyme, I was a costumed summer guide at the fort when the Welcome was under construction. They took their time and built it over several seasons.

What you remember at the marina was later when it was on exhibit after being launched. But it never generated enough revenue to justify its operation as a museum. When it was sold, the company that purchased it ran cruises out of Traverse City. Eventually it almost fell apart (wooden ships take a lot of work). It was rebuilt by the Great Lakes Maritime Academy and transfered to another group that operates it today. www.maritimeheritagealliance.org/welcome.htm

The campground stayed very busy into the fall with ';hayfever people.';

Very interesting info, Light! I asked my father and he remembers it being a campground. However, apparently we never stayed there, which is odd, since we camped all over the place, especially in that area, when I was growing up. Thanks for the link on the Welcome, I will click on it after writing this. Yes, I remember it being built, and then being open for a museum, and I had read at some point that it was falling apart; I am glad to know they saved it and it is being used. You have a wealth of fabulous knowledge of this area, since you grew up there and your parents still live there. How%26#39;s Mom? Tyme

She is continuing to have mini strokes every few days and has fallen several times, but despite that is doing surprisingly well.

Dad turned 95 Monday and there were people visiting all day. It wore mom out. One of the visitors was the Village President, who brought a proclamation that January 26, 2009 was my father%26#39;s Day in Mackinaw City.

Thank you for asking.

That visit earlier in the month was interesting. We stayed at the Dear Head Inn. One of the couple that runs it is the township supervisor %26amp; an officer of the visitor%26#39;s bureau, the other is on the village development planning board. We had some long interesting conversations about where the community has been and where it may be going.

Glad to hear your mother is doing as well as can be expected and that was wonderful about your father turning 95! And that was nice that the community recognized him for his birthday. I am sure you have learned a great deal about your hometown while visiting with the people you mentioned on your last visit. I also sent you a PM. Tyme