Visiting Fayette Historic State Park feels like taking a step back in time. As you stroll through the remnants of a once-bustling town this “living museum” shows what life was like in the late 1800s. This summer, guests may notice that things look a bit different in Fayette. A large modern crane towers over the furnace complex in stark contrast to everything else here. The blast furnace complex is finally getting some much needed repairs this year thanks to American Rescue Plan Act funds. As we’ve mentioned in a few previous articles, the Michigan DNR has had quite the backlog of projects over the past decade, and while it may provide some temporary inconveniences this year it is great to see some of our favorite state parks get the needed repairs so we can continue to enjoy them for many years to come!

We visited Fayette Historic State Park in early June and I had completely forgotten that it was on the list of state parks with projects this year. As we followed the trail down the hill to the townsite it was weird to see the crane, fencing and construction materials. A note on the park’s website reads: “Pardon our dust! We’re investing in Fayette State Park’s historic townsite with much-needed structural upgrades to the furnace complex. To keep everyone safe during construction, the furnace complex will be closed to visitors.” Work includes stabilizing the limestone walls and improving drainage. While the furnace complex closure meant I didn’t get to shoot two of my favorite photos here (the charcoal kiln and the old dock pilings in the harbor with the cliffs in the background), we still had a great time here checking out the other buildings.

Another project that was recently completed was renovation of the front porch and steps at the hotel. One of the largest buildings at Fayette, it was also one of the last buildings still in use after the Jackson Iron Company ceased operations. Additional work inside the hotel and other buildings continues, so some parts of the complex may not always be accessible. All projects here are done with an effort to keep things looking authentic to the time period, and we really appreciate that attention to detail.There are informational plaques in every building that do a great job of explaining what each structure meant to the community, be sure to read them when you visit and imagine what life was like here 150 years ago.

This has become one of my favorite places to visit (and photograph) in the Upper Peninsula. Fayette is in such a beautiful natural setting to start with thanks to the towering limestone cliffs. Our last visit saw few other people here, which really added to the ghost town feel as we made our way through the townsite buildings.

If you’re headed to Fayette Historic State Park this summer be prepared to have it look a little different than normal. We can’t wait to come back next year and see what everything looks like once this project is finished! The park is also home to a 61-site campground and five miles of trails.