A Sunday Drive in Allegan County
Remember when taking a Sunday drive was a great way for
families to enjoy each other? When going for an ice cream cone was a
good excuse for a drive?
When wild goose chases were a great way to have
an adventure?
The Allegan County Tourist Council has created a remarkable
marked trail that offers the adventurous Sunday driver a chance to
travel into the past and share in the heritage of the area. A booklet,
maps
and accompanying CD guide visitors along the 122 mile loop. The route
is designed to be driven clockwise for the best scenic views, but it
is easy to get on the tour at any point. What will you find on the
tour?
• A
disappearing town
• A plank road
• A flower farm
• Damage
done by elephants
• Unusual bridges
•
Towns destroyed by
fire
• Orchards and vineyards
• Delightful
small communities
Here are some of the highlights.
Just west of Otsego is
the site of the once prosperous community of New Rochester, or sometimes
called
Pine
Creek. As early as 1830, it was a stopover for westbound wagon
trains. It had two sawmills, a gristmill, a cider mill as well as stores,
a church and school, and many houses. In 1903, a dam was built and
the
town was
flooded. Now, even the dam is gone. Once a modern marvel, all that
is left of the early technology is the spillway.
The Second Street
Bridge
in Allegan was built in 1886 by the King Iron Bridge Company
and is
one of the largest extant bridges designed by the firm. The
bridge is listed
in the National Register of Historic Places and was restored
by the City of Allegan in 1983.
Hiking trails criss-cross the Allegan
State
Game
Area, an incredibly beautiful area along the drive. Day trippers
will fi nd lots of spots to stop, stretch, and have a picnic at
this point
in the road. Another great place to stop will be West Side
County Park on Lake Michigan by Glenn. On a warm day, this would be a
great
place
to have a swim.
Of course, shopping and eating in Saugatuck
and Douglas beckons the tourist. This might be the place to get an
ice cream
cone or a nice meal. The area abounds in history, and the tour
book and
CD tell the story of this interesting area.
One of the more
intriguing stops
on the tour is the New Richmond swing bridge. The bridge
was built in 1879 during the heyday of river and rail traffic. This
is
the oldest
remaining vehicular swing bridges in the United States.
The round mechanism in the middle of the bridge allows it to swing open
and enables
river
traffic to move downriver to Saugatuck. The remains of
a
once thriving community are here as well. Allegan County is restoring
the
bridge
and
the area to be a county park.
The route drives by many
Dutch heritage farms with unique and historic barns and homes. The
Dutch who
settled
the northwest corner of Allegan County were immigrants
and
came as part of religious communities. You will find several examples
of
Veneklasen brick farmhouses in this area. You will also find
orchards and a huge
flower farm; all part of the Dutch settlements in the
area.
Visitors will also drive through the communities of Fennville,
Wayland, Martin,
Otsego, Plainwell, and Hamilton, all little known but
interesting communities, each with a unique character and history.
The Allegan County Heritage
Trail tour books can be purchased for $3 through
the Allegan
County Tourist
Council. Call them at 269-686- 9088 or find them
online at www.allegancounty.com.
History, hiking, ice cream, swimming, driving, and fun.
Allegan County has it all!
Photos courtesy Allegan County Tourist
Council.
