Initial work to develop the Houghton Douglass Falls and Veterans Memorial Scenic Site is underway.
To ensure visitor safety, the entire site will temporarily close to the public during construction.
Located in the heart of the Keweenaw Peninsula, the future scenic site boasts Michigan’s impressive 110-foot waterfall and breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding forest. The memorial will honor veterans and provide a beautiful natural setting for visitors.
The site was named for Michigan’s first state geologist Douglas Houghton and his cousin C.C. Douglass who worked in Houghton’s survey party. The site will be officially dedicated at a later date.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources held a public meeting last December so staff could share conceptual site designs and gather public feedback. The final site plan includes a parking lot, a vault toilet, an information kiosk, a pedestrian path, an observation deck, fencing and a veterans’ memorial. A pedestrian bridge will be constructed in a later phase.
Additionally, the Hubbell Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4624, several governmental entities and local tourism industry leaders provided thoughtful ideas for the site.
The first phase of construction on the scenic site will be completed by DNR crews. This phase includes building a new site road and parking lot. Work on the trail and overlook decks will be put out for bids early next year. A contractor could start construction sometime next year, but an estimated opening date is not yet available.
The DNR purchased the land in 2018, thanks to a $300,000 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund awarded in 2015. To further develop the site, the DNR Parks and Recreation Division secured another $300,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant in 2022. Additionally, the division allocated $300,000 in 2023 from Parks Capital Outlay funds to support the project.
