MUSKEGON, MI (WHTC) – The historic route along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan is not forgotten by state tourism officials.
At a ceremony in Muskegon’s Heritage Landing today, representatives from Pure Michigan, the state Department of Transportation and the Michigan Beachtowns Association officially designated over 184 miles of the West Michigan Pike as the newest Pure Michigan Byway. It ended a decade-long effort to make this designation that spotlights historic routes.
The Pike was originally developed and constructed over an 12-year span from 1911 to 1922, and it was meant to bring vacationers from Chicago over to Michigan’s West Coast. It sprouted a number of parks, resorts, amusement parks and other destination attractions from St. Joseph to Ludington.
Begun in 1993 as Michigan Heritage Routes, this program has now designated a total of 18 routes across the state.
