MANISTEE, Mich. – A pavilion at a state park in northern Michigan has been relocated from an eroding shoreline. The shelter at Orchard Beach State Park now is 230 feet from Lake Michigan in Manistee, the Department of Natural Resources said. The shelter stood for more than 70 years on a bluff, which has become unstable due to waves and rising water levels. Orchard Beach State Park is 60 miles southwest of Traverse City. Along with the park, the pavilion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

MANISTEE, Mich. – The Michigan DNR relocated a historic shelter building to keep it safe from eroding shoreline on Lake Michigan. The DNR said after months of planning, Orchard Beach State Park’s historic shelter building now sits a safe 230 feet back from the eroding Lake Michigan shoreline. “I’m proud and excited that this community and the state joined together to save this historic building,” said Doug Barry, unit manager for Orchard Beach State Park. “So many families have held events here over the years because of the unique charm of this park shelter. High water has created the need to stabilize shorelines and historic structures around Michigan, including upcoming work at nearby Big and Little Sable lighthouses.

MANISTEE, Mich. - A 400-ton pavilion built in the 1940s could fall 100 feet from a bluff into Lake Michigan if nothing is done to fight erosion from rising waters at a state park in Michigan. Orchard Beach State Park supervisor Doug Barry said the limestone pavilion sits about 50 feet back from the edge of a bluff that's eroding at an average annual rate of 6 inches. Barry added that while the structure isn't in imminent peril, the Department of Natural Resources is working to ensure it doesn't fall off the edge. MLive.com reports that the work to save it could begin in fall 2020. Barry noted that engineering firm GEI Consultants has been commissioned to survey the erosion and find ways to salvage the historic building and restore a beach.