Pentwater Pier and Pierhead Lights
Lumber baron Charles Mears began to build the Pentwater River Channel in 1855 and placed a sawmill on its north shore. He eventually built a 660-foot pier on Lake Michigan so that larger boats could dock and load his timber. This channel was eventually improved by the federal government, and a lighthouse and lifesaving station were added. The piers were originally made of timber but were replaced with concrete in the 1930s. There was a light on the south pierhead as early as 1873, also originally built of wood and housing a red sixth-order fresnel lens. A modern steel tower light was built on the south pierhead in 1937 and still operates today. The north pierhead also has a light, which was built in 1987. Today, the channel is in grave danger of no longer existing. The channel offers no commercial benefit outside of local recreation and tourism, so the federal government has slashed funding since 2012. This burden now sits with the Village of Pentwater, a community of just over 700 people. This is the case for a number of smaller harbors in Michigan, putting a strain on local governments and residents. It would be a rotten shame if the channel was no longer operative, as it’s one of the main routes into the Village of Pentwater. You can walk both pierheads year-round, ice permitting in the colder months. The north side pier is more popular, as it is easily accessible from Mears State Park and small parking areas along the pier. The south side pier is accessible from a small parking lot at the end of Chester Street and is much quieter and more quaint. Whichever pier you choose to walk you are in for a great view, especially at sunset!
