Sturgeon Point State Park
We visited the beach at Sturgeon Point State Park to search for Petoskey and Pudding stones but ended up checking out the lighthouse and the surrounding buildings while there as well. It was almost 70 degrees in November, so the beach was somewhat crowded with rockhounds and walkers. Even with dozens of eyes on the shoreline, I was still able to find a couple of nice pudding stones and other pretty rocks. This was the last beach we stopped at after a long weekend of hunting, so we didn’t stay on the beach long. We wandered by the 1869 lighthouse, viewed a few of the shipwrecks around the grounds, and saw the bell that once resided in the lifesaving station. Although the lighthouse is no longer operated by the Coast Guard, it still remains lit from April through November. The light was turned off in 2006, and public outcry was so loud that the Coast Guard agreed to turn it back on, so long that the Alcona County Historical Society footed the electricity bill. The lighthouse is now home to a museum, a number of shipwrecks, and events year round. Although we did not stop anywhere else in Sturgeon Point State Park, it appeared to be very undeveloped and quaint. The park is a great stop for anyone who loves Lake Huron, its beaches, or its lighthouses.
