Macatawa, Michigan is an unincorporated community on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan and southeastern Lake Macatawa.
The community is on the boundary between Laketown Township in Allegan County, and Park Township in Ottawa County, but separated from most of Park Township by Lake Macatawa.
Macatawa has a functioning post office, but deliveries are made to post office boxes only. Thus, some Macatawa addresses carry a Holland postal address.
No major highways pass through the community. The chief route to or through the community is South Shore Drive, which runs along the southern shore of Lake Macatawa, connecting Macatawa with Holland, to the east. Cities and villages within twenty miles of Macatawa include Holland, Saugatuck, Douglas, Fennville, and Zeeland, while the unincorporated community of Castle Rock is just over two miles to the south. The Ottawa Beach Historic District is across the navigation channel that connects Lake Michigan with Lake Macatawa, but the two communities are not connected by a bridge.
Lake Macatawa is about six miles long and just over a mile wide, with a surface area of 1,700 acres. The average depth is less than ten feet, with the exception of the navigation channel that allows draft ships to access the dock at the city of Holland. The lake is the drowned mouth of the Macatawa River, originally known as the Black River.
European-Americans began settling the area after the land was ceded from the Native American tribes to the United States government in 1821. A settlement had developed by 1850, and the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad established a station, known as Macatawa Junction, in the 1870s.
The railroad, as well as steamboats on Lake Michigan, began bringing visitors to the region during the summer months. Macatawa Park was established in 1881 by a group of landowners who platted an area near Holland Harbor as a resort and public park. The Macatawa Park Association was formed to manage the property, and is essentially the organization now known as the Macatawa Park Cottagers' Association.
Before long, resorts, hotels, restaurants, and summer homes were built, many of them catering to summer visitors from Chicago, although the community received guests from all over the country. Until 1935, Lake Macatawa was known as Black Lake.
Most of the original resorts and structures were destroyed in a series of fires. Today, the Macatawa Park area is characterized by dunes, seasonal cottages, and a minority of year-round residents.
Situated on the tip of the peninsula, in northeastern Macatawa, is the Macatawa Campground, a traditional campground with more than two hundred campsites and eleven paved lots, operated as part of Holland State Park.
As Macatawa is an unincorporated community, administered by the townships in which it is located, neither of which are headquartered in Macatawa. Therefore, appropriate topics for this category are any businesses, industries, schools, places of worship, organizations, attractions, events, or recreational and entertainment opportunities within the community.
Recommended Resources
Based in Macatawa, Michigan, next to the Eldean Shipyard Marina, the development group offers vacation and lakeside rentals, including The Boat House, Harbor View Lofts Condos, The Bungalow, and The Sanctuary Woods Estate, all in Macatawa, most offering weekly, monthly, or yearly rentals. Business space leases may also be available, as well as the Harbor View Event Center, on the first floor of Harbor View Lofts. Photos, descriptions, prices, and policy information are set forth.
http://www.lakemacatawavacationrentals.com/
Steps away from the Big Red Lighthouse in Macatawa, Michigan, Lighthouse Landing was fully renovated in 2015. Photos, descriptions, and a list of amenities are provided for its kitchen and main floor, living area and main floor, and bathrooms, as well as each of its six bedrooms. Situated in the gated community controlled by the Macatawa Park Cottagers' Association, its location is shown on a map, area attractions are highlighted, and an availability and reservation form is included.
http://www.macatawalighthouselanding.com/
Organized more than a century ago, the MBYC is a membership organization centered on its sailing and competitive racing heritage, yet promoting its power squadron, swimming, and other aquatic programs. The membership application process is defined, including fees, and an online application may be used. The MBYC offers several sailing programs for youth, including sailing lessons, summer camps, and racing events. The MBJA Sailing School is also featured, with registrations available.
https://mbyc.com/
Located on the shores of Macatawa Lake, and near Lake Michigan, the cottage is in a private, gated community of homes. Featuring four bedrooms, the rental cottage can sleep up to ten people. Boat docking on Lake Macatawa is available for an additional charge. Featured are a video tour from the Macatawa House balcony, a photo gallery depicting outdoor scenes, as well as the exterior and interior of the building, and another gallery showing sunsets. Rates and reservations are included.
http://macatawahouse.com/
Situated at Bay Road and Grove Walk in the Macatawa Park area of Macatawa, Michigan, Point West offers a select number of custom-crafted cottages and a limited number of condominiums in Macatawa, near Holland. A map of the residential community is displayed, indicating lots that have been sold as well as those that are still available, and artists' renderings of the style of homes offered are included. An overview of the offerings, area amenities, and contacts are set forth.
http://www.pointwest.org/
