Emmet County now owns the historic McGulpin Point
Lighthouse,
which protected shipping on the Straits of Mackinac against
storms,
fog and rocks between 1869 and 1909.
The lighthouse has been closed to the public for about 100
years, and now it has been reopened. It sits on the oldest piece of
deeded property in Emmet County. The 640-acre parcel was surveyed
by Aaron Greeley in 1808 and deeded to Patrick McGulpin on June 1,
1811 by President James Madison.
The first child of a McGulpin was born on the site in 1762.
The history of this piece of property truly belongs to the citizens
of Emmet County.
It has tremendous historical value. The large boulder that
currently sits in the water at the base of the property was
described in a letter sent back to France in 1749 as at times high
and dry, at other times totally covered by water. That led the
letterwriter to conclude that the Straits went up and down by eight
feet over periods of time.
The cache is an ammo box located on the property. There are a
few geocoins in the box for the first few cachers to find.
After you've found the cache and if the building is open, take a
view from the lantern room of the straits or wander around the
property. The view from the shore and the lighthouse is worth the
trip.