A resort from an earlier time

Castle Park’s heyday was in the early to mid-20th century, when the Castle itself was a gracious resort hotel and the vacationers flocked from Chicago via lake steamer, interurban train, or auto.  (The image above shows the Castle circa 1920.) While the hotel has been closed since the 1980s and the Castle now serves as a community center for the park (don’t miss Thursday Bingo!), the broad fields, tennis courts and rustic buildings remain, not to mention the vintage cottages that rim the common areas.

The Dance Dune, a concrete dance floor overlooking the lake, is a fine spot to watch the sunset and the Fourth of July fireworks down the beach at Macatawa, and to attend dances every other Saturday night during the season.  Take advantage of this rare opportunity to do the Hokey Pokey and turn yourself about.  At the foot of the Dance Dune is the Barnswallow, a time-hallowed kids’ hangout open early afternoons and evenings, for candy, ice cream, foosball, jukebox playing, and writing one’s name on the crossbeams (bring your own Sharpie).

Also in occasional use is the 1920s vintage Amphitheatre.  Notices of performances are posted at the rustic structure in the center of the park, which was formerly the Post Office.

Our renters can enjoy all the amenities of Castle Park during the season, which runs from roughly the last week in June until Labor Day.