Mackinaw City, Mich. — Adventurers and nature enthusiasts now have even more reason to add Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park to their vacation plans. Mackinac State Historic Parks announces a plethora of new features at its 625-acre historic site and nature park.

            “These new programs and features are designed to help our visitors learn about the park's historic and natural history in a fun and active way,” said Jeff Dykehouse, curator of natural history at Mackinac State Historic Parks. 

The new Adventure Tour elements offer fun and exciting opportunities to learn about nature. The three-station tour begins at the Nature Trail Climbing Wall. Visitors ascend this 40-foot vertical nature trail through “layers of the forest,” which contain natural history interactive panels. By activating buttons along the way, climbers hear the scream of a hawk and see holes made by sapsuckers. Auto belay harnesses are provided for safe descent. Guided by a park naturalist, visitors then traverse through the treetops on the 165-foot long Forest Canopy Bridge. Finally, they soar over Mill Creek on the Eagle’s Flight Zip Line. The tour costs $5 in addition to park admission.

The Treetop Discovery Tower is undergoing construction on the park’s eastern bluff. This five-story tower will offer a majestic view of the Straits of Mackinac and Mackinac Island. Here visitors also learn about the dynamic habitat of the forest and the amazing recovery of the American bald eagle.

The youngest adventurers can combine fun and learning with the Water Power Station, where hands-on 18^th-century waterwheel replicas provide splashy play opportunities. The Forest Friends Play Area offers interactive activities, including large animal structures for climbing.

            All features enjoyed by visitors throughout the years at Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park, including a reconstructed 18^th-century water-powered sawmill, will continue to be available.  The park opens for the season on May 5. 

            Visit www.mackinacparks.com for construction updates.

Mackinac State Historic Parks is a family of northern Michigan living history museums and parks accredited by the American Association of Museums, including Fort Mackinac, Mackinac Island State Park, and Historic Downtown on Mackinac Island, and Colonial Michilimackinac, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, and Historic Mill Creek Discovery Park in Mackinaw City.