National Register of Historic Places

Long Lake Group Camp Historic District

Cloverdale, Barry County, Michigan
Listed
December 13, 1996
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
96001482

About this property

The Long Lake Outdoor Center, also known as the Long Lake Group Camp Historic District, is a recreational facility located at 10370 Gun Lake Road in Yankee Springs Township, Barry County, Michigan, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The land in what is now the Yankee Springs Recreation Area was originally settled in the 1830s, but by the 1930s, the land was eroding and farms were failing. The US government purchased a wide tract of land in the area and began reforestation. The National Park Service's Recreation Development Area (RDAs) program was active during the Great Depression, providing jobs and constructing scores of organized camping facilities throughout the nation. Four of these facilities were constructed in Michigan, and two of them were located in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area: the Chief Noonday Group Camp and this Long Lake Group Camp. The construction on the Long Lake Group Camp began in 1936 and continued until approximately 1939. National Park Service architect Ernest F. Hartwick designed many of the buildings, while landscape architect Theodore N. Zaetsch laid out the plans for use of the land. The Long Lake Group Camp is significant for hosting Camp Michiwana, an important Michigan camp organization, for over 40 years. In 1943, the federal government turned over Yankee Springs to the State of Michigan. The Long Lake Group Camp has been continuously operated since then. In the early 1980s, the camp was renovated, and two of the four original cabin circles were demolished, with the remaining buildings renovated. The current operators lease the facility from the state of Michigan and operate it as a private business. The Long Lake Group Camp is located on 300 acres in the Yankee Springs Recreation Area The camp contains two villages, each containing eight cabins arranged around a central fire pit, in addition to a central administration area containing a dining hall and kitchen complex and miscellaneous camp service facilities.

Location

Cloverdale, Barry County, Michigan
42.61738, -85.49393

Categories

ARCHITECTURELANDSCAPE ARCHITECTUREPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONSOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Long Lake Group Camp Historic District

This page lists Long Lake Group Camp Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Long Lake Group Camp Historic District report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Chief Noonday Group Camp Historic District
Listed
1.7 mi
Dwight, Austin H., and Frankie A., Summer House
Industrial
2.6 mi
Carveth, John, House
Industrial
6.6 mi
Michigan Central Railroad Middleville Depot
Industrial
6.8 mi
Second Street-Gun River Bridge
Industrial
7.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Long Lake Group Camp Historic District listed on the National Register?

Long Lake Group Camp Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 13, 1996.

What type of historic resource is Long Lake Group Camp Historic District?

Long Lake Group Camp Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Long Lake Group Camp Historic District?

The period of significance for Long Lake Group Camp Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Long Lake Group Camp Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Long Lake Group Camp Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Barry County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Barry County.

Explore BarryCounty ›

More historic places in Michigan

Browse all historic places in Michigan.

View Michiganhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Michigan history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Michiganhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Long Lake Group Camp Historic District will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report