“The woods are lovely, dark and deep; but I have promises to keep; and miles to go before I sleep.” — Robert Frost, “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening”
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Events! Go to "More" then "Activities"
Drum roll please...
...the day has come to Orchard Beach State Park for a groundbreaking for the accessible playground! Yes, a small group of current and former FOBSP Board members gathered with Park Supervisor Dan Young to celebrate the milestone we have all been waiting for! (Photo from left to right Linda DeVries, Sandy Pelarski, Ed Kolanowski, Christine Kolanowski, Kelly Griffin, Lorrie Manthei, Dan Young, Pat Heins, Mikki Pieper, & Bill Shryer (not pictured from the current Board: Bernie Pieczynski and Raini Gilmore) #celebrate #progress #adaplayground #orchardbeachstatepark #fobsp #groundbreaking #wewillhaveaplayground #DNR
Sat., August 30th, 4-8pm
Sat., August 30th, 4-8pm
2025 Birthday Bash Schedule:
4-8pm: (or as long as supplies last): Ice cream, sandwiches, chips, & water for sale!
4-4:15pm: Come decorate your bike for the parade!
4:15-4:30pm: Kiddos bike parade led by Smokey Bear!
4:30-7pm: Bubbles by Becky Gerhart!
4-6pm: Manistee County Public Library Book Bike hosted by Library Director, Julie Herringa, with a special appearance by Bluey!
5-6:30pm: Music by Brackish! Brackish is an open session of people who love to play music, i.e., grab your instrument and come join us!
6pm: Free birthday cake supplied by Meijer!
6:30-8pm: Music by “Playing It Forward!” with Don Pelarski vocals and lead guitar; Ruben Ariaga vocals and rhythm guitar; Kim Tripp on drums; and Dave Adrianson on bass!
4-7:55pm: Silent Auction, with 100% of the proceeds going to our ADA playground! Silent Auction ends at exactly 7:55pm, the highest bidder for each item wins! You do NOT need to be present to win a bid, you will be notified at the phone number you leave with your bid when the auction closes. The winner must pay with cash OR check (paid to the order of “Friends of Orchard Beach State Park”) and pick up your items, either at the end of the auction or on Sun, Aug. 31st between noon and 2pm at the park.
Here is the list of items you can bid on at the Silent Auction:
1) A basket of small batch selfcare items along with a $25 gift card for Port City Emporium, donated by Anita & Pat Shaffer, co-owners of Port City Emporium (354 River St, Manistee) and Riverside Toys!
2) A $50 gift certificate for MacBeth & Co. donated by MacBeth & Co. (8011 1st St, Onekama)!
3 & 4) Two, two-night campground stays at Orchard Beach State Park for the 2026 season donated by the Michigan DNR!
5 & 6) Two, zippered, hooded, sweatshirts embroidered with OBSP, donated by Sharon Monnot, Owner, Sports INK Screen Printing & Embroidery (316 W. Parkdale Ave, Manistee)!
7) A $50 gift certificate for Sports INK to be used for your custom item, donated by Mikki Pieper!
8) A $50 gift card for Riverside Toys donated by Raini Gilmore (Riverside Toys 389 River St, Manistee)!
9 & 10) Two, one-night stay at Hampton Inn & Suites Manistee Waterfront with a $50 dining credit for their restaurant donated by Hampton Inn & Suites Manistee Waterfront (101 S Lakeshore Dr, Manistee)!
11) Hand sewn, hand embroidered, sequined and beaded Christmas stocking, featuring Santa roasting marshmallows over a campfire! Donated by Diane Conway Van Aken!
12) An 18 hole round of golf at Wolf River Golf Park for two, with a cart donated by Little River Casino Resort (11685 Chippewa Hwy, Bear Lake)!
13) One-night stay at Little River Casino Resort Hotel with a $25 food credit donated by Little River Casino Resort (2700 Orchard Hwy, Manistee)!
14 & 15) Two, $25 Daily Bakehouse gift certificates donated by The Daily Bakehouse (76 Division St., Manistee)!
16 & 17) Two, different collections of useful items that feature photos of Orchard Beach State Park, #16 even comes with a $20 gift certificate for Pure Manistee, donated by Laura McClellan owner of Mind's Eye Photography and Pure Manistee (333 River Street, Manistee)!
18, 19, 20, 21 & 22) Useful kitchen items (e.g., electric pizza cooker, etc.) donated by Sandy Pelarski!
23) A large tree of your choice, donated by Black Cap Farm - Native Plant Nursery (5265 Crescent Beach Rd, Onekama)!
24) A $50 Meijer gift card donated by Meijer (can be used at any Meijer location)!
25) A $50 gift certificate for The Ideal Kitchen (421 River St, Manistee) donated by Lorrie Manthei!
26) A “family game night” tote filled with games, books, and snacks donated by Lacy Crummey on behalf of Wexford Missaukee Manistee Great Start Collaborative!
27) A certificate for two, 4-hour E-bike rentals and two water bottles donated by Coastline Cycles (1100 Main Street, Frankfort)!
ALL PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT OUR ADA PLAYGROUND (BREAKING GROUND 9/2/2025)!
* Any vehicle parked at the State park requires a current Michigan Recreation Passport
Hand rendering depiction of Orchard Beach State Park Day Use Playground
Hand rendering depiction of Orchard Beach State Park Day Use Playground
Dated January 14, 2025
Doug and Raini with the playground plan signed by friends, and framed and presented to Doug by Raini!
Doug Barry and Kasey Cline at doug's DNR retirement Party!
Thank Doug Barry for 44 years of service at the Michigan DNR!
This will be the last Winter Walk with Doug Barry as the Park Supervisor, since Doug is retiring at the end of the month. Doug (pictured below) has been the Park Supervisor in our area over Orchard Beach State Park, Tippy Dam Recreation Area, two non-motorized trails (Bestie River Pathway, and Bestie Valley Trail) and eighteen boating access sites for approximately the last seven years of his 44 years of service at the Michigan DNR! We have appreciated Doug's contributions to Orchard Beach Park in his professional capacity, but we hope he will consider joining the Friends group going forward so we can still work together in the future! If you know Doug or just have enjoyed the Michigan recreation areas he has led, please stop by the historic shelter at Orchard Beach State Park during our Winter Walk between 6-8pm, on Sun., Feb. 16, 2025, to congratulate Doug on his retirement in person!
Lighted winter walk on the trail!
Lighted winter walk on the trail!
Photo courtesy of Crystal Harthun
Smiling snowman!
Smiling snowman!
Photo courtesy of Pat Heins
Peaking sun!
Peaking sun!
Photo credit: Mikki Pieper
January on the edge!
January on the edge!
Photo credit: Mikki Pieper
Ice volcano!
Ice volcano!
Photo credit: Mikki Pieper
New for 2024: an EV charging station!
New for 2024: an EV charging station!
Our new 2024 tri-fold flyer!
Our new 2024 tri-fold flyer!
(Side 1 of 2)
(Side 1 of 2)
(Side 2 of 2 )
Our new tri-fold brochures are back from the printer and located in the box by the trail head, but you can save us money and save a tree by viewing it here! Or email Administrator@orchardbeachfriends.org and I will email you the PDF!
Calling all FRIENDS!
Calling all FRIENDS!
Do you have spectacular photos you have snapped in Orchard Beach Park that you would be willing to let us post on our site? If so, please email them to Administrator@orchardbeachfriends.org and you may see them here! Thank you!
We have a Facebook page too!
We have a Facebook page too!
Stay up to date and follow us on Facebook!
There's a new addition at Orchard Beach State Park!
There's a new addition at Orchard Beach State Park!
But what is that?
It's an eight person hammock stand!
It's an eight person hammock stand!
Bring your own hammock, or rent one from the contact center at the park!
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