Mt. Baldhead

People on Mt. Baldhead Next to Observatory Climbing Mt. Baldhead, ca. 1930

Terrific views from the top. Famous for its legend of the Indian ritual sacrifice of the White Dog and home of bald eagles and black bears, this great dune stands between Lake Michigan and the village of Saugatuck. Until recent times it was fully “bald” or near bald and has been the village’s major landmark (now with a ’golf ball’ on the top to welcome boaters) and a major attraction for generations of visitors—and in recent years part of a course for a marathon race. A wood observatory was erected in 1897.In 1958 a SAGE gap-filler radar station was constructed on the site.

Fear that the continued movement of the dune would eventually block the river on its east side led to planting the dune with trees. An observatory was built as a tourist destination in 1884—but climbing the big dune had already become a part of area recreational culture: in 1870 the Fat Men’s Association of Allegan announced its intention to climb the “bald head” or “die in the attempt.”