Rock Island State Park #14

Best park yet. I know, it's a bold claim, but Rock Island is jawdroppingly beautiful and has intriguing history to boot, as well as claiming the honor of being the least visited State Park in the system. After two ferry rides, (and $76 in ferry fees), we arrived by "people" ferry on Rock Island and were greeted by an effusive state park ranger, telling us just what a great day it was to be visiting Rock Island, and I had to agree. The skies were bright blue, it was sunny, and the green fields of the island seemed to stretch forever.

There is an enormous stone boat house built by wealthy investor Charles Thordarson in 1910, that can be toured by the public. The boathouse was built to house Charles' vast collection of valuable literature and features high, arching windows overlooking the water, an impressive collection of hand carved furniture, and a fireplace big enough to roast an oxen. There is an excellent story about the boathouse here https://doorcountypulse.com/thordarsons-boathouse/.

We also discovered one of the best beaches yet at the State Parks we have visited. It requires a 1/2 mile hike to get there, but it's well worth the effort. We would have stayed all day if G hadn't still been recovering from being sick, and asking to sleep on the beach. Yes, we were as shocked as anyone might be to have a toddler ask to sleep on a beach.

Rock Island State Park does offer rustic camping and the Pottawatomie Lighthouse built in 1836, something we will definitely be returning to do in the future! It was a long day, and as you can see below, someone fell asleep on the ferry ride home. Next stop, Whitefish Dunes State Park!