Contact Information
Rt. 2, Box 2500
Manistique, MI 49854
906-341-2355
Although it was a black hole all but hidden in a tangle of fallen trees, John I. Bellaire fell in love with the Big Spring. Around the oval pool vegetation grew lush, draping over the piles of trash left by a lumber company which operated nearby. John Bellaire could have bought the property for himself, but his vision of preserving it through public ownership prevailed. In 1926 through an arrangement with Frank Book who represented the Palms Book Land Company, Bellaire arranged for the sale of almost 90 acres (including the Big Spring) to the State of Michigan for ten dollars. Additional lands through tax delinquency and land exchange eventually brought the total park acreage to three hundred and eight. The Civilian Conservation Corps and other groups constructed a raft, dock, concession stand, and ranger's quarters.
Most people visiting Palm Book State Park make it a side trip while touring the Upper Peninsula. The featured site at the park is Kitch-iti-kipi, Big Spring.
Two hundred feet across, the forty-foot deep Kitch-iti-kipi is Michigan's largest spring. Over 10,000 gallons a minute gush from fissures in the underlying limestone. The flow continues throughout the year at a constant 45 degree Fahrenheit. By means of a self-operated observation raft, visitors are guided to vantage points overlooking fascinating underwater features and fantasies.
Ancient tree trunks, lime-encrusted branches and fat trout appear suspended in nothingness as they slip through crystal waters far below. Clouds of sand kept in constant motion by gushing waters create ever-changing shapes and forms, a challenge to the imagination of young and old alike.
Near the Spring is a pleasant and shaded picnic area, modern toilet facilities and a park store. The park store is open daily May 15 thru September 30 and offers a variety of souvenirs, shirts, and food items.
The featured recreation at Palms Book State Park is viewing the Big Spring from the observation raft. Camping is located nearby at Indian Lake State Park.
The Upper Peninsula normally experiences mild summers with average temperatures near 70 degrees F (21 degrees C). Winter temperatures average 14 degrees F (-10 degrees C). Rain and snowmelt in the region can reach up to 200 inches annually. Travelers should be aware that significant amounts of snow could fall within a relatively short period of time resulting in hazardous road conditions.
