Lake Gogebic State Park in Marenisco, Michigan, will shut down its modern campground and rental cabins Aug. 18, 2025, through July 20, 2026, while crews overhaul the park’s water, sewer and electrical systems, a $2.651 million project backed by federal relief dollars through Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Building Michigan Together Plan state park notice.
The enhancement project will modernize and improve the park’s sanitary-sewer system and replace the park’s water-distribution system. While full utility upgrades are planned, details on whether all underground service lines will be replaced were not specified
State officials say the work will be paid for with $2.651 million in American Rescue Plan funds routed through the Building Michigan Together Plan.
The modern campground and the cabins will be closed from August 18, 2025, through July 20, 2026, as part of the construction period.
While day-use access is not specifically confirmed for the entire construction period, visitors are urged to check the Department of Natural Resources website for the latest status before traveling.
Twelve miles south on M-64, Lake Gogebic County Park offers 53 lakefront sites with 30- and 50-amp service and water at every pad county park site.
Campers will also find a reservable pavilion, playground, swimming area, pier, picnic grounds, restrooms, a dump station, camper sewage-waste service, an on-site boat launch and nearby restaurants.
The county facility operates from mid-May through late September, and its online reservation window opens the second Monday in January each year; guests should plan ahead because on-site Wi-Fi is unavailable and cell service can be spotty.
Several private and county-run campgrounds lie within a 90-minute drive of Lake Gogebic State Park; however, many operate with limited inventories and may be unable to absorb all displaced demand during the closure. Monitoring the state park’s calendar, adjusting rate tiers as public inventory disappears, refreshing online listings with “near Lake Gogebic State Park,” and bundling sites with kayak or fishing packages can all lift occupancy without discounting heavily.
Operators may also hold a slice of inventory for last-minute campers, collect email addresses at every inquiry and offer short-term blocks to outfitters or event promoters who previously relied on the state park, ensuring midweek lifts during peak season.
Lake Gogebic’s year-long shutdown also shows how utility projects can be staged to keep revenue flowing elsewhere. Designing 50-amp pedestals with empty conduit for future electric-vehicle chargers, looping utilities so only one section closes at a time and craning in prefab restroom cores all shorten downtime.
Burying fiber alongside water and power trenches, installing low-flow fixtures and LED pathway lighting, and posting phased timelines—such as reopening individual loops by Memorial Day—maintain guest goodwill and support premium pricing once improvements go live.
The campground and cabins are scheduled to reopen July 21, 2026. Travelers should lock in alternative sites early, and those eyeing Lake Gogebic County Park can call 906-663-4428 October through May or 906-842-3333 mid-May through September for availability.