200-Acre Park From 1923 Soon To Be Reopened To The Public

After several dormant years, 196 acres of parkland just south of Traverse City will open to the public late this summer.
 
For over a century, Camp Greilick has been a base for outdoor adventure, first as a Rotary youth retreat, then a Boy Scout camp, and more recently, an abandoned patch of wilderness. 
 
Now, after being acquired for $3 million by Grand Traverse County in 2024, it’s slated for a comeback as a massive year-round public recreation area.
 
The camp was originally created as a space for youth to go out and experience and enjoy the outdoors,” explains Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation Director John Chase, detailing why it was started in 1923 by the Rotary Club.
 
That focus on outdoor education is the center of the Camp Greilick master plan, which revolves around providing space and resources for school, youth, and conservation groups to conduct wilderness programming. 
 
Federal Cuts Delay Stage One Opening
With 4,300 feet of lake frontage in the Boardman/Ottaway River Watershed, Camp Greilick’s property is loaded with relics of adventures past: brush covered trail systems, mossy edged event pavilions, and an aging, towering climbing structure. 
 
So before folks can hit the trails, Camp Greilick needs a lot of TLC, including clearing out old buildings, making major improvements to others, and reopening an emergency access road. Some of that work was set to kick off this spring when the county teamed up with AmeriCorps, the federal program that deploys volunteers to help with community projects. 
 
The AmeriCorps team was lined up to provide around 2,800 hours of labor, tackling trail work, ADA upgrades, cabin repairs, and more, says Chase.
 
But on April 18, his department got word that federal budget cuts meant AmeriCorps would no longer be coming. 
 
“Their presence would have given us the ability to accelerate the opening,” he says, but adds, “This isn’t going to stop us. It’s just going to slow us down a little bit.” 
 
That means the public opening—which will happen in five phases over the next few years—is now scheduled for late summer. And, after a public callout for volunteers, the plan is back on course with a community workday already on the books for mid-June.
 
Protecting Trails and Waterways
Camp Greilick’s planning crew has finished up the design phase for a new trail network, walking the land with hikers, bikers, disc golfers, and conservation advocates in tow.
 
When it comes to Camp Greilick’s different trail users, “All of these groups need to play nicely,” says Chase.
 
Camp Greilick’s planners also want to get people out on the lakes without introducing invasive species, something that will be prevented by providing onsite watercraft rather than allowing users to bring their own.  
 
Balancing the logistics of protecting the property’s ecosystems while maximizing its uses is why everything is rolling out slowly, says Chase.
 
“We’re not going to jump into one phase until we’ve wrapped up the one before it,” says Chase. “Our goal is to be a good partner throughout the entire community. We operate the parks for the enjoyment of the entire community, and that’s how we intend to operate this development.”
 
What Will the Park Offer?
Phase one (late summer 2025): Focuses on low-impact adventure and bringing old favorites back to life. Look for a designated swimming area with improved lake access, kayak and paddleboard rentals for gliding across Rennie Lake, and a freshly renovated 18-hole disc golf course. Hikers, bikers, skiers, and snowshoers will share multi-use trails, while fishers, picnickers, and boulder climbers will find space to roam.
 
Phase two: Brings overnight stays and outdoor learning. Six full-service cabins will be up for group rental, along with smaller “glamping” cabins in the woods (showers included). The county also plans to partner with local groups on skills classes in everything from archery to animal rehabilitation. The orienteering course will reopen, and Besser Lodge will host up to 200 guests for events and programs. 
 
Phase three: A wooded amphitheater and hillside chapel will return to use, while the old climbing and zip line tower will be back in action. A facilitated team course will encourage collaboration and problem-solving, and limited hunting will be phased in, starting with bow season under close management.
 
Phase four: Includes carefully managed access to the camp’s archery, rifle, and shotgun ranges.
 
The final phase: Introduces a rustic backcountry experience. Tent-only and hammock-only campsites will be scattered across 11 group zones, each served by restrooms and a central 18-stall shower house.