Michigan’s Most Peculiar Roadside Attraction: Ludington’s Hydro-Electric Turbine

Michigan is no stranger to odd roadside attractions. If you've ever been headed to the Mackinac Bridge, you've likely seen tons of billboards for the Mystery Spot in St. Ignace, stopped at Wienerlicious near the Mackinac Bridge, or seen "Big Gus," the world's largest working chainsaw at Da Yooper's Tourist Trap.

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But this is an attraction you've likely never heard of, nor would have thought to visit on account that it isn't usually something you want to find yourself standing in, though it is something some have always wanted to go in. It's a hydro-electric turbine; not something anyone would expect.

a tall metal tower sitting on top of a lush green hillside

Ludington Pumped Storage Plant's Interesting Landmark

The Ludington Pumped Storage Plant in Ludington is a big deal in the world of renewable energy, but isn't one people tend to consider for tourism. A hydroelectric plant and 27-billion-gallon reservoir that generates 1,872 megawatts of electricity, this plant has been producing electricity for over 50 years and is jointly owned by DTE Energy and Consumers Energy (which also operates the facility).

Part of this plant is an area for visitors to enjoy scenic views of the lake and surrounding hillsides, including a trail leading to an observation tower, a picnic area, and a nearby disc golf course.

READ MORE: The Rise and Fall of Cereal City U.S.A. in Michigan

But perhaps the most interesting part of this setup is down the road at 3525 S Lakeshore Dr, where a massive pump-runner turbine used to generate the electricity is on display to show people how large these electricity-producing turbines are.

This particular runner was in service from April 12th, 1973, to May 13th, 2019, and saw 150,000 hours of operation. A closer view of the turbine is available here.

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The nearby plaque also explains how the pumped storage system works and what role this huge turbine plays in the process.

It's an uncommon roadside attraction, even for Michigan, but it gives an unusual look into a piece of technology few ever get to see unless they're engineers in the plant.