1985 Map of Big Bend

About this map

The Muskegon River carves a dramatic oxbow through this mid-1980s landscape, centered on the Big Bend area where the river widens into the Hardy Dam Pond. This reach of the river is characterized by extensive public lands, with the Manistee National Forest covering much of the northern terrain and Newaygo State Park situated along the southern shoreline. The map reveals the recreational and industrial character of the region, identifying several riverside campsites and the Oxbow Park, alongside evidence of resource extraction such as an Oil Field and scattered Oil Wells. The small settlement of Bennett and a lakeside Cem provide important points of reference for local historians. Numerous small glacial lakes like Carey Lake and Round Lake dot the forested upland, feeding into tributaries like Betts Creek and South Mitchell Creek.