The Lost Stone Arch of Mackinac Island

This is a rare photograph of the Fairy Arch. Most pictures of it left today are drawings.

One of the popular attractions on Mackinac Island is the Arch Rock. This beautiful limestone formation is seen by most visitors to the Island, but at one time, there was another limestone arch formation called the “Fairy Arch.”

The Fairy Arch was one of the Island’s must-see attractions and countless visitors would make the trek out to view it. It was located on the east side of the Island near Mission Point Resort and Robinson’s Folly. Though not as large as Arch Rock, it created a limestone tunnel that could be walked through creating a magical experience.

The Native Americans believed that giant fairies inhabited the east part of the island. The arches were how the fairies entered the Island. Fairy arch was for the fairy children while Arch Rock was where the adult giant fairies entered. They must have been really big fairies. Fairy Arch was one of the many breathtaking sites on Mackinac Island.

In the 1940s, the Fairy Arch was demolished. One source says it was destroyed for an environmental mitigation project while others say it was due to construction of a road to a private residence resulted in the arch being destroyed. It was a stupid shortsighted project in a place where roads aren’t really needed. 

The Fairy Arch, unfortunately this did not survive into the modern day.

To return to the homepage.