Bridgman

Beaches and berries practically put Bridgman on the map.

In the mid-1800s, George C. Bridgman started a farm, growing berries, fruit trees, and grapes.

At the time, the market for fruit was entirely local. That changed when Bridgman granted a railroad right-of-way through his land in exchange for the establishment of a train depot. The nursery business took off when a local grower placed an ad in an East Coast farm journal and started taking orders for strawberry and cane plants. The mail-order nursery business became a million-dollar industry in the community, and wholesale nurseries continue to thrive in the area today.

The area’s Weko Beach became a destination in the 1920s with a waterfront pavilion featuring dinner, dancing, and music. The city later purchased and renovated the pavilion, now known as the Beach House.

Weko Beach continues to be a popular attraction with 960 feet of shoreline and access to the Warren Dunes State Park. There are nearly three miles of beach between Weko Beach and Warren Dunes State Park for visitors to experience.