Michigan’s Adventure sits just outside Muskegon, Michigan, and holds the title of the largest amusement park in the state, spreading across roughly 250 acres alongside its adjoining water park. What began in 1956 as a small petting zoo called Deer Park has grown over seven decades into a full-scale regional theme park with more than 60 rides, slides, and attractions.
The park’s identity is built around its roller coaster lineup, anchored by Shivering Timbers, a towering wooden coaster that ranks among the longer wood coasters built in North America. Alongside classic Arrow Dynamics steel rides and a suspended looper, Michigan’s Adventure offers a mix of vintage and modern coaster engineering rarely found together at a single park of its size.
Stats at a Glance
- Opened: 1956 (as Deer Park)
- Renamed: Michigan’s Adventure in 1988
- Location: Muskegon County, Michigan
- Size: About 250 acres
- Roller Coasters: 7
- Signature Ride: Shivering Timbers (wooden coaster, 1998)
- Water Park: WildWater Adventure, opened 1990
- Operator: Enchanted Parks (owned by EPR Properties)
The Ride Experience
Shivering Timbers, built by Custom Coasters International and opened in 1998, is the park’s marquee attraction, standing over 120 feet tall with a top speed above 55 mph across more than a mile of out-and-back wooden track. It’s joined by Wolverine Wildcat, a wooden coaster dating to 1988, and Corkscrew, an Arrow Dynamics steel looping coaster that opened in 1979 and remains one of the older rides of its type still operating.
Thunderhawk, a Vekoma suspended looping coaster added in 2008, gives riders a swinging, inverted experience with multiple inversions, while Mad Mouse delivers tight, jerky turns typical of Arrow Dynamics’ wild mouse design. Family-friendly options like Zach’s Zoomer and Woodstock Express round out the coaster lineup for younger or less thrill-seeking visitors.
History and Growth
The park’s roots trace to 1956, when founders opened Deer Park as a small petting zoo featuring deer, llamas, and a children’s area called Storybook Lane. Roger Jourden purchased the property in 1968, and it operated as Deer Park Funland through the 1970s and ’80s before a major relaunch in 1988 introduced the Michigan’s Adventure name under new leadership.
Ownership has shifted several times since then: Cedar Fair acquired the park in 2001, and it briefly became part of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation following the 2024 Cedar Fair-Six Flags merger before being sold to EPR Properties in 2026, with day-to-day operations handled by Enchanted Parks.
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Michigan’s Adventure FAQs
Is Michigan’s Adventure the largest amusement park in Michigan?
Yes, Michigan’s Adventure is widely recognized as the largest amusement park in the state of Michigan, covering approximately 250 acres near Muskegon.
What is the tallest roller coaster at Michigan’s Adventure?
Shivering Timbers, a wooden coaster that opened in 1998, is the park’s tallest and longest coaster, standing over 120 feet with a track length exceeding 5,000 feet.
Who owns Michigan’s Adventure today?
As of 2026, Michigan’s Adventure is owned by EPR Properties and operated by Enchanted Parks, after being sold off from Six Flags Entertainment Corporation.
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Photo: Jeremy Thompson / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.