Sanilac County Parks
Evergreen Park tells a Cass River story. North of Cass City, the park sits in a broad, wooded bend of the river where slow water, limestone shelves, and easy shoreline access have drawn people outdoors for generations. Camping came later. The setting came first, and it still defines the place.
Evergreen Park lies along a quiet stretch of the Cass River known locally as the Dead Waters. Limestone shelves in the riverbed slowed the current and created a long, calm basin that felt more like a narrow lake than a fast-moving river. That unusual landscape made the area naturally inviting for fishing, paddling, and time along the water.
Source: Wikipedia: Cass River (Michigan)
Evergreen Park belongs to the larger rural story of the Cass City and Evergreen Township area. In the nineteenth century, the region developed through the same mix of settlement, farming, timber work, and waterway use that shaped much of the Thumb. The park's later recreation story sits on top of that older working landscape.
Source: Wikipedia: Cass City, Michigan
This reach of river was already known as a fishing destination in the early twentieth century. Local reporting points to an earlier riverside stop, Pinney Lodge, which served visiting anglers near an old bridge crossing. Even then, people were coming for the same things they still seek today: calm water, strong fish habitat, and a sense of quiet away from town.
Source: Our Midland: Cass River fish derby at Evergreen Park
In 1992, ABATE Region 7 started hosting fundraiser parties because Sanilac County was going to close Evergreen Park due to a lack of funds for ground keepers. Over the years, ABATE donated numerous upgrades, including but not limited to the pavilions and electrical work for the sites. ABATE later stepped away from fundraising once the park became self-sustainable.
Today Evergreen Park blends camping with river recreation in a way that still feels true to the site. Families come to fish, paddle, gather, and slow down. Newer traditions, including community fishing events, show that the park's strongest identity remains tied to the Cass River itself.
Source: Our Midland: Cass River fish derby at Evergreen Park
