Potters Point Is Protected — Thanks to You
More than 360 donors came together to permanently protect 41 acres and nearly 8,000 feet of Lake Huron shoreline in Alpena.
Photo courtesy Sarah Harding, Real Broker, LLC
Thanks to an incredible outpouring of support from people in Alpena and across Michigan, Huron Pines has surpassed our $1.52 million Protect Potters Point campaign goal and secured the future of this special place along Lake Huron.
More than 375 donors contributed to the campaign, helping ensure the 41-acre property and its nearly 8,000 feet of undeveloped shoreline will remain protected forever and become a public nature preserve.
When we launched the campaign, we knew Potters Point was an opportunity that couldn't be missed. Its forests, coastal wetlands and undeveloped shoreline provide important habitat for fish and wildlife while offering something increasingly rare along the Great Lakes: a largely untouched stretch of Lake Huron coastline just a few miles from Alpena.
What we didn't know was just how many people would rally around it.
From individual donors and neighboring landowners to local businesses and community partners, people stepped forward because they saw something worth protecting at Potters Point. Recent gifts of $25,000 from Amrize and $10,000 from Alpena Alcona Area Credit Union helped push the campaign across the finish line.
“Potters Point is now protected because the community of Alpena and people from all over Michigan see this place for what it is — a special corner of the Great Lakes that is largely untouched — and they want it to stay this way,” said Brad Jensen, Executive Director of Huron Pines. “Because they jumped in and joined this effort, it will stay this way forever.”
Photo courtesy Sarah Harding, Real Broker, LLC
What happens next?
Reaching our campaign goal is a major milestone, but there's still work to do before we can welcome visitors to Potters Point.
Huron Pines is now preparing the property for safe public access while protecting the natural features that make it special. That work will include preparing parking and visitor access, cleanup, signage and other improvements needed to get the preserve ready for the public.
For now, Potters Point remains closed and gated. A grand opening is planned for early summer 2027.
We'll share updates over the coming months as that work progresses and plans for the preserve take shape.
Photo courtesy Sarah Harding, Real Broker, LLC
Protecting Potters Point for the long haul
Although we've reached our $1.52 million campaign goal, protecting land doesn't end with purchasing it.
Caring for Potters Point will be a long-term commitment. Huron Pines will continue managing the property to protect its sensitive habitats while creating opportunities for people to experience and enjoy this remarkable stretch of the Lake Huron coast.
Donations to support the ongoing stewardship of Potters Point are still welcome. Your support will help us care for the preserve today and ensure it remains protected for generations to come.
To every person who donated, shared the campaign, told a friend or helped spread the word: thank you. Potters Point is protected because you made it possible.