AREA OUTLINED IN RED WILL BE OPEN TO PUBLIC. THIS INCLUDES A SMALL PORTION OF THE GREEN & PURPLE TRAIL, BOTH LAKE VIEW AREAS, PAVILION, & RANGER STATION.
10950 Hetherton Road
Johannesburg, MI 49751
(989) 705-2469
THE GROEN NATURE PRESERVE WILL BE OPENING TO THE PUBLIC WEDNESDAY, MAY 14TH FROM 10AM-6PM. WE WILL HAVE A LIMITED AREA AROUND THE LAKES OPEN FOR HIKING. THE REMAINDER OF THE PRESERVE WILL REMAIN CLOSED AS WE CONTINUE TO CLEAN UP THE TRAILS FROM THE ICE STORM. WE APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND PATIENCE. THANK YOU!
CURRENT HOURS:
WE ARE STAYING TO OUR WINTER HOURS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO STAFFING SHORTAGE.
Louis M. Groen (August 8, 1917 - May 30, 2011)
The Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve was graciously donated to Otsego County by Mr. Groen upon his passing in 2011. The preserve opened 764 acres to the public the summer of 2012 with the remaining 25 acres opening in June of 2024. With approximately 800 acres which includes Johannesburg Lake and Kujawa Lake.
Mr. Groen is noted as inventing the Filet-o-Fish sandwich for McDonald’s in Cincinnati, his primary residence, in 1962. By the time he retired he owned 43 McDonald’s restaurants throughout Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Mr. Groen proposed adding a fish sandwich to the menu on Fridays to accommodate the Catholic dominated Cincinnati area. Mr. Kroc, McDonald’s founder, did not want his franchises smelling like fish however, in the spirit of competition they made a bet. Mr. Groen would sell a fish sandwich, and Mr. Kroc would sell a Hula burger, a piece of pineapple with cheese on a bun. As it turns out more people preferred the fish sandwich over the Hula burger and the Filet-o-Fish sandwich has been on McDonald’s menu ever since. In 1996 along with two partners, Mr. Groen acquired StopTech, a company that manufactured Stop Stick a device used by police and the military to puncture tires of runaway vehicles.
Mr. Groen loved and enjoyed this property for 22 years with his wife Edna. Sadly, Mr. Groen passed away at the age of 93, leaving Echo Valley Ranch to Otsego County along with a trust fund to pay for the upkeep of the property. The property opened to the public in 2012 as the Louis M. Groen Nature Preserve. Mr. Groen’s greatest interest was educating young people on nature and conservation while maintaining the preserve as God intended. He wanted a nice quiet place people could come to and appreciate nature. The preserve currently allows hiking, walking leashed pets, biking, horseback riding, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. There is also an educational center that hosts a variety of nature themed children and adult activities.
The preserve is an important piece of Johannesburg and Otsego County history. It was once the location of the Johannesburg Manufacturing Company. Established in 1901, over 300,000,000 feet of loges were once processed here. The operation created the town of Johannesburg. The remnants of the lumberjack camp and sawmill remain on the property.
HISTORY AT THE PRESERVE