Burton Island State Park

About Burton Island State Park

At this point Burton Island borders the mainland, the Great Lakes and the Pacific Ocean to the east and west. Originally, the island was named Pottery Island after C.C. Burton, who owned a mainstream farm in the 1840s and used the island as pasture.

Sydney Burton, a descendant of Burton, owned the island until the early 20th century and leased it to tenants who typically kept cattle such as cows, pigs and chickens in the countryside and grew staple foods such as beans and peas. Today, rusting agricultural tools, old agricultural implements, and other artifacts from Burton's past can be found along the way.

The Burtons sold the island to Randall Dimon, who built a house on the eastern tip of the islands. The Dimons stayed in the house until they sold it to Vermont in 1960. Initial plans by the states envisaged a dam on the mainland to bring cars to an island campsite, but it was never built.

Instead, the states built a small marina to accommodate those who came to the island by ferry every year. When recreational boating became popular, it became a popular stopover for people who sail in and out of the lake. Fortunately, its unique appeal was recognised even before construction began.
As the size of the boats increased, the types of park users changed and the marina was expanded to include additional services to meet the needs of these users.

There were some early logistical problems caused by the lack of nearby access to the mainland. The campsites were occupied by a clientele who enjoyed the seclusion of the island away from the traffic.

In this sense, it was bought by the state in 1967 and converted into Kill Kare State Park, and the support facilities in Kill Kare included the protection of state ferries that carried non-sailors to and from the island. Burton Island is a popular destination for kayaking, fishing and long boat trips in the spring and summer months.

There is a summer holiday hotel built in 1870 and renovated in 1982, and historic photos in the lobby show what the area looked like 150 years ago. The facilities have changed, but it now includes the Kill Kare State Park Visitor Center, Burton Island Museum, Visitor Center, Interpretation Center and Picnic Area.

There is a museum with photos and artifacts from the early days of Burton Island's history, making it one of the state's most popular tourist attractions.

The toilets have running water and a hot shower, and there is rowing boat and canoe rental, as well as a place to swim and picnic.