Holliday Nature Preserve

The Holliday Forest & Wildlife Preserve contains approximately 550 acres along the valley of what is known as Tonquish Creek in the northwest part of the County of Wayne.

 This land was acquired by the County for the purpose of habitat preservation through the estate of Mr. Arthur J. Richardson, a Detroit Banker. Mr. Richardson, a philanthropist who died in 1938, stipulated in his Will that the County establish a park in honor of his uncle William P. Holliday, who was a lifelong mentor.

It took over twenty years to assemble hundreds of little parcels that eventually became the Holliday Wildlife Preserve in 1958.

This three-mile section of the Tonquish Creek watershed is in its natural state, containing thickets, upland woods, wetlands, and meadows. The foot trails that follow the streambed date back to the days of the Potowanami Indians who fished and trapped this rich land. Chief Tonquish was killed and buried on the lands within the preserve.  Visit the Wayne County, MI Website for more information.