Tourists Caught Vandalizing Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Every summer, people travel from all over the country to see Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It’s seriously one of the most beautiful spots in Michigan. The cliffs, the water, the colors in the rock faces…it really is a special place.

So when a group of losers from out of state rolls through to steal rocks and vandalize the place, it’s hard not to get a little upset.

Tourists Caught Vandalizing Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

According to officials, four visitors from Illinois were caught vandalizing the cliffs at Pictured Rocks last July. U.S. Park Rangers say they contacted multiple boats along the cliffs after reports came in that people were carving large letters into the rock formations.

Yeah…actually carving into the cliffs. Come on, have a little respect.

If that wasn’t bad enough, the group had also collected more than 100 pounds of rocks with plans to take them home. Because apparently, they thought Michigan’s national park was some kind of souvenir shop.

Four Visitors Fined and Banned From Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Park officials stepped in and handed out penalties. Each person was fined $500 and banned from returning to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for an entire year. One person was hit with an additional $250 fine for taking the rocks. I think the ban should have been at least for five years.

Honestly, it’s hard to understand what goes through someone’s head when they do something like this. These cliffs have been around for thousands of years and are protected for a reason.

You don’t get to carve your initials into them.
You don’t get to haul rocks away by the bag.

You show up, take some pictures, appreciate the beauty Michigan has to offer, and go home.

See Also: Bigfoot Sightings Surge Near the Michigan Border

Thankfully, rangers caught them before things got even worse. But stories like this are exactly why people say we can’t have nice things. It only takes a few idiots to mess up something that belongs to everyone.