Jackson Cascade Falls

Probably the most famous landmark in Jackson, Michigan, is the Cascades. The result of a dream by William Sparks, a British immigrant born in 1879. Sparks came to America at the age of 9 and established himself as a man of vision and determination. A successful industrialist, Sparks wanted to create something that would leave visitors to Jackson with a favorable impression of the city. He created the 465 acre Sparks Park where the Cascade Falls are the centerpiece. Built in the 1930s, the attraction consists of a series of cascading pools illuminated by colored lights and accompanied by music. For the technically inclined, the falls are 500 feet in length, 64 feet high, 60 feet wide having 6 fountains. Walkways of 126 steps go up each side of the falls. There are 16 falls, 11 of which are illuminated with 1230 colored electric lights. The water is supplied by a massive pump which outputs 2000 gallons per minute in a closed loop, after filtering, chlorinating and recycling.

The falls were donated to the City of Jackson after Sparks death. They fell into disuse and disrepair but a series of restoration campaigns during the 1980s and 1990s have restored them into an even more impressive attraction. A campaign is underway to improve them even more. They now have a high speed computer and high speed controls so that they can "keep up with the music".

They were a great place to take a date in the 1960s. They are a great place for an evenings entertainment now!

We tried to take some video of the cascades with a small handheld but so far have not been able to compress it small enough to post. Until then the two stills will have to suffice.