Clinch Park & Steam Engine

Clinch Park is home to The Spirit of Traverse City, a 4-4-2 Atlantic steam-powered locomotive.  Anyone can ride the train over is 1/2 mile of track which circles Clinch Park and overlooks some of the most picturesque scenery of Northern Michigan. This locomotive was originally owned by Lawrence Witherill who built all but the boiler.  After his dealth in 1966, the train was bought by Seymour Johnson of California who formed a partnership with Gordon Maclean to use the train commercially at Whittier Narrows, California. The Spirit was put into operation at Clinch Park on July 6, 1992 during the National Cherry Festival. The train is operated by the city Memorial Day to Labor Day.