GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI – A rare human foosball court is one highlight of a 200-acre park that’s about to open near Traverse City.
Camp Greilick, a former Boy Scout camp turned county park, will be one of few parks with a permanent, outdoor court of this kind, organizers said on the park blog. Renovations were completed this summer.
“Very few parks can say that they have a human foosball court,” officials said after a volunteer group painted the fence around the court. “We feel very lucky to have one and can’t wait to share it with the public.”
Human foosball is played as the name suggests. Human players are the foosmen, holding onto a line and moving side-to-side together as they attempt to block the other team’s goals and score their own.
The court was part of the Boy Scout camp, which closed in 2016. Now, the Grand Traverse County Parks and Recreation Department is working to open the site to the public.
While an opening date has not yet been announced, the goal is to open this fall.
Human foosball is one of several amenities the park will offer, including a disc golf course and trails, both of which required restoration and reconstruction. The trails are still a work in progress. Wayfinding and safety signage are also in the works.
Upon opening, organizers say there will be hiking, human foosball, a children’s play area, disc golf, a basketball hoop, and water access for swimming and fishing. Leashed dogs will be welcome. Two portable toilets will be available near the parking area.
Private events, like reunions, graduation parties and weddings, will be allowed, although there will be a 50-person cap and alcohol sales will not be permitted. Quiet hours will start at 7:30 p.m.
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One offering of the former camp that will not initially be available is the shooting range, which included areas for archery, small arms and shotguns. Those areas are fenced off for now. Future use would include organized programming only.
Another historic activity that initially won’t be offered is camping. Group camping could be added later, officials said.
Camp Greilick dates back to 1923, when the Rotary Club of Traverse City purchased land to create a campground for 4-H, the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts. Most recently known as the Greilick Outdoor Recreation and Education Center, the property features more than 4,000 feet of frontage on Rennie, Spider and Bass Lakes just south of Traverse City.
The county purchased the property from the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy in 2024.