Grand Haven Pier Catwalk Restoration

The Grand Haven South Pier Catwalk is one of West Michigan's most recognizable landmarks and an important part of the community's identity. When the aging catwalk required replacement, The Blacksmith Shop was selected to help recreate the structure while preserving the historic appearance that generations of visitors associated with the pier.

Working for the City of Grand Haven, our team designed, fabricated, transported, and helped install 53 replacement catwalk bents that closely matched the original structure while supporting long-term durability and performance.

The project became one of the largest and most complex fabrication efforts in company history, combining engineering, custom fabrication, transportation logistics, waterfront installation planning, and historic preservation considerations.

The original catwalk was an important symbol of Grand Haven, but decades of exposure to Lake Michigan's waterfront environment had taken a toll on the structure. Community members raised more than one million dollars to support the restoration effort after the catwalk was excluded from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers restoration project.

The replacement work required balancing historical authenticity with practical fabrication, transportation, and installation realities. Even the decorative rivets used throughout the original structure were recreated through custom machining to preserve the visual character of the catwalk.