11/21/2023 0 Comments Rest area in michigan![]() As with my earlier post about the RA in North Florida, this one is very close to a river (Myakka). I don't believe that they ever constructed restrooms at this one. Not grown over as one would expect of an abandoned RA. Maybe someone who lives down that way can tell me: Did they reopen it? It looks pretty much undisturbed from the aerial shot. All I know is that, before they closed it, it was an awesome place to ride a road bike. They closed this rest area not too long after the highway opened because, supposedly, it was a gay hangout. I haven't even been to Venice since my dad passed away five years ago. Here's another RA oddity on I-75 in grew up in Venice and we used to ride our motorcycles on the unopened interstate back in 1980/81 between the time it was paved and its opening to traffic. My guess is that it was eliminated (no pun intended) for environmental reasons due to its close proximity to the river. It was not replaced and the next NB rest area is the Georgia Welcome Center some 35 miles farther north. I believe that it was removed when the highway was 6-laned in the mid-1990's. SE 134th Ave makes a jog and I believe that this is where the SB RA once stood. Its southbound companion, I believe was a mile or so north on the other side of the river. It was possible to park fairly far away from the highway which made for much more pleasant snoozing. It was pretty cool since the pavement looped back into the adjacent woods. I know that it was still standing in 1988. ![]() I don't know exactly when it was abandoned. Here is an aerial shot of one that once stood on I-75 northbound just south of the Suwannee River north of Exit can still see the footprint fairly easily. However, if I need to use the restroom or just stretch my legs, it is good to know that there is a rest area I can do that in. I admit, I would rather get off an interchange and get snacks, drinks, or food from a store than a vending machine. Because of all this, many rest areas are located anywhere from 60-120 miles apart nowadays. Rest areas became less used so many states decided to shut some down to save costs and to rid the outdated 1960's-built ones, many of which did not have adequate plumbing. Many of the gas stations are now convenience stores and more restaurant chains have developed since the early 1980's, enough of both that there may be at least one at nearly every interchange. At interchanges, there may have been gas stations and an occasional restaurant, but nothing like there is today. To help travelers, rest areas were built somewhat close-usually 30-45 miles apart. When the interstates were first built, there were not many amenities at many interchanges.
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