Jackson, Michigan: The Jackson Cascades

Lights! Water! Elvis! Splashy evening fun spot at 500 feet long, 64 feet high, 60 feet wide. It has six fountains, 16 falls, and 230 colored lights.

Where are the "Largest Manmade Illuminated Waterfalls in North America"?

According to a postcard, they're in Jackson, Michigan. The Jackson Cascades' nightly summer shows began on May 9, 1932 - the then-mayor's birthday - back when a misty hour or two in the viewing area was not only state-of-the-art entertainment, but a good way to cool down. 64 feet high and 60 feet wide, the Cascades has six fountains, 16 falls, and 230 colored lights. Hidden plumbing pumps 2,000 gallons a minute over its concrete precipices, while the lights and fountain patterns roughly pulse to the beat of prerecorded music.

The basic Cascades show hasn't changed in 90 years!

Jackson Cascades -- still there and still beautiful. Best color watching is after sunset.

Sam Butcher, founder of Precious Moments, grew up in Jackson, Michigan. I find it less than coincidental that Butcher, who must certainly have known the Cascades, would be driven to create the monumentally awful (in a garish and patriotic/preachy sort of way -- if you've seen the show, you know what I mean) Fountain of Angels at his Inspiration Park. I'd be curious to know for certain if the Cascades were his inspiration for this Loving, Caring, Sharing monstrosity. Does anybody know?

I was on a family vacation a few years ago when we had to stop in the town of Jackson. We're in the gas station and the attendant is asking us if we are from around here.... Then she tells us we have to see The Cascades while we're in town. All of a sudden, people are telling us that we just HAVE to visit this place.

So we went. We got there and hour and a half early because the townspeople had been making such a big deal of this place, we figured it would be crowded. Wrong. But we amused ourselves with the "Museum" - a hole in the wall, if you know what I mean.

So finally, 90 minutes later, we take our seats and what do we see? Well, the big waterfall that's been running the whole time and then! The lights turn on! Colors swirl around in the water! It was almost as good as watching corn grow. You must check this one out!