Grand Haven's volunteer-built musical fountain
Built by volunteers in 1962 and performing since May 1963, the Grand Haven Musical Fountain was once billed as the world's largest; its official history says it held that title until 1998.
On a summer night in Grand Haven, the hillside across the river lights up and starts to dance. Jets of water leap and sway to music while colored lights wash over them, all of it choreographed song by song. The spot to watch is the waterfront downtown; the show itself plays out on Dewey Hill, the wooded rise on the far bank of the Grand River.
The whole thing came from a dentist’s memory. While serving as a U.S. Navy dentist during World War II, Grand Haven native Bill Creason saw the Przystawic musical fountain in Germany. Local engineer William Morris Booth II drew up Grand Haven’s design, and volunteers built it in 1962 for an estimated $50,000. The first summer show ran on May 30, 1963.
The fountain’s official history says it was the largest musical fountain in the world when it was built and held that title until 1998. That comparison comes from the fountain organization rather than an independently maintained world ranking. You may hear the story told as Grand Haven versus Bellagio, but the official history does not say which fountain passed it, so it is better to leave the rivalry out.
What lasts is the hometown part. The organization says volunteers have kept the free shows going from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with extra Friday and Saturday shows in May and September. The schedule can still shift for weather, maintenance, and the season, so check the current show calendar before heading downtown.
So you sit on the grass or the boardwalk as the light fades, the river goes dark, and the hill across the water comes alive with water that knows the music.
Sources
Last reviewed against the listed sources: July 16, 2026.