The visitor bureaus collectively known as Michigan Beachtowns are pushing for an historical heritage designation for the route which stretched from New Buffalo up to Ludington (http://www.heraldpalladium.com/articles/2010/03/22/local_news/1285323.txt). The West Michigan Pike was built in the early 1910s as a way for Chicago businessmen to reach lakeshore communities by car rather than by ship. Proponents believe the heritage designation will spur more travel in the area. More on the group itself can be found at their website (http://www.beachtowns.org), which has some historical info on the Pike.
Cool! Growing up in South Bend, IN and going to the beach in the summer will bring back a lot of memories as well as shedding some light on these points of interest.