The Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau has done a really nice job of creating events and experiences designed to bring in tourists, including the development of self-directed tours. Using these guides, visitors can plot trips to bike, motorcycle, paddle, drive, golf, sight see, boat, ski, fish and more. One of these experiences, known as the Cadillac KISStory Tour, is a walking tour of the KISStorical sites that have become famous since the 1975 KISS visit to Cadillac.
Jim Neff at the Monument Dedication at the 40th Anniversary Celebration Learn more at: KISScadillac.com
Over the past 49 years, I have taken thousands of visitors on the KISS tour to visit the four KISStorical plaques around Cadillac. Music fans are able to walk from plaque to plaque to see these classic photos and an explanation of why the spot is significant in the story or they can take the virtual tour online where they can listen to me covering the highlights that go along with each location. Walking the KISStory Tour also offers an additional bonus – it’s another great exercise route in Cadillac. Call it a “KISSercise” experience, if you will. The route is 2.4 miles long and takes in some great Cadillac scenery.
The KISStory route takes you to 4 key stops in Cadillac that showcase the iconic 1975 event.
Begin at the KISS Monument on Chestnut Street in the southeast corner of Veterans Memorial Stadium. Marker 1 is located just north of the Monument and depicts KISS leaving Cadillac via helicopter. Over the years the football field has been a “must see” for KISS fans.
Then walk north and west around Cadillac High School to the gym entrance (athletic director’s office entrance at 200 Linden Street). Marker 2 is here and tells about the legendary concert in the gym.
Browse photos and learn more about the history at: KISScadillac.com
From there it’s on to downtown Cadillac. Walk around the north side of the gym and past the tennis courts and National guard Building to the Clam River Greenway. Turn right on the Greenway and go past the Sound Garden to Chestnut Street. Turn left and go to the corner of Lake and Pine. Cross over to the Cadillac Chamber of Commerce side, turn left toward Mitchell Street, and when you get to Mitchell turn right and proceed south.
Marker 3 is at the old City Hall/Firehouse. This is the site of perhaps the most famous KISS photo from 1975, KISS on a fire truck. The building’s architecture has made this a prime photo op for KISS fans and is now the current home to the Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau.
Now go to the corner of East Harris Street and cross Mitchell Street to the other side. Cross Harris (south) and go down to the Sweet Shop where Marker 4 resides. This commemorates the 1975 parade route renaming of Mitchell Street to KISS Boulevard.
After seeing all four KISStory plaques, you return to the KISS Monument. To do this, cross Mitchell Street at the corner of Cass Street, walk through the City Park, cross Lake Street at the Rotary Pavilion, and turn right on the McKellop Walkway. Follow that along Lake Cadillac to the crosswalk at the Soundgarden, cross to the north side of Chestnut Street, turn left and go back to the Monument.
When you complete this 2.4 mile KISSercise, you’ll have experienced a major part of Cadillac history, strolled through downtown, and taken in wonderful lake Cadillac scenery. To make the tour even better, the CAVB has a Cadillac KISStory brochure featuring classic photos, maps, pictures of the markers, and insider stories. These are free at the CAVB office at the old City Hall building (201 N. Mitchell St.) and have been distributed all over the world!
For more KISStory information go to kisscadillac.com, cadillacmichigan.com, explorecadillac.org. More cool Cadillac information is being added on a regular basis. You can also track events on the Cadillac KISS facebook page: www.facebook.com/kisscadillac
Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns online at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/cadillacnews.