Dune Dogz is offering up fan favorites at Holland State Park all summer long
PARK TWP. — Right across the street from the shores of Lake Macatawa and down the road from Lake Michigan is a local favorite serving up “beach food at its best.”
Kim Wojahn and her husband Dan Ross opened Dune Dogz over a decade ago at 2233 Ottawa Beach Road in Park Township. The couple learned about the available property from a friend and “were honored” when they were able to acquire it.
Dune Dogz is open from the start of May, in time for the Tulip Time Festival, until mid-September, depending on the weather.
“We are usually busiest around July and August,” Wojahn said.
But Dune Dogz isn’t busy just because of the weather. Customers flock to a menu full of fan favorites, from fish sandwiches to fried pickles on a stick and, of course, hot dogs.
“We have a pretty full menu,” Wojahn said. “We serve wraps, we have perch, shrimp, cod, a hot beef sandwich, hamburgers, ice cream, crispy chicken sandwiches, along with a huge menu of hot dogs.”
Customers also enjoy fried treats, including elephant ears served all summer long. Wojahn said people are often excited to learn elephant ears are on the menu long after Tulip Time is over.
Wojahn said her personal favorites are the Dune Dog — a version of a corn dog — and the Coney Dog, which, along with the Chicago Dog, are customer favorites as well.
The Chicago Dog, with the traditional toppings of relish, onion, mustard, sport peppers, celery salt and pickle, has earned rave reviews. According to Wojan, customers say it’s comparable to one they’d get in the Windy City.
After trying Dune Dogz’s Chicago Dog, a customer named Jay, from Hudsonville, was pleased.
“I’m happy that Michigan people make Chicago Dogs, because ketchup on a hot dog is messed up,” he said.
Jay’s wife, Cheryl, also ordered the Chicago. Their grandson, 6-year-old Luca, said his hot dog with mustard was “the goodest thing I’ve ever had in my life."
The family was returning from a walk to the beach when they saw the stand and stopped by. Wojahn said Dune Dogz often gets customers that way.
“We're lucky enough to be in the right spot,” she said. “It has to do with the location and the possibly two million visitors that come to Holland State Park during the summer.”
One family, in particular, has stuck out to Wojahn over the years.
“The family used to fill up three tables and there were maybe 12 of them,” Wojahn said. “They would decorate their bikes for the Fourth of July and do a bike parade in front of (Dune Dogz).”
Wojahn said they’re now a “group of 40 strong and take up an entire section.”
“It's just so wonderful to watch families make memories here."
— Contact intern Abigail Shanley at abigailwshanley@hotmail.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Dune Dogz is offering up fan favorites at Holland State Park all summer long
