Rugged landscapes? Not exactly. But plot twist: we do have mountains. Sort of. If you know where to look.

Enter: the gravel pits. Holland’s accidental, totally unintentional take on the salt flats or some dystopian sci-fi wasteland. They’re vast, they’re dusty, and they look absolutely nothing like the West Michigan you’re used to. Which is precisely why they’re kind of amazing.

You won’t find any postcard-worthy lighthouses or rolling dunes here. Nope. Just eerie, layered piles of stone and sand, looking like the set of a budget Mad Max reboot. It’s minimalist. It’s raw. It’s the perfect spot for an indie music video or an “effortlessly cool” Instagram shoot.

The Aesthetic? Moody, Minimalist, and Millennials Love It

Photographers love this place, and for good reason. The neutral tones? Chef’s kiss. The lack of distractions? Perfect for making anyone look like they belong on an album cover. And let’s be honest—gravel pits are the anti-beach photoshoot. No golden hour glow, no crashing waves—just cold, hard, industrial vibes. And somehow, that works.

“Millennials love simple gray backdrops.” – Some Photographer, Probably

But, of course, there’s a catch. A buzzkill, if you will. The seagulls. Because nothing says “gritty, avant-garde photoshoot” like hundreds of seagulls judging you from the ridges.

Our Parents Would Be So Confused

Fun fact: Our parents never thought, “Hey, let’s go take some cute pics at the gravel pit.” To them, this was just a place where trucks did truck things. Now? It’s prime real estate for modern aesthetics. Trends are wild like that.

So, if you’re looking for a setting that screams “not your typical West Michigan,” this is it. No tulips, no lighthouses, no cobblestone streets—just wide-open nothingness that somehow makes the perfect backdrop. Holland’s unofficial “mountains” may not be majestic, but they sure as are "cool."

Hollander's loves the rockies so much, our cartoonist Ally served up a special just for our photographer friends. Here it is, enjoy:

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