Michillinda Lodge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Michillinda Lodge |
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The exterior of the main lodge in August 2011
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| Former names | MICH-ILL-INDA, Michillinda Beach Tavern, Michillinda Beach Lodge |
| Etymology | MICHigan, ILLinois, INDianA |
| General information | |
| Type | Summer resort |
| Address | 5207 Scenic Drive |
| Town or city | Whitehall, Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 43°21′3.69″N 86°24′42.96″W / 43.3510250°N 86.4119333°W |
| Completed | 1904 (main lodge) |
| Opened | 1894 (residential beach association) 1920 (resort) |
| Destroyed | December 2, 2012 (main lodge) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
| Floor area | 13,000 square feet (1,200 m2) |
| Grounds | 22 acres (8.9 ha) |
| Other information | |
| Seating type | Dining room |
| Seating capacity | 200 |
| Number of units | 18 (main lodge) 26 (total after the fire) |
Michillinda Lodge is a fun summer resort located right on the shore of Lake Michigan in Whitehall, Michigan. It used to be called MICH-ILL-INDA, the Michillinda Beach Tavern, and Michillinda Beach Lodge. The name "MICH-ILL-INDA" comes from the states of Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana.
A group of people from these states bought the land in 1894. They wanted to create a special beach community. In 1920, a man named Emanuel "Manny" Duttenhofer bought a large summer house there. It had 18 rooms and was about 13,000-square-foot (1,200 m2) big. He turned it into a public resort for everyone to enjoy.
For many years, only three families owned and ran the Lodge. These were the Duttenhofer family, the Johansen family, and the Eilers family. They slowly added new buildings and fun activities. In 2000, the Eilers family sold the Lodge to a company called Promised Land LLC. This company wanted to build more homes there, but their plans were not approved by local officials.
Sadly, on December 2, 2012, the main lodge building was completely destroyed by a fire. Luckily, no one was hurt. The other buildings at Michillinda were not badly damaged. The cost of the damage was estimated to be millions of dollars.
In September 2013, Parkland Properties and developer Jon Rooks bought Michillinda Lodge. It reopened to the public in October 2013. As of early 2014, people were still deciding what to do next. There were ideas to rebuild the main lodge. Other ideas included turning the remaining buildings into vacation rentals or condos.
Today, Michillinda Lodge has nine buildings with 26 guest rooms in total. It's known as a family-friendly and historic place. The resort has many cool things to do. These include an outdoor swimming pool, a miniature golf course, and a campfire area. It also has a 400-foot (120 m) private beach on Lake Michigan. Michillinda Lodge is also a popular spot for weddings and other special events. Before the fire, the main lodge had a restaurant that was open to guests and the public.
Contents
The Story of Michillinda Lodge
How Michillinda Started (1894–1951)
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The story of Michillinda Lodge began in 1894. A man named Theo Willson from Moline, Illinois, was on vacation near Muskegon, Michigan. He was with three friends from his church. They loved their vacation so much that they decided to buy 22 acres (8.9 ha) of land along the Lake Michigan shore. This land would later become the Michillinda Lodge resort.
They bought the property for $1,000. They split the land into 23 lots. They wanted people to build nice, simple two-story cottages there. In 1895, the people who owned leases on the land decided to name it "MICH-ILL-INDA." This name honored the three states where they came from: Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana.
The main lodge building was built around 1904 or 1909. It was a vacation home for a family from Moline. This four-story building was 13,000 square feet (1,200 m2) big. It had 18 guest rooms, a kitchen, and two dining rooms that could seat 200 people.
In 1920, Emanuel "Manny" Duttenhofer from Whitehall, Michigan, bought this large summer home. He first wanted it for his family. But after his wife passed away, he started inviting friends and relatives to stay. Soon after, he opened the building as a public resort. He called it the Michillinda Beach Tavern.
In 1933, the resort's name changed to Michillinda Beach Lodge. This was to make it clear it was a lodge, not a place that only served alcohol. Manny Duttenhofer and his sisters helped make Michillinda a very popular resort. They even built a new two-story building called the Annex, which had 10 rooms, because so many people wanted to visit.
New Owners and Fun Times (1951–2000)
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After Manny Duttenhofer passed away in 1951, Ray and Frances Johansen bought Michillinda. They were from Twin Lake, Michigan. The Johansens focused on making the resort more modern and adding new ideas. One popular new idea was the "Evening Coffee Hour." This started a tradition of serving coffee and cookies as the sun set.
Michillinda became well-known and even attracted famous people. For example, Nancy Fleming, who was crowned Miss America in 1960, enjoyed a quiet stay at the Lodge. In 1965, the Johansens built a Chalet building for evening programs. They even had a variety show on Friday nights. That same year, their daughter Judith married Don Eilers.
In 1972, Don and Judith Eilers moved into the Lodge. They planned to buy and run it themselves. Sadly, Judith became ill and passed away suddenly in 1973. Don Eilers decided to buy and manage Michillinda on his own.
Don Eilers, and later his second wife Sue, ran Michillinda Beach Lodge for 28 years. They added many new activities for guests. These included bingo on Sunday nights and a Western-style campfire. In 2000, the Eilers retired. They sold the property for $1.65 million to Promised Land LLC. This company was named after Theo Willson's old description of the site as a "promised land."
Michillinda in the 21st Century
In 2000, Promised Land LLC bought Michillinda. They first wanted to build 36 new homes, cottages, and townhouses. However, officials in Fruitland Township did not approve this plan. So, in 2001, Promised Land decided to keep Michillinda Lodge running as it was.
That same year, Promised Land spent $1 million to update the main lodge. They also improved the lakeside buildings so they could be used all year. In the summer of 2012, Promised Land hired Hotel Investment Services to help manage the Lodge.
The 2012 Fire
On December 2, 2012, the original main lodge building was completely destroyed by a fire. It was being renovated at the time. Five workers were staying in the building, but they all got out safely. The fire was reported at 4:27 am and quickly spread.
Many fire trucks and firefighters came to help. In total, 40 vehicles and 77 firefighters from 15 different fire departments worked to put out the fire. There were no fire hydrants nearby, so firefighters had to get water from the surrounding lakes. Strong winds from Lake Michigan also made the fire harder to fight. Even though they couldn't save the main lodge, firefighters successfully protected the other buildings nearby.
The fire chief said it would have been much harder if the fire happened in summer when the lodge was full of guests. The cause of the fire was not officially known. The damage was estimated to be millions of dollars. This included money spent on recent renovations and lost bookings for weddings and rooms. The fire was also very upsetting for the owners, employees, and families who had visited Michillinda for many years.
After the Fire: Recovery
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After the fire, the owners hoped to reopen Michillinda Lodge in the summer of 2013. But on September 6, 2013, they sold it to a local company called Parkland Properties and developer Jon Rooks. The exact price was not shared, but the property and related assets were listed at $2.6 million.
The Lodge missed the entire summer 2013 season. It finally reopened for business in October 2013. A high school reunion and a private party were among the first events. When it reopened, the resort had 11 cottages. The largest cottage could hold guests in 14 rooms.
In August 2013, Jon Rooks said he wanted to keep Michillinda "as it is now as much as possible and preserve the history." He thought about three possible plans for the future. These included rebuilding the lodge, turning the remaining buildings into single-family condos, or making them weekly vacation rentals. Many local tourism groups wanted the lodge to be rebuilt. It was the only lodge and restaurant on the Lake Michigan shoreline in Muskegon County before the fire.
By January 2014, Rooks decided to propose plans to rebuild the lodge in the same spot. He said there would be "no intensive development plan and the lodge will be as similar to the old one as possible." However, these plans were still being worked out, and the future of Michillinda Lodge was still being decided.
What Michillinda Lodge Offers
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As of 2015, Michillinda Lodge has nine buildings with 26 guest rooms. The resort wants to be a family-friendly place with a lot of history. You won't find telephones or televisions in the guest rooms, which helps you relax and enjoy nature.
There are many fun things to do right at the resort. You can swim in a heated outdoor swimming pool. There are two shuffleboard courts, a miniature golf course, and courts for basketball and volleyball. You can also play on two tennis courts. Kids can enjoy the playground. There's a campfire area for evening fun. Plus, there's a 400-foot (120 m) private beach on Lake Michigan. None of these fun things were damaged in the 2012 fire.
Michillinda Lodge is also a popular place for weddings and parties. Weddings are often held on a deck with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. Receptions can be held in a wedding tent on the lawn. By 2012, the Lodge was hosting about 35 weddings each year. It also hosts other gatherings like family reunions and meetings.
Before the main lodge burned down, meals were served in its dining rooms. The restaurant was open to both guests and the public. Now, since the restaurant was lost in the fire, the Lodge suggests local restaurants for its guests.
Gallery
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View of Lake Michigan
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Swimming pool
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Shuffleboard courts
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Miniature golf course
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Campfire
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