~ RESORTS OF WALLOON LAKE ~
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Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
The design and compilation of the text and photos on this site are copyrighted 2014.
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
The design and compilation of the text and photos on this site are copyrighted 2014.
"About 1904, 15 hotels were on the lake. The Melrose was owned by McConnells that was beyond Indian Garden. The Lakeside owned by the Camburns which was not far from the present Maynard cottage. The Pines, up in the hills on the north shore. The Mizer House, about where the present Murner cottage stands now. The Fern Cottage owned by Hiram B. Bixby. The Frank built by Mr. Frank who had come up with the Olds families and later built his hotel where the Thomas House is now. The New Walloon, Echo Beach Inn, about Indian Garden, Lake Grove. The Bear’s Den, Hotel Wildwood and the Merrill House, the present Renwick home." ~ Mildred Burns, longtime Walloon Lake resident
1908 Resorts/Businesses Advertised in the Petoskey Evening News
(6 July 1908)
(6 July 1908)
~ The Pines ~
Pine Tree House, opened in 1903, located a short distance from the railroad dock and depot, in the midst of a grove of beautiful pine trees, commanding a fine view of the lake, railroad dock and passing passenger 'steam boats', Mrs. T.L. Belding, proprietor (This was located near the present site of the Alan Cameron Property).
The 6 July 1910 Petoskey Evening News stated: "T.L. Belding, who has been in the upper peninsula all winter, has returned to Walloon and opened the Pines again for another season, which appears like a success if one can judge by the bright outlook. Mr. Belding looks for his old patrons again, as well as many new ones." |
The booklet "Little Traverse Bay Resorts" in the Public Domain describes the Walloon Lake Resorts pictured on the page below.
~ Fern Cottage/Silver Birch Inn/Walloon Lake Inn ~
Photo Below: The building labeled as "The Fern" was located very close to the water. This building does not have the same roof line as the building that eventually has become the Silver Birch Inn/Walloon Lake Inn. The roof line in the wooded area behind The Fern below, looks more like the roof line of the Walloon Lake Inn. At some point, the building labeled The Fern, situated close to the water was torn down. In 2024 no structure, only a road, is located between the Walloon Lake Inn and the lake's water.
Photo Below:
Notice the dog watching the horse and buggy full of people on the road in the background.
The Petoskey Record 15 March 1911 article below tells of the life of Mrs. Clayton Bixby's father,
George Watson, a Civil War veteran who had passed away.
TIMELINE
The Silver Birch Inn was established at the turn of the 20th century and was then under the name of Fern Cottage Hotel. At that time only a hotel, office and two story boathouse where private dances were held during the summer on its second floor existed. Over the years the Fern Cottage Hotel began to show its age, although the lodge was in running order it needed many modern improvements. In 1957, the complete lodge and cottages were sold to Marvel and Eloise Nickey of Chicago, and the property became their summer home. The ownership proceeded to Don and Laura Barrett > Roger and Anne Srigley > David Beier, and on to the Borisch Family in 2014 with the name Walloon Lake Inn.
Fern Cottage opened around 1891.
Fern Cottage had an advertising address with the name Clayton Bixby, Walloon Lake, Mich,
with additional furnished cottages for rent.
Fern Cottage was built by the father of Clayton Bixby.
Matilda Fotchman owned and operated the Fern Cottage in 1937 for eight years.
Next John McVettie of Flint MI ran the business for just a couple of years.
Mrs. Gorman Trixler bought the resort in 1948.
While Mrs. Trixler owned it, the Fern Hotel became the Silver Birch Inn.
For a short time
Marvel "Marve" and Eloise Nickey (see obituaries below) owned the Silver Birch Inn
and all of the surrounding cottages.
Don and Laura Barrett managed the Silver Birch Inn for the Nickeys (See their 1959 photo below...)
(with Elsie Kleinschrodt ~ Cook,
with Norm Stevens and Ken Klumpp ~ various in-house jobs for the Barretts)
Roger and Anne Srigley purchased the inn and 11 surrounding cottages from the Nickeys in 1971.
The name of the inn was changed from Silver Birch Inn to Walloon Lake Inn
while Roger and Anne Srigley owned it.
Roger and Anne Srigley split the cottage lots and sold them separately.
The Srigleys sold the Inn to David Beier in 1981.
The Walloon Lake Inn became a bed and breakfast with David Beier as the owner and chef.
Under Beier's instruction, The Walloon Lake Inn included a cooking school which started in 1981.
On 9 January 2014 David Beier sold the Walloon Lake Inn to Matt Borisch.
Fern Cottage had an advertising address with the name Clayton Bixby, Walloon Lake, Mich,
with additional furnished cottages for rent.
Fern Cottage was built by the father of Clayton Bixby.
Matilda Fotchman owned and operated the Fern Cottage in 1937 for eight years.
Next John McVettie of Flint MI ran the business for just a couple of years.
Mrs. Gorman Trixler bought the resort in 1948.
While Mrs. Trixler owned it, the Fern Hotel became the Silver Birch Inn.
For a short time
Marvel "Marve" and Eloise Nickey (see obituaries below) owned the Silver Birch Inn
and all of the surrounding cottages.
Don and Laura Barrett managed the Silver Birch Inn for the Nickeys (See their 1959 photo below...)
(with Elsie Kleinschrodt ~ Cook,
with Norm Stevens and Ken Klumpp ~ various in-house jobs for the Barretts)
Roger and Anne Srigley purchased the inn and 11 surrounding cottages from the Nickeys in 1971.
The name of the inn was changed from Silver Birch Inn to Walloon Lake Inn
while Roger and Anne Srigley owned it.
Roger and Anne Srigley split the cottage lots and sold them separately.
The Srigleys sold the Inn to David Beier in 1981.
The Walloon Lake Inn became a bed and breakfast with David Beier as the owner and chef.
Under Beier's instruction, The Walloon Lake Inn included a cooking school which started in 1981.
On 9 January 2014 David Beier sold the Walloon Lake Inn to Matt Borisch.
In the Spring of 1960, while just young, Walloon Lake residents Ken Klumpp and Norm Stevens performed odd jobs then for Don and Laura Barrett who managed the Silver Birch Inn for Marvel Nickey who did not live in the area. Norm continued to work at the inn the next two summers. After the one year at the Silver Birch Inn, Ken Klumpp went to work at Browers general store at The Foot.
Obituaries Below: Royce Nickey and Marvel Nickey were the sons of Mrs. Joseph Veith who owned the Cream Pitcher in the Village. Marvel Nickey and wife Eloise Nickey owned and operated The Silver Birch Inn.
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Photo Above:
The two buildings that sat in front of Fern Cottage [middle background]
were eventually both torn down.
Before being torn down, however, the building on the right had been moved back from the shoreline, to be in line with Fern Cottage.
The two buildings that sat in front of Fern Cottage [middle background]
were eventually both torn down.
Before being torn down, however, the building on the right had been moved back from the shoreline, to be in line with Fern Cottage.
1905 Illustrated Northern Michigan Resorts
(Page 42)
Fern Cottage Rates $2.00 per day. Special by the Week.
"Fern Cottage, a Home-like Summer Hotel at Walloon Lake"
Marilyn Abbett Rader remembers: "The Nickey Family owned all those cottages [by the Silver Birch Inn] that are now individually owned. Plus, they all shared the beach area with the Inn. My family rented one of Hass' cottages for several years. Great memories. In fact I think Pinky's (McCutcheon) sailboat was moored out in front of the inn and Hass's property." The Hass' cottages were not part of the Silver Birch Inn Cottages. The Hass' cottages are to the right of the inn, the cottages facing toward the lake. The Silver Birch Inn Cottages were on the other side of the inn. Anne Srigley who owned the Silver Birch Inn thinks that the Hass Family which owned the cottages on one side of the inn, were purchased by the Murner Family. Read about the Murner/Hass Cottages on the Business webpage of this website.
Pinky remembers that in 1960, after her father Ted sold McCutcheon Boat Works, she anchored her Snipe in front of the Silver Birch Inn for the next several years, keeping the family rowboat at the inn's dock.
Pinky remembers that in 1960, after her father Ted sold McCutcheon Boat Works, she anchored her Snipe in front of the Silver Birch Inn for the next several years, keeping the family rowboat at the inn's dock.
The addition of Walloon Lake Inn 19 January 2014 purchased by Matt Borisch from Chef David Beier was posted on Walloon Lake Inn Facebook page:
The Walloon Lake Inn has some very exciting news. Established in 1891, the Walloon Lake Inn has been owned and operated by Chef David Beier for the last 33 years. Now he has chosen to hand off the baton. On January 9th, the sale of the Walloon Lake Inn was finalized, which formally transitions management of the 122-year-old restaurant to Chef Daniel Flynn and General Manager Bryan Banfield.
"The long and great tradition of the Walloon Lake Inn continues. As I pass the baton to the Borisch Family, I have absolute confidence that the events and memories that we all cherished will continue to grow." - Chef/Owner David Beier
Walloon Lake Inn will continue to be a fine dining establishment, taking reservations, private parties, and walk-in's if available as was done in the past. Many of the comforts people have enjoyed in years past will remain the same. It is expected the restaurant will be open May-September for 2014 as well as 2 weeks around Christmas and for private events during the other months.
"The menu will feel classic, centered in ingredients of the highest quality, and traditional preparations. The menu will pay homage to the history of dining at Walloon Lake Inn, hopefully even featuring some of their timeless favorites. We intend to preserve and also create anew a unique destination for an experience of luxury and leisure." - Chef Daniel Flynn
Over the next several months, the restaurant interior will undergo a remodel and update which will enhance the fine dining experience in the beautiful northern Michigan setting.
"We really want to make sure that we keep the history of the longstanding building intact. We'll begin the remodel this week, which will include a kitchen renovation, a new bar built on the West side of the room, and numerous other updates. We'll be incorporating historical aspects of the Inn as much as possible." - Bryan Banfield
Stay updated on pictures and progress by liking us on facebook and through our website www.walloonlakeinn.com
The Walloon Lake Inn has some very exciting news. Established in 1891, the Walloon Lake Inn has been owned and operated by Chef David Beier for the last 33 years. Now he has chosen to hand off the baton. On January 9th, the sale of the Walloon Lake Inn was finalized, which formally transitions management of the 122-year-old restaurant to Chef Daniel Flynn and General Manager Bryan Banfield.
"The long and great tradition of the Walloon Lake Inn continues. As I pass the baton to the Borisch Family, I have absolute confidence that the events and memories that we all cherished will continue to grow." - Chef/Owner David Beier
Walloon Lake Inn will continue to be a fine dining establishment, taking reservations, private parties, and walk-in's if available as was done in the past. Many of the comforts people have enjoyed in years past will remain the same. It is expected the restaurant will be open May-September for 2014 as well as 2 weeks around Christmas and for private events during the other months.
"The menu will feel classic, centered in ingredients of the highest quality, and traditional preparations. The menu will pay homage to the history of dining at Walloon Lake Inn, hopefully even featuring some of their timeless favorites. We intend to preserve and also create anew a unique destination for an experience of luxury and leisure." - Chef Daniel Flynn
Over the next several months, the restaurant interior will undergo a remodel and update which will enhance the fine dining experience in the beautiful northern Michigan setting.
"We really want to make sure that we keep the history of the longstanding building intact. We'll begin the remodel this week, which will include a kitchen renovation, a new bar built on the West side of the room, and numerous other updates. We'll be incorporating historical aspects of the Inn as much as possible." - Bryan Banfield
Stay updated on pictures and progress by liking us on facebook and through our website www.walloonlakeinn.com
Anne Srigley, who owned the Silver Birch inn from 1971 to 1981, remembers that Jonathan Borisch's mother Sarah "Sally" Borisch lived for a short period of time at the Silver Birch Inn while she was writing her book The Protocol which was published in 1981. Perhaps Sally used the Silver Birch Inn as a type of literary retreat. AND, now it seems so fitting that after these many years, that in 2014, Sally's grandson Matt Borisch has purchased the Silver Birch Inn, and is remodeling it, so that others may use it as a resort/retreat beginning in 2014.
Photo Below: Taken while standing in front of Borisch's new Walloon Lake Inn
looking toward Borisch's also new Barrel Back Restaurant with the red awning.
looking toward Borisch's also new Barrel Back Restaurant with the red awning.
This Walloon Lake Wanderings website has an entire page dedicated to the Borisch Properties,
so new happenings regarding the Walloon Lake Inn will continue on the Borisch Properties webpage
on this same site.
so new happenings regarding the Walloon Lake Inn will continue on the Borisch Properties webpage
on this same site.
Linda Beier, with husband David Beier, "made their home in Walloon Lake
where they owned and operated the Walloon Lake Inn for the past three decades."
Linda passed away 9 June 2014.
where they owned and operated the Walloon Lake Inn for the past three decades."
Linda passed away 9 June 2014.