~ Ski Areas Near Walloon Lake ~
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1957
Beginnings of Walloon Hills
1959
Ski Areas Near Walloon Lake
THEN...
~ Walloon Hills Ski Area ~
NOW...
~ Challenge Mountain ~
AND...
Other Walloon Lake Associated Ski Areas
~ Thunder Mountain ~
~ Village Inn Lodge/Boyne Valley Lodge/Elvyn Lea Lodge ~
~ Walloon Hills Ski Area ~
NOW...
~ Challenge Mountain ~
AND...
Other Walloon Lake Associated Ski Areas
~ Thunder Mountain ~
~ Village Inn Lodge/Boyne Valley Lodge/Elvyn Lea Lodge ~
1957 ~ The custom order in France pomalift 220 feet long, had arrived and was being installed.
1957 Photo/Text Below:
Winter had finally arrived so out to enjoy the skiing were L>R:
Barbara Burns, Carolyn Smith, Pinky McCutcheon, Nancy Halstead.
Winter had finally arrived so out to enjoy the skiing were L>R:
Barbara Burns, Carolyn Smith, Pinky McCutcheon, Nancy Halstead.
Photo/Text Below: The Giant open fireplace was enjoyed by the skiers sitting on the surrounding wood benches.
From in front of the lodge shown in the photos above and below, the names of the hills from left to right were:
Tin Pan Alley, Old Smoky, Geronimo, Warpath, Eagle Pass, and the Beginners Area "Bunny Hill".
Tin Pan Alley, Old Smoky, Geronimo, Warpath, Eagle Pass, and the Beginners Area "Bunny Hill".
The 1963 map above showed the Walloon Hills Ski Area was located in Section 23 of Melrose Township Charlevoix County MI. The Walloon Hills Ski Area was located only a few miles southeast of the Village of Walloon Lake. The ski area was nurtured by men of Walloon Lake: Gerald Fineout (1923~1969), Don Barrett (passed away 21 October 2002), Cliff Gratsch (1920~2013) and Carl Calhoun (1932~2002). Their business venture grew the economy of Walloon Lake with the skiers staying at March's Motel (see THE MARCHES card at left), and even in rooms of nearby private homes. In later years Cliff Gratsch built and owned The Cliff Dweller very near to Boyne Mountain... on the road just off the highway, leading into Boyne Mountain.
The kitchen concession of the Walloon Lake Ski Area lodge was run for several years by Marion Starr. Marion hired workers as follows: Norm Stevens, Cathy Stevens, and Karla Howard. Did Rose Carmack, wife of the ski pro work as cashier at the food concession?
Buzz Vigneau was another manager of the kitchen area at Walloon Hills Ski Area. In later years, Buzz ran the A&W Root Beer Restaurant in Petoskey MI.
Blaine Rutledge ran the ski shop where name brand skiing related items could be purchased. Mary Erb was a clerk in Blaine's ski shop.
Ed Jensen worked as a lift operator, and also in the ski equipment rental shop which was located downstairs in the lodge.
At the top of one of the major ski hill runs rested an old bus seat. That seat was perfect, by resting the back ends of the skis into the snow, with the the fronts of the skis pointing straight up in the air. The seat was enjoyed by perusing the surrounding area's activities, and a great place to absorb the heat on sunny Winter days.
A 1962 Petoskey News Review article about "Area Ski Resorts" told about Walloon Hills: "Walloon Hills, east of Petoskey, boasts the largest Pomalift in the midwest. Carrying capacity at Walloon Hills is 2,000 skiers per hour." Besides the Pomalift, Walloon Hills also had a T-Bar lift, and, of course, rope tows, on the "bunny hills".
The kitchen concession of the Walloon Lake Ski Area lodge was run for several years by Marion Starr. Marion hired workers as follows: Norm Stevens, Cathy Stevens, and Karla Howard. Did Rose Carmack, wife of the ski pro work as cashier at the food concession?
Buzz Vigneau was another manager of the kitchen area at Walloon Hills Ski Area. In later years, Buzz ran the A&W Root Beer Restaurant in Petoskey MI.
Blaine Rutledge ran the ski shop where name brand skiing related items could be purchased. Mary Erb was a clerk in Blaine's ski shop.
Ed Jensen worked as a lift operator, and also in the ski equipment rental shop which was located downstairs in the lodge.
At the top of one of the major ski hill runs rested an old bus seat. That seat was perfect, by resting the back ends of the skis into the snow, with the the fronts of the skis pointing straight up in the air. The seat was enjoyed by perusing the surrounding area's activities, and a great place to absorb the heat on sunny Winter days.
A 1962 Petoskey News Review article about "Area Ski Resorts" told about Walloon Hills: "Walloon Hills, east of Petoskey, boasts the largest Pomalift in the midwest. Carrying capacity at Walloon Hills is 2,000 skiers per hour." Besides the Pomalift, Walloon Hills also had a T-Bar lift, and, of course, rope tows, on the "bunny hills".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the early 1960's, Tom and Madge Scroggie were celebrating their wedding anniversary. Their son-in-law was Gerald Fineout who was a part-owner of Walloon Hills, so their party was held at the Walloon Hills Ski Lodge. A movie of the party was digitized from film from an 8mm camera. It includes views of the ski hills out the windows as the camera pans the many Walloon Lake people attending the party. The movie is posted on the Residents page on this website under the Scroggie Family.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Everett Kircher purchased the original property for Boyne Mountain Ski Area in Boyne Falls MI from then Senator William Pearson for $1.00. William Pearson lived in the Boyne Falls area, and also lived some with his parents who lived in nearby Chandler Township. William Pearson owned plenty of land in Charlevoix County. Years later, after Everett Kircher had Boyne Mountain going well, Everett purchased Walloon Hills, and also Thunder Mountain Ski Area (also shown on the map above). Neither Walloon Hills, nor Thunder Mountain, stayed open very long after this purchase, and were soon closed. Walloon Hills opened up in 1984 as a 501(c)(3) organization "dedicated to enriching and improving lives for the mentally and physically challenged through outdoor recreation" Challenge Mountain of Walloon Hills
|
"Challenge Mountain provides its own operational support by owning and operating
two resale stores in Boyne City and Petoskey.
100% of all donated dollars go directly to program support. Volunteers who staff the stores are crucial to the mission of the organization. During July and August, 2011 a total of 64 people donated 2,481 hours of time!
The Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers,
focus on providing the recreation experiences for Challenge Mountain clients.
Those needs must be met with equipment and the overhead of the facilities."
two resale stores in Boyne City and Petoskey.
100% of all donated dollars go directly to program support. Volunteers who staff the stores are crucial to the mission of the organization. During July and August, 2011 a total of 64 people donated 2,481 hours of time!
The Board of Directors, Staff and Volunteers,
focus on providing the recreation experiences for Challenge Mountain clients.
Those needs must be met with equipment and the overhead of the facilities."
The 24 January 2015 Petoskey News Review article below gives
a history of the 30 Years of Operation of Challenge Mountain.
a history of the 30 Years of Operation of Challenge Mountain.
Click PLAY in the upper left corner to view the 31 January 2015 slide show of the
Challenge Montain Winterfest Celebration...former Walloon Hills
Challenge Montain Winterfest Celebration...former Walloon Hills
Published in the NY Times January 24, 2002:
"Everett Kircher, Ski Resort Owner, Dies at 85
Everett Kircher, who founded a ski empire that offered technical advances on the country's slopes, died on Jan. 16 at a hospital in Petoskey, Mich.
He was 85 and lived in Boyne Falls, Mich.
The cause was complications from kidney dialysis, his family said.
Mr. Kircher was also in the hotel business, as president of Boyne USA Resorts, a ski and golf business he founded in 1947 with a $1 investment in Michigan real estate. Over the years, he built it into the country's largest private group of ski resorts.
He introduced new methods of ski instruction, adapting some from Austria, along with innovations in artificial snow and in keeping it well groomed. He held a number of patents on equipment and techniques that will be used next month at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, including a snow maker for marginal temperatures.
As Boyne USA grew, Mr. Kircher broke new ground in 1965 -- turning the core business into an all-seasons operation with golf links, hotels and cross-country trails beckoning hikers. Boyne USA draws vacationers to locations including Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands in Michigan; Big Sky in Montana; Gatlinburg Skylift in Tennessee; Crystal Mountain Resort near Seattle; and most recently, Cypress Mountain resort near Vancouver, British Columbia.
Everett Kircher was born in St. Louis. His family moved to Detroit when he was an infant, his father landing a job with the Ford Motor Company at $5 a week. As a young man, he studied for a year at the University of Michigan, quitting to help the family run a car dealership and repair shop.
Moving north in Michigan, he spent $1 for the land on which he developed what is now Boyne Mountain. He also bought one of the earliest chairlifts ever built, bringing it from Sun Valley, Idaho, and acquired what would become Boyne Highlands.
At those two areas he installed the first triple chairlift in 1964, the first four-seater in 1969 and a high-speed detachable four-chair lift in 1990. Boyne Mountain introduced the country's first six-seater high-speed chairlift in 1992.
His snow maker for marginal temperatures combined small amounts of air and electricity with lots of water to save energy and produce snow efficiently without a lot of noise. He brought the former Olympians Stein Erickson and Othmar Schneider to lead the ski school at Boyne Mountain.
His desire to keep his staff between ski season inspired Mr. Kircher to lure golfers. Using a family farm tractor, he carved out a nine-hole layout at the foot of Boyne Mountain Lodge.
One thing led to another, and he engaged the golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. to design the 18-hole Heather course that made Boyne Highlands a year-round resort in 1970. Boyne now features eight championship courses, one designed by Arnold Palmer at Big Sky.
Mr. Kircher is survived by his wife, Lois Moore Kircher; two sons, John E., of Enumclaw, Wash., the manager of Boyne's Western operations, and Stephen M., of Walloon Lake, Mich., his counterpart in the East; two daughters, Amy Kircher Prang, of Naples, Fla., head of Boyne South, and Kathryn L. Kircher of Harbor Springs, Mich., whose designer group outfits all Boyne interiors; and five grandchildren.
Mr. Kircher established a ski area for the handicapped. He was a sportsman who loved to fish and to pilot jet aircraft. In his autobiography he wrote, ''I'd rather be known as a great fly fisherman.''
Photo: Everett Kircher in 1964 at Boyne Mountain Resort in Michigan. He bought the land for $1, over time creating a private group of ski resorts."
"Everett Kircher, Ski Resort Owner, Dies at 85
Everett Kircher, who founded a ski empire that offered technical advances on the country's slopes, died on Jan. 16 at a hospital in Petoskey, Mich.
He was 85 and lived in Boyne Falls, Mich.
The cause was complications from kidney dialysis, his family said.
Mr. Kircher was also in the hotel business, as president of Boyne USA Resorts, a ski and golf business he founded in 1947 with a $1 investment in Michigan real estate. Over the years, he built it into the country's largest private group of ski resorts.
He introduced new methods of ski instruction, adapting some from Austria, along with innovations in artificial snow and in keeping it well groomed. He held a number of patents on equipment and techniques that will be used next month at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, including a snow maker for marginal temperatures.
As Boyne USA grew, Mr. Kircher broke new ground in 1965 -- turning the core business into an all-seasons operation with golf links, hotels and cross-country trails beckoning hikers. Boyne USA draws vacationers to locations including Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands in Michigan; Big Sky in Montana; Gatlinburg Skylift in Tennessee; Crystal Mountain Resort near Seattle; and most recently, Cypress Mountain resort near Vancouver, British Columbia.
Everett Kircher was born in St. Louis. His family moved to Detroit when he was an infant, his father landing a job with the Ford Motor Company at $5 a week. As a young man, he studied for a year at the University of Michigan, quitting to help the family run a car dealership and repair shop.
Moving north in Michigan, he spent $1 for the land on which he developed what is now Boyne Mountain. He also bought one of the earliest chairlifts ever built, bringing it from Sun Valley, Idaho, and acquired what would become Boyne Highlands.
At those two areas he installed the first triple chairlift in 1964, the first four-seater in 1969 and a high-speed detachable four-chair lift in 1990. Boyne Mountain introduced the country's first six-seater high-speed chairlift in 1992.
His snow maker for marginal temperatures combined small amounts of air and electricity with lots of water to save energy and produce snow efficiently without a lot of noise. He brought the former Olympians Stein Erickson and Othmar Schneider to lead the ski school at Boyne Mountain.
His desire to keep his staff between ski season inspired Mr. Kircher to lure golfers. Using a family farm tractor, he carved out a nine-hole layout at the foot of Boyne Mountain Lodge.
One thing led to another, and he engaged the golf course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. to design the 18-hole Heather course that made Boyne Highlands a year-round resort in 1970. Boyne now features eight championship courses, one designed by Arnold Palmer at Big Sky.
Mr. Kircher is survived by his wife, Lois Moore Kircher; two sons, John E., of Enumclaw, Wash., the manager of Boyne's Western operations, and Stephen M., of Walloon Lake, Mich., his counterpart in the East; two daughters, Amy Kircher Prang, of Naples, Fla., head of Boyne South, and Kathryn L. Kircher of Harbor Springs, Mich., whose designer group outfits all Boyne interiors; and five grandchildren.
Mr. Kircher established a ski area for the handicapped. He was a sportsman who loved to fish and to pilot jet aircraft. In his autobiography he wrote, ''I'd rather be known as a great fly fisherman.''
Photo: Everett Kircher in 1964 at Boyne Mountain Resort in Michigan. He bought the land for $1, over time creating a private group of ski resorts."
BACK IN THE DAY ~ ON THE HILLS
James C. Whitfield, Sr., related that it was back in January of 1930 that he made a winter visit with two friends, Don Demling and Hod Usner, to the Whitfield's Walloon Lake cottage, before they had decided to make it a year around home:
"… Skiing was just becoming popular so I sent to Monkey Wards for a set of maple skis and one pole. Never having been on skis before I considered one pole to be sufficient. You could take a header with one as well as you could with two poles.
…Coming back to the Lake we considered the first item for the day was to try out those skis and find out how they worked. As the cottage sits on an eight foot bluff above the lake, that was the ideal place for our first trail. That looked awfully steep from the vantage point of being mounted on those unfamiliar skis, but when I did push off the loose snow in front of the skis slowed me down so that the terrific speed I expected just wasn't there. We all tried it with much the same results. Then I thought of the BIG HILL on the road just back of Bob Adams cottage. That would do just fine as we always during the summer had commented on what a fine ski hill that ought to make, so we waded through all that snow and climbed up Adams hill. It proved to be a very long slope, but wasn't as steep as I had remembered it from summertime, but it was better than our front bank. That still wasn't what I wanted. Here we were in Michigan with all those high hills, now I should be able to come up with something worth while. Then I thought of Clyde Kent, who lived on a farm near Clarion. That was a hilly place and I was sure we'd find something interesting there.
So we drove over to Kent's and sure enough Clyde had a tremendous hill out back of his house which would provide a very long run clear across one of his fields, through a fence and down to the township dump. He even offered to go out and cut a couple of barbed wires so we might do the full bit. Clyde was a good sport and turned out to be one of my best friends. That hill was a DOOZY and the best place to ski we had found and the only trouble was it was tough climbing back up to the top for another run. But it was sure lots of fun and we all skied down and climbed back up many times before we elected to go back to 'BUENA VISTA' (Name of the Whitfield's cottage). The house was as cold as when we had first arrived and we had to stoke up the fires all over again.
The next day we went over to town again and this time I bought some boards and some sheets of galvanized iron which we brought home and I proceeded to make a TOBOGGAN and this would be big enough for all three of us to ride on so none of us would have to wait his turn on the skis. I nailed the boards together and used the galvanized iron to sheath the bottom and to turn up in front like the pictures I'd seen of regular wooden toboggans. It all worked out pretty good and the metal on the bottom made the toboggan go like the DEVIL. We took it over to Kent's hill and had as much fun out of it as if it had cost a fortune. The only bad part of this fun escapade was that we had to drag that heavy thing through the deep snow all the way to the top of the hill each time we went for a ride. There was a big bump right at the bottom of the run and on our last slide down we hit that and I leaned back to try and ease myself but instead of as we went over the bump I heard a loud CRACK and I felt as though my back was broken. I laid still for a few minutes, but then discovered I was all in one piece after all, so joined the others in getting all our possessions into the car. That was great fun and made all our work on that toboggan well worth while.
One evening we went over to the Winter Sports Park in Petoskey and took the toboggan along. We knew there were big hills in the park and thought we'd like to try them. It was early in the evening and not many people were about, so we stuck the toboggan in a snow bank while we looked around, expecting to come right back, but when we did return the toboggan was GONE! We had just had a taste of Petoskey's vandalism. We searched everywhere but could find no sign of it so, reluctantly three disgusted losers went home."
~ James C. Whitfield, Sr.
"… Skiing was just becoming popular so I sent to Monkey Wards for a set of maple skis and one pole. Never having been on skis before I considered one pole to be sufficient. You could take a header with one as well as you could with two poles.
…Coming back to the Lake we considered the first item for the day was to try out those skis and find out how they worked. As the cottage sits on an eight foot bluff above the lake, that was the ideal place for our first trail. That looked awfully steep from the vantage point of being mounted on those unfamiliar skis, but when I did push off the loose snow in front of the skis slowed me down so that the terrific speed I expected just wasn't there. We all tried it with much the same results. Then I thought of the BIG HILL on the road just back of Bob Adams cottage. That would do just fine as we always during the summer had commented on what a fine ski hill that ought to make, so we waded through all that snow and climbed up Adams hill. It proved to be a very long slope, but wasn't as steep as I had remembered it from summertime, but it was better than our front bank. That still wasn't what I wanted. Here we were in Michigan with all those high hills, now I should be able to come up with something worth while. Then I thought of Clyde Kent, who lived on a farm near Clarion. That was a hilly place and I was sure we'd find something interesting there.
So we drove over to Kent's and sure enough Clyde had a tremendous hill out back of his house which would provide a very long run clear across one of his fields, through a fence and down to the township dump. He even offered to go out and cut a couple of barbed wires so we might do the full bit. Clyde was a good sport and turned out to be one of my best friends. That hill was a DOOZY and the best place to ski we had found and the only trouble was it was tough climbing back up to the top for another run. But it was sure lots of fun and we all skied down and climbed back up many times before we elected to go back to 'BUENA VISTA' (Name of the Whitfield's cottage). The house was as cold as when we had first arrived and we had to stoke up the fires all over again.
The next day we went over to town again and this time I bought some boards and some sheets of galvanized iron which we brought home and I proceeded to make a TOBOGGAN and this would be big enough for all three of us to ride on so none of us would have to wait his turn on the skis. I nailed the boards together and used the galvanized iron to sheath the bottom and to turn up in front like the pictures I'd seen of regular wooden toboggans. It all worked out pretty good and the metal on the bottom made the toboggan go like the DEVIL. We took it over to Kent's hill and had as much fun out of it as if it had cost a fortune. The only bad part of this fun escapade was that we had to drag that heavy thing through the deep snow all the way to the top of the hill each time we went for a ride. There was a big bump right at the bottom of the run and on our last slide down we hit that and I leaned back to try and ease myself but instead of as we went over the bump I heard a loud CRACK and I felt as though my back was broken. I laid still for a few minutes, but then discovered I was all in one piece after all, so joined the others in getting all our possessions into the car. That was great fun and made all our work on that toboggan well worth while.
One evening we went over to the Winter Sports Park in Petoskey and took the toboggan along. We knew there were big hills in the park and thought we'd like to try them. It was early in the evening and not many people were about, so we stuck the toboggan in a snow bank while we looked around, expecting to come right back, but when we did return the toboggan was GONE! We had just had a taste of Petoskey's vandalism. We searched everywhere but could find no sign of it so, reluctantly three disgusted losers went home."
~ James C. Whitfield, Sr.
Article Below: Walloon Hills was the setting for the second annual Mayhew - Jacuay Family Reunion.
"Back in the late 60’s, our Boy Scout Troop (#174) from Indianapolis, IN made multiple trips to northern Michigan to go skiing. Our first 2 or 3 trips were spent at Walloon Hills. I know for a fact that we skied at Walloon Hills two times. Thru our Fund-raiser, any Scout that sold 50 Christmas wreathes, earned a FREE trip to ski Up North. We would leave Indianapolis on Friday afternoon via a chartered Bus and arrive late Friday night or early Saturday morning. We would ski all day Saturday, a half of Sunday, and then get back on the Bus for Indianapolis. We stayed at the Walloon Lake Village INN. We loved swimming in the heated pool!! It was always great fun especially for me since our family had/has a home on Walloon Lake. Later, the Troop skied at Boyne Mountain and the Highlands.
The troop, still in existence, now travels to Colorado. The Scouts must sell 110 Xmas wreathes to earn a free ski trip these days."
The troop, still in existence, now travels to Colorado. The Scouts must sell 110 Xmas wreathes to earn a free ski trip these days."
David Jose, who in 2014, related the above information about the scout troop
coming to Walloon Hills and to the Walloon Lake Village Inn,
is the Great Grandson of Harry T. Hearsey who had a cottage on the North Shore of Walloon Lake.
History and a photo of the Village Inn Lodge/Boyne Valley Lodge/Elvyn Lea Lodge
can be viewed on that same webpage by scrolling to the bottom.
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coming to Walloon Hills and to the Walloon Lake Village Inn,
is the Great Grandson of Harry T. Hearsey who had a cottage on the North Shore of Walloon Lake.
History and a photo of the Village Inn Lodge/Boyne Valley Lodge/Elvyn Lea Lodge
can be viewed on that same webpage by scrolling to the bottom.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Photo Below Left: Scouting party, not from Indianapolis, but from surrounding cities,
was held at the Walloon Hills Ski Lodge.
Photo Below Right: The Scouting group was waiting their turns on the Poma lift.
was held at the Walloon Hills Ski Lodge.
Photo Below Right: The Scouting group was waiting their turns on the Poma lift.
Postcard Above: On the side of a slope on Walloon Hills Ski Area with the lodge at the bottom of the hill in the background, stood L>R: Barb Burns, Pinky McCutcheon, Har McKinnon, Jim McClure Sr. (taught skiing), Varn Renwick, and Jim McClure, Jr.
Barb Burns and Pinky McCutcheon often skied and practiced at Walloon Hills Ski Area for various races. In the 17 April 1958 Otsego County Herald Times photo above Barb and Pinky, both of Walloon Lake, were at the top of a Boyne Mountain ski hill under the instruction of Harti Mayer for the Class "A" racing class.
Two Photos Above: Barrie McKinnon who is in both photos remembers the lift operator's first name as Ed (so maybe Ed Jensen?) helping with the poma lift in front of the Walloon Hills Ski Lodge. It was Spring, thus the bermuda shorts that Barb Burns and Barrie McKinnon wore, and (photo right) the silly hats which made Barrie's sister Judy laugh. Notice the laced up ski boots.
Will Splan had ties with Walloon Lake, by not only working for the Walloon Lake Yacht Club Association at "The Foot", but Will also coached the Petoskey High School Ski Team which used Walloon Hills as its base ski area for practices and meets. The Petoskey High School has honored various contributing area citizens by inducting them into the Athletic Hall of Fame. The photo above shows a portion of the honors attributed to Will Splan, including a photo of his 1960 ski team girls: Judy Keifer, Barb Burns, Carol Bates, and Pinky McCutcheon... who did their practicing and racing at Walloon Hills Ski Area.
Upon learning of Will Splan's passing, Pinky McCutcheon wrote: "We really adored our coach [Splan]. It's hard to believe the ski team was the only girls' team in 1960. His wife [Pat] knit hats for the girls, which was such a sweet thing to do. I don't think we ever met her, but I still have the hat. Since our record was better than the boys' record that year, he honored us by presenting Carol, Barb, and me with letters. How things have changed. Look at all the female athletes now. Bit by bit. Pinky" |
After Will Splan coached the Petoskey High School Ski Team, Alden "Al" Howard (Machine Shop Teacher) became the coach. Al was the coach when Karla Howard was on the ski team. That year, the PHS girls' ski team came in third in the State of Michigan. Walloon Hills Ski Area was still the base for Petoskey High School Ski Team practices and meets.
The article below told about
Karla Howard, and others, earning the PHS Ski Letter like the ski letter above. |
Walloon Hills hosted some important ski events like the
CUSSA Junior Alpine Championships which was won by Bill Shorter in the class 1 downhill category as in the photo above. |
Gloria Gillett went on to be chosen the 1963 Michigan Winter Queen.
Photo Below: Marilyn Green was Miss Walloon Hills for Unknown Year???
Photos Below: From Greenwood Photo Archive Collection from Petoskey Newpaper (January 1967)...
~ Boyne Country Names Heads for Walloon Hills and Thunder Mountain ~
1967
1967 Tom Gratsch 0f Walloon Lake prepared to leave for Stowe, Vermont, and the USSA Nathionals.
Obituary Below: Gerald Fineout, an original founder of Walloon Hills, passed away 23 April 1969.
~ Everett Kircher Michigan's Resort Pioneer ~
Everett Kircher wrote, in 1998, the foreword to the book Everett Kircher Michigan's Resort Pioneer about his various ski/golf resorts. Much of the book is in Everett's own words, or the words of his friends. Everett was an entrepreneurial visionary, in the ski/golf industry for Northern Michigan. He began his first ski area at Boyne Mountain in 1947. In 2014, Everett's ski/golf resorts continue to be in the list of largest employers in the area with Boyne Mountain (Boyne Falls) and Boyne Highlands (Harbor Springs) as a part of his family's other facilites across the U.S. under the umbrella of Boyne USA Enterprises. In his own words, in his book on pages 86 and 87, Everett told about Walloon Hills and Thunder Mountain after his acquisition of both ski areas: "Avalanche (Boyne City), Walloon Hills and Thunder Mountain all lived on the financial edge. Although they enjoyed local patronage, they didn't have the capital to keep up with the demands of the more sophisticated skier. They had to offer much lower lift ticket rates to attract enough skiers to break even or turn a modest profit, and a poor snow season really hurt. But those skiers always looking for the lowest prices - and there are thousands of them, believe me - were the ones that kept them afloat.... Walloon Hills and Thunder Mountain had been started by former employees of Boyne after securing an SBA loan. I made separate bids to buy each one, offering $500,000 for each. The principals were happy to sell... Walloon Hills was a nice little ski area, popular with families. We removed their double chair and installed a quad and surface tows, as we had done at Thunder. At Walloon we also expanded the lodge. But after the record ski season of 1968, skiing plateaued and then bottomed out. The continued expansion of runs and lifts at the Mountain and the Highlands made Walloon and Thunder redundant. After removing the lifts, we donated Walloon to a non-profit group to run as a recreation area for the physically and mentally disadvantaged. It's now called Challenge Mountain. My wife, Lois, was one of the founders of the organization, and Boyne helps to support it with proceeds from a share of the revenue of the Jimmy Huega Express that we sponsor annually at Boyne Mountain." Multitudes of people can be grateful to Everett Kircher for not only providing tremendous and exciting recreational areas, but also for the jobs created by Everett's resorts and thus provided to many residents in Northern Michigan, including residents of Walloon Lake where Everett's wife Lois, and son Stephen's family currently reside in 2014. LATER UPDATE: Lois since has passed away. Article Right: The Petoskey Evening News in 1948 reported the beginning construction of Boyne Mountain, and provides an early overview of the that timeframe. |
1972 ~ Boy Scouts of America Camporee Held on Walloon Hills Property
1978 Article Below: Don Barrett formerly of Walloon Hills Ski Area new inside manager for Nubs Nob
Workers At Walloon Hills
Bob Bryant ~ Ski School Director (See sign in photos below)
Robert Cammack ~ Ski Pro Rose Cammack ~ Kitchen (Wife of Ski Pro) Larry Carriage ~ Job? Bob Depevine ~ National Patroller Peirce Erb ~ Head of Ski Patrol Karla Howard ~ Kitchen Cashier John Jarema ~ Lift Operator Ed Jensen ~ Lift Operator or Ski Repair Shop? Mose Matthews ~ Job? Jim McClure Sr. ~ Taught skiing Bob Peck ~ Ski Repair Shop Marion Starr ~ Kitchen Manager Cathy Stevens ~ Kitchen Norm Stevens ~ Kitchen Buzz Vigneau ~ Kitchen Manager |
The cartoon character skiing the slopes on the Walloon Hills Ski Area patch was Wally Walloonatic.
The photos below were taken 1 March 2014 of a memorabilia display that hangs in the lodge of Walloon Hills, now Challenge Mountain.
(Photos taken and submitted by Dennis Phelps)
The photos below were taken 1 March 2014 of a memorabilia display that hangs in the lodge of Walloon Hills, now Challenge Mountain.
(Photos taken and submitted by Dennis Phelps)
The September 2009 Skiing Heritage magazine had an article titled: "The Short, Happy Ski Life of Ernest Hemingway" about the eventual famed author and his stint with skiing. Although Ernest Hemingway's family had a summer cottage on Walloon Lake it was "not until the winter of 1922, at the age of 23 after Hemingway and Hadley, his bride of three months, had arrived in Europe that he tried skiing for the first time. The article includes several photos of Ernest Hemingway on skis.
~ Thunder Mountain, nearby to Walloon Hills Ski Area ~
Dorian "Dee" Adgate passed away 15 October 2005 at his Walloon Lake home. His obituary stated the following: "In an incredible feat of entrepreneurial daring, Dee acquired almost 200 acres of wilderness in the easter part of Charlevoix County in 1956, and moved his young family north to start the Thunder Mountain ski resort, which he successfully operated until 1967, when the resort was sold to the Boyne USA family of resorts. Dee's vision and management style created a friendly atmosphere which combined with the challenging hill, made Thunder Mountain a favorite among locals and skiers from around the state alike.
In the early 1960s, Dee managed the historic Walloon Lake summer resort, Shadow Trails Inn. After leaving the ski business, Dee became a real estate broker, first for Gerald Fineout Realtors in Walloon Lake, and then with his own company, Dorian G. Adgate Realtors in Boyne City, until his retirement in 1985. |
Article Below: One of the unique skiing areas in the State of Michigan is seeking to be associated more with Gaylord as a center the sport, according to one of its prime shareholders, D.C. Adgate.... it is owned by not one, two or three skiers, but lots of them.
Thunder Mountain was incorporated last October by Joe Behse, and D.C. Adgate, two young skiers who have also been in the real estate business in the Lansing area.... They decided incorporation held the key to their expansion plans.
The Thunder Mountain area comprises 180 acres of what was formerly state land traded by Behsse for some private land elsewhere.
Thunder Mountain was incorporated last October by Joe Behse, and D.C. Adgate, two young skiers who have also been in the real estate business in the Lansing area.... They decided incorporation held the key to their expansion plans.
The Thunder Mountain area comprises 180 acres of what was formerly state land traded by Behsse for some private land elsewhere.
As noted in the 1956 Otsego County Herald Times news article below titled "New Ski Area To Be Opened": Mr. and Mrs. Behse, owners of Thunder Mountain, a ski area nearby to Walloon Hills Ski Area, "will be living in a furnished home on Walloon Lake, where they will 'commute' to their ski area located about five miles east of Boyne Falls."
On 13 March 2015 Joe and Donna Behse's son Bill blogged about the beginnings of Thunder Mountain which coincides with the 20 December 1956 Otsego County Herald Times article posted above. It is interesting to note from Bill Behse's blog that his mother Donna is living in Kimberley Canada, although his father Joe passed away several years ago. Bill's blog is posted on the MILSAP webpage for Thunder Mountain - Boyne Falls, Charlevoix Co.
MILSAP is the Michigan Lost Ski Areas Project.
MILSAP is the Michigan Lost Ski Areas Project.
Thunder Village
1966 Article Above Right: "A chalet village known as Thunder Village is being developed this fall which overlooks the slopes at Thunder Mountain. The development is for family year-around recreational use. In the winter time it is a short walk to the ski slopes at Thunder Mountain and being centered in thousands of acres of State Northern Michigan forest area, it provides four season activities, including hunting, fishing, hiking, horse back riding, mushroom and berry picking, etc. A unique factor of this development is that a two acre parcel located in the center of the subdivision will be jointly owned, and thus developed and controlled by the chalet owners for recreational purposes."
1972 Article Below:
Boyne Country, owner-operator of five ski areas in Northern Michigan, has announced
an expansion program at Thunder Mountain and Walloon Hills
Boyne Country, owner-operator of five ski areas in Northern Michigan, has announced
an expansion program at Thunder Mountain and Walloon Hills
The article below was in a 20 December 1973 supplement titled "Shake Shingle" in Gaylord's newspaper Otsego County Herald Times. Being a Gaylord paper, the emphasis of the article provided a wonderful overview of all of the Gaylord area ski facilities. Of course, Everett Kircher's Boyne Country was included along with Walloon Hills, and Thunder Mountain.
The photo above and the photo left accompanied a 5 January 2018 Petoskey News Review article about Olympic skier Cary Adgate, son of Thunder Mountain co-owner/developer in Thunder Mountain's earliest years. Cary Adgate was inducted into the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in Ishpeming. Cary's training grounds had been at Thunder Mountain and Boyne Mountain. The Petoskey News Review reported, “The 64-year-old who competed in both the 1976 Games in Innsbruck, Austria, and ‘80 Olympics in Lake Placid — and was the top American finisher at 13th in slalom in ‘76 — is still active in the sport as a coach and as a fan.
His international career began before he graduated from Boyne City in 1971 when he captured the Junior Nationals and placed second in an international field in an FIS slalom in 1970 at Boyne Mountain.
He then joined the University of Colorado ski team and helped the Buffalos earn the NCAA title in 1972. Adgate then earned a spot on the U.S. Ski Team in ‘72 and ‘73, was the Can-Am (now known as NorAm) over- all champion. He also captured the downhill and overall titles in the prestigious Roch Cup in Aspen, joining the likes of event winners Stein Eriksen, Jean-Claude Killy, Billy Kidd and Jimmie Heuga.
Adgate went on to become a six-time U.S. National alpine champion in the slalom and combined, was a member of the 1974 and ‘78 FIS teams as well as the Olympic Games in ‘76 and ‘80. He had five top-five finishes and 14 top-10 World Cup finishes before retiring from the U.S. Ski Team at the end of the 1980 season.”
Adgate continues to enjoy the sport of skiing through coaching, training, and watching skiing. He enjoys skiing with his family, and appreciates the new technology and equipment of the sport.
His international career began before he graduated from Boyne City in 1971 when he captured the Junior Nationals and placed second in an international field in an FIS slalom in 1970 at Boyne Mountain.
He then joined the University of Colorado ski team and helped the Buffalos earn the NCAA title in 1972. Adgate then earned a spot on the U.S. Ski Team in ‘72 and ‘73, was the Can-Am (now known as NorAm) over- all champion. He also captured the downhill and overall titles in the prestigious Roch Cup in Aspen, joining the likes of event winners Stein Eriksen, Jean-Claude Killy, Billy Kidd and Jimmie Heuga.
Adgate went on to become a six-time U.S. National alpine champion in the slalom and combined, was a member of the 1974 and ‘78 FIS teams as well as the Olympic Games in ‘76 and ‘80. He had five top-five finishes and 14 top-10 World Cup finishes before retiring from the U.S. Ski Team at the end of the 1980 season.”
Adgate continues to enjoy the sport of skiing through coaching, training, and watching skiing. He enjoys skiing with his family, and appreciates the new technology and equipment of the sport.
Three Photos Below taken 12 August 2018:
Thunder Mountain (Lodge no longer exists)
Village Inn Lodge/Boyne Valley Lodge/Elvyn Lea Lodge
(And Ski Area; in the Early Years of the Facility)
~ Nearby to The Foot at Walloon Lake ~
Photo Below Left: The McKinnon house was built by local builder Burt Burns.
Just about a mile past the bridge, at The Foot of Walloon Lake, was a ski lodge/inn on the left hand side of the road. At its beginnings, in the late 1950s, the Village Inn Lodge and Ski Area owned by Har and Ev McKinnon hosted ski groups only. The lodgers had access to food on the premises, served only to them. The restaurant and the lodge were not open to people just walking in off the street. The skiing lodgers also enjoyed one ski slope which Har had prepared behind the Village Inn Lodge with its own Poma Lift. Lodgers also ventured off to other local ski areas, like Har McKinnon who is pictured in the postcard shown higher above on this webpage, with other people lined up on the Walloon Hills Ski Area slope. ASIDE about McMinnon's vehicles: Mrs. M. drove a pink Cadillac, and her folks drove a white Cadillac. Their daughter Berrie drove a green Jeep, and later a little red sport car.
When John and Jeanne Buick owned the lodge, they also had a canoe rental business there, and used to lead canoe trips.
All that remains of the Poma Lift in 2014 is a concrete slab that was a part of the Poma Lift operation. The existing 44 acres at Elvyn Lea Lodge do remain lovely and may be extensively enjoyed from 2.5 miles of existing trails (as in the photo above left), open to use by the lodgers.
When John and Jeanne Buick owned the lodge, they also had a canoe rental business there, and used to lead canoe trips.
All that remains of the Poma Lift in 2014 is a concrete slab that was a part of the Poma Lift operation. The existing 44 acres at Elvyn Lea Lodge do remain lovely and may be extensively enjoyed from 2.5 miles of existing trails (as in the photo above left), open to use by the lodgers.
Article Below Left: John and Jeanne Buick bought the Village Inn from Har and Evelyn McKinnon.
1969
Article Below Right: Dave and Vicki Williamson bought the Village Inn from John Buick.
1976
(Still had a pool in 1976... pool was filled in sometime later.)
1969
Article Below Right: Dave and Vicki Williamson bought the Village Inn from John Buick.
1976
(Still had a pool in 1976... pool was filled in sometime later.)
Articles Above and Below: During the Baic ownership time of Boyne Valley Lodge, various athletic activities were hosted. In 2001 a task force of a chapter of the American Red Cross was training for Aquatics Safety at the Boyne Valley Lodge. A soccer field had been prepared for use during local area soccer tournaments.
Historical Timeline of Owners of Village Inn Lodge/Boyne Valley Lodge/Elvyn Lea Lodge
Har and Ev McKinnon (Built the lodge, ski area, and nearby home in 1957) Moved to Maine in 1969.
John and Jeanne Buick (1969)
Dave and Vicki Williamson (1976)
Various other owners including: Greg and Anne Billiard, John and Suzanne McClure, Gordy and Julie Wolgamott
Nick and Anne Baic (Early 1990s ~ Owned the lodge for over 20 years)
Michael and Monica Farrier (Purchased in Fall 2013 and changed the name to Elvyn Lea Lodge)
2023 ~ No longer used as a Lodge
David Rentschler sold to below "team"
Four on the team: Diego Reyes (Connecticut), and Gabriel Weinert (CA) are the main guys. The two local contacts include Jeff Kuhn, who has restored a cluster of 8-9 small homes called Windcrest on M75 just east of the Township Hall. And John Gibbs, a Harbor Springs resident
John and Jeanne Buick (1969)
Dave and Vicki Williamson (1976)
Various other owners including: Greg and Anne Billiard, John and Suzanne McClure, Gordy and Julie Wolgamott
Nick and Anne Baic (Early 1990s ~ Owned the lodge for over 20 years)
Michael and Monica Farrier (Purchased in Fall 2013 and changed the name to Elvyn Lea Lodge)
2023 ~ No longer used as a Lodge
David Rentschler sold to below "team"
Four on the team: Diego Reyes (Connecticut), and Gabriel Weinert (CA) are the main guys. The two local contacts include Jeff Kuhn, who has restored a cluster of 8-9 small homes called Windcrest on M75 just east of the Township Hall. And John Gibbs, a Harbor Springs resident
Seasons of Elvyn Lea
(Video)
Click HERE to access article about "New Owners Rechristen Walloon Lake Lodge"
(Video)
Click HERE to access article about "New Owners Rechristen Walloon Lake Lodge"
Elvyn Lea Lodge
History & Current Vision
History & Current Vision
Originally the Village Inn, the lodge was designed and built by Har (Harland) McKinnon in 1957 and operated as a ski lodge, serving groups from Detroit and Chicago mostly on weekends in the winter. There was a ski hill on site with a Poma Lift, and its cement block foundation can still be seen on the far side of the lodge near the entrance to the event lawn. In summer, water skiing, skin diving, and archery were among the offerings. Originally there were two wings on the building, and the pool wing was added within a year or two afterward. Har, his wife Ev (Evelyn), and their two daughters Judy and Barrie previously lived in Florida, where they owned a motel, though they had previous ties to northern Michigan through family. The McKinnons hosted prime rib dinners with live bands on Saturday nights. Early brochures state capacity at 120 or more, and on some winter weekends there were so many guests that room had to be made for them in the upstairs of the adjacent house. Barrie McKinnon now lives in Texas and has been helpful in providing details via email about the first years here. Barrie kept a horse in a barn behind the house, and the family also had a sweet poodle (Fifi), a Norwegian Elkhound (Riksmaal), a naughty Irish Setter, and a couple of semi-tame deer on the grounds. Later, she and her husband Jim drove in to run the inn on the weekends when they were both students in Marquette.
One day, as Jeanne and John Buick were going about their separate tasks, each noticed a half page ad in the Wall Street Journal about an inn for sale in northern Michigan. The Buicks purchased the property in 1969. They lived here with their young family and continued to serve ski groups like the Blizzard Ski Club. The Buicks also started a canoe livery and offered packaged trips on the Jordan and Bear rivers. They hosted a New Year’s Eve Challenge and held auditions for musical performers. Many musicians in northern Michigan recall playing here in those days. Formerly a high school English teacher, Jeanne enjoyed working with teens and the couple began to serve youth groups at the lodge.
The Buicks sold the property to Vicki and Dave Williamson in 1976 as John Buick transitioned into selling real estate full time. The Williamsons continued with the ski and canoe businesses, and it is our understanding that they also built the athletic field, now our event lawn, for sports and band camps. At some point the name changed from the Village Inn to the Boyne Valley Lodge, though we are not yet certain of the circumstances or timing.
Several other owners and innkeepers followed the Williamsons, including Greg Billiard, Suzanne and John McClure, and Julie and Gordy Wolgamott. Details about this period are less clear, and we are still researching dates and the succession of owners.
Anne and Nick Baic purchased the lodge in the early 1990s. The Baics operated the business for over twenty years, building a loyal clientele with their friendly service. Nick’s expertise in cross-country skiing and soccer drew athletic groups, and band camps, families, and ski groups returned to the lodge year after year. We purchased the property from the Baics in the fall of 2013.
We are fortunate that so many former owners have been willing to share information with us as we learn about the history of the property. Barrie McKinnon, Jeanne Buick, and Nick and Anne Baic have all been generous and patient with us, taking time to answer question after question about the past. Local historian Karla Buckmaster is a treasure for our area. Karla shares her rich body of knowledge about northern Michigan via her websites, and through her friend Rosemary Renwick we were able to connect with Barrie McKinnon. Rosemary recalls that the McKinnon family hosted a Hawaiian style luau with a full cooked pig for all of the community when the lodge first opened, and Karla remembers serving food at the lodge when the McKinnon family still owned it. Personal stories demonstrate the interconnected nature of our community and add meaning to the property for all of us. The process of assembling them is ongoing, and we welcome input from others who have stories and photos to share of their times here.
Through the years, each of the owners has added a chapter in the story of the lodge. We value the past, yet see the need for change. As we begin the next chapter, we are reaching out to new groups, focusing on potential guests who will appreciate the natural beauty of the lodge and property, its close proximity to local amenities, and the unique ability we have to serve individual groups exclusively in a communal environment that is private and conducive to learning and relationship building. The property is well suited for educational programs for writers, artists, historians, naturalists, academics, and others seeking an authentic northern Michigan experience. It continues to be an ideal gathering place for extended families and friends. In anticipation of serving more adult and multi-generational groups, we have reconfigured some rooms to include queen beds, and are in the process of completing a private room with a king size bed. Bunk beds continue to offer a good value for children or adults wanting to allocate available funds to programs and services. Dogs are welcome in some rooms and on our trails.
Rather than attempting to compete on price, our focus is on providing value and memorable experiences for our guests. While past owners have offered inclusive pricing (per person rates including lodging and meals), we have made the move to per room pricing with breakfast included in the room rate. For groups wanting additional meals, these can be provided with separate pricing. We are working to improve food offerings to include more locally sourced, healthy options, and are also introducing services such as massage therapy and yoga. We anticipate that summer will be our busiest season, a reversal from early days here when ski lodging was the primary business. The former athletic field and trails present new opportunities for family and community events, from weddings to concerts and outdoor summer theater.
Moving forward, we welcome feedback from our guests and the local community to guide us on the road ahead. This is a place that was built to be shared. Since Har McKinnon’s original vision became a reality, thousands of visitors have enjoyed this property, and we are eager to introduce it to still more. We are grateful to be the newest stewards of the lodge and property.
Michael & Monica Farrier
May 2014
One day, as Jeanne and John Buick were going about their separate tasks, each noticed a half page ad in the Wall Street Journal about an inn for sale in northern Michigan. The Buicks purchased the property in 1969. They lived here with their young family and continued to serve ski groups like the Blizzard Ski Club. The Buicks also started a canoe livery and offered packaged trips on the Jordan and Bear rivers. They hosted a New Year’s Eve Challenge and held auditions for musical performers. Many musicians in northern Michigan recall playing here in those days. Formerly a high school English teacher, Jeanne enjoyed working with teens and the couple began to serve youth groups at the lodge.
The Buicks sold the property to Vicki and Dave Williamson in 1976 as John Buick transitioned into selling real estate full time. The Williamsons continued with the ski and canoe businesses, and it is our understanding that they also built the athletic field, now our event lawn, for sports and band camps. At some point the name changed from the Village Inn to the Boyne Valley Lodge, though we are not yet certain of the circumstances or timing.
Several other owners and innkeepers followed the Williamsons, including Greg Billiard, Suzanne and John McClure, and Julie and Gordy Wolgamott. Details about this period are less clear, and we are still researching dates and the succession of owners.
Anne and Nick Baic purchased the lodge in the early 1990s. The Baics operated the business for over twenty years, building a loyal clientele with their friendly service. Nick’s expertise in cross-country skiing and soccer drew athletic groups, and band camps, families, and ski groups returned to the lodge year after year. We purchased the property from the Baics in the fall of 2013.
We are fortunate that so many former owners have been willing to share information with us as we learn about the history of the property. Barrie McKinnon, Jeanne Buick, and Nick and Anne Baic have all been generous and patient with us, taking time to answer question after question about the past. Local historian Karla Buckmaster is a treasure for our area. Karla shares her rich body of knowledge about northern Michigan via her websites, and through her friend Rosemary Renwick we were able to connect with Barrie McKinnon. Rosemary recalls that the McKinnon family hosted a Hawaiian style luau with a full cooked pig for all of the community when the lodge first opened, and Karla remembers serving food at the lodge when the McKinnon family still owned it. Personal stories demonstrate the interconnected nature of our community and add meaning to the property for all of us. The process of assembling them is ongoing, and we welcome input from others who have stories and photos to share of their times here.
Through the years, each of the owners has added a chapter in the story of the lodge. We value the past, yet see the need for change. As we begin the next chapter, we are reaching out to new groups, focusing on potential guests who will appreciate the natural beauty of the lodge and property, its close proximity to local amenities, and the unique ability we have to serve individual groups exclusively in a communal environment that is private and conducive to learning and relationship building. The property is well suited for educational programs for writers, artists, historians, naturalists, academics, and others seeking an authentic northern Michigan experience. It continues to be an ideal gathering place for extended families and friends. In anticipation of serving more adult and multi-generational groups, we have reconfigured some rooms to include queen beds, and are in the process of completing a private room with a king size bed. Bunk beds continue to offer a good value for children or adults wanting to allocate available funds to programs and services. Dogs are welcome in some rooms and on our trails.
Rather than attempting to compete on price, our focus is on providing value and memorable experiences for our guests. While past owners have offered inclusive pricing (per person rates including lodging and meals), we have made the move to per room pricing with breakfast included in the room rate. For groups wanting additional meals, these can be provided with separate pricing. We are working to improve food offerings to include more locally sourced, healthy options, and are also introducing services such as massage therapy and yoga. We anticipate that summer will be our busiest season, a reversal from early days here when ski lodging was the primary business. The former athletic field and trails present new opportunities for family and community events, from weddings to concerts and outdoor summer theater.
Moving forward, we welcome feedback from our guests and the local community to guide us on the road ahead. This is a place that was built to be shared. Since Har McKinnon’s original vision became a reality, thousands of visitors have enjoyed this property, and we are eager to introduce it to still more. We are grateful to be the newest stewards of the lodge and property.
Michael & Monica Farrier
May 2014
While, in 2014, the Elvyn Lea Lodge no longer had the ski hill and poma lift on the back hill, the lodge continued to be operated year around for family reunions, workshops, retreats, weddings, and community events.
Elvyn Lea Lodge Dedication Ceremony
with Michael and Monica Farrier, stewards of the Elvyn Lea property
~ 4 May 2014 ~
Heather Huffstutler of the Walloon Lake Trust and Conservancy
led the Springtime Walk during the dedication event.
(Enjoy the Dedication Day by playing the slideshow below; Click PLAY in upper left corner.)
with Michael and Monica Farrier, stewards of the Elvyn Lea property
~ 4 May 2014 ~
Heather Huffstutler of the Walloon Lake Trust and Conservancy
led the Springtime Walk during the dedication event.
(Enjoy the Dedication Day by playing the slideshow below; Click PLAY in upper left corner.)
Aerial Video View of Elvyn Lea Lodge & Grounds
~ May 2014 ~
~ May 2014 ~
Elvyn Lea Unique Up North Lodging written by Kristi Kates for the
11 August 2014 Northern Express weekly newspaper
tells of "a haven for planned group visits for guests who arrive with a 'shared purpose.'"
The letter below was posted on the Walloon Lake Community Page on Facebook signed by David Rentschler. It gives a bit of background and update on future plans for the previous Elvyn Lea Lodge:
"I wanted to let you all know I sold the old Evlyn Lea Lodge today. It was a tough decision as I really enjoyed owning it! From band camps, lacrosse camps and everything in between, the Boyne Valley Lodge as it was once known, is part of our living history. I was happy to “ clean up” the property, start a low impact employee housing project this summer, and give the property new life. And of course, I’m happy to have prevented an unpopular user from an acquisition that would have been a negative for our neighborhood.
The new owners are real estate developers with Michigan roots. There are four on the team. Diego Reyes (Connecticut), and Gabriel Weinert (CA) are the main guys. The two local contacts include Jeff Kuhn, who has restored a cluster of 8-9 small homes called Windcrest on M75 just east of the Township Hall. And John Gibbs, a Harbor Springs resident. Their plan is to invest 2-3m into the project and do a boutique motel. Building would start either this winter or next Fall. I’ve seen their plan, and projections, and they are quite ambitious. Like anything else, we should keep an eye on developments to make sure they 'color between the lines'.
If you have any questions, I’m happy to share any info that I have. Please feel free to FWD this info to anyone in the neighborhood that might impacted or curious. We all want to know what’s going on !
Best regards,
David Rentschler"
"I wanted to let you all know I sold the old Evlyn Lea Lodge today. It was a tough decision as I really enjoyed owning it! From band camps, lacrosse camps and everything in between, the Boyne Valley Lodge as it was once known, is part of our living history. I was happy to “ clean up” the property, start a low impact employee housing project this summer, and give the property new life. And of course, I’m happy to have prevented an unpopular user from an acquisition that would have been a negative for our neighborhood.
The new owners are real estate developers with Michigan roots. There are four on the team. Diego Reyes (Connecticut), and Gabriel Weinert (CA) are the main guys. The two local contacts include Jeff Kuhn, who has restored a cluster of 8-9 small homes called Windcrest on M75 just east of the Township Hall. And John Gibbs, a Harbor Springs resident. Their plan is to invest 2-3m into the project and do a boutique motel. Building would start either this winter or next Fall. I’ve seen their plan, and projections, and they are quite ambitious. Like anything else, we should keep an eye on developments to make sure they 'color between the lines'.
If you have any questions, I’m happy to share any info that I have. Please feel free to FWD this info to anyone in the neighborhood that might impacted or curious. We all want to know what’s going on !
Best regards,
David Rentschler"
Elvyn Lea Lodge is Permanently Closed.
UPDATED BELOW as Walloon Community Lodge:
UPDATED BELOW as Walloon Community Lodge:
In January 2023 local Facebook page titled "Emmet County Helping Hands" the previous Elvyn Lea Lodge was noted as the Walloon Community Lodge and accepting tenants. Twenty hotel style rooms were available to rent on a month to month lease. Each room has its own bathroom with shower and sink. The communal kitchen setup is included for the $800/month which also includes all utilities, internet, everything. No pets allowed.
This is a needed, albeit a temporary, answer to the lack of local housing. While the facility's new owners plan to eventually turn the building into a "boutique motel/hotel," Jamie Braddock who posted the original comment/photos about the new use for the Elvyn Lea Lodge, replied regarding those future plans that "Yes, we are doing month to month until then. Tenants will have minimum 30 days notice."
This is a needed, albeit a temporary, answer to the lack of local housing. While the facility's new owners plan to eventually turn the building into a "boutique motel/hotel," Jamie Braddock who posted the original comment/photos about the new use for the Elvyn Lea Lodge, replied regarding those future plans that "Yes, we are doing month to month until then. Tenants will have minimum 30 days notice."