The Old Dam Inn - En rymlig Waterfront Retreat i nordvästra Michigan

We've owned woods and water property in western Michigan since the early 1990's and every time we were driving back home to southeastern Michigan we took a different route to explore new opportunities. After years of doing this we came across a very hilly area in Brooks Township, Newaygo County, that was heavily forested and had many beautiful lakes.

We learned that it had been a white pine logging area over one hundred years ago and it also was famous for the cottages surrounding the lakes. This spot came to be known as 'Little Switzerland' due to the beautiful waters and steep sloped terrain. One day as we were heading home we noticed a for sale sign on Old Dam Road and stopped to look at a small cottage on the Penoyer Creek Channel. The creek was named after the Penoyer brothers from Chicago, who were the first non-natives to settle here (1830's). To us it seemed perfect with the waterfront views and wooded setting. We quickly arranged to purchase the property and over the years we acquired three more parcels on the Channel, including The Old Dam Inn.

While there are many cottages and homes very nearby, where we are just about all you can see are the woods and the water, which is just fine with us. The towering white and red pines on the property are very special for us.

We spent four years renovating the The Old Dam Inn to provide our guests with quality furnishings and a flavor of the local history. The Inn is the former residence of the well-known local aviator, photographer, journalist and outdoorsman, Dick Black. In the 1960's and 1970's, he was a partner of Mort Neff, who hosted the popular 'Michigan Outdoors' television program in Detroit for many, many years. A few years ago we learned from Mr. Black's granddaughter that he was a personal friend of the writer Ernest Hemingway and that he had also saved Hemingway's life one time. The Inn's rooms feature aviation, fishing and hunting themes that are based on real local history.

The Old Dam Inn is perfect for family gatherings, reunions, anniversaries, small business retreats and hunting/fishing groups (we do not host weddings, or bachelor/bachelorette/graduation/sorority/fraternity parties). With eight private bedrooms and five bathrooms (three in private suites) you can very comfortably and privately accommodate 20-25 overnight guests. We offer complimentary high-speed wireless internet access throughout the Inn and its grounds, as well as DVD movies. There are seven flat screen televisions.

You can bring your own boat or use our two paddleboats, rowboat and two-person kayak to reach four inter-connected and unique lakes (Emerald, Sylvan, Pickerel and Kimball). Enjoy these clean and clear lakes for water-skiing, fishing, swimming or just for the beautiful views. You can also kayak down the picturesque Penoyer Creek to the Old Dam. If you like the woods, you will like our setting. From the Camp Newaygo Wetland Trail only a 1/4 mile away by foot, to the vast North Country Trail a couple of miles away, there are many opportunities to hike. If you like quaint towns, you will enjoy the arts and outdoor themes of nearby Fremont (Baby Food Capital of the World - Gerber Baby Food Company) and Newaygo, which straddles the Mighty Muskegon River and offers some of the finest salmon and trout fishing in the U.S. Check out the giant concrete fish heads poking out of the ground in Newaygo's Riverside Park

There are also thousands of acres of the Manistee National Forest within minutes of the Old Dam Inn. From our property we regularly see Bald Eagles, Ospreys, Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons and Pileated Woodpeckers (one was banging away on our front porch this morning!). Other regular visitors include an abundance of White-tailed Deer, as well as the River Otters, Beaver, Mink, Muskrats, Opossum and Raccoons. On occasion we see coyotes and bobcats too.