Long Vacant 150-Year-Old Sleeping Bear Inn to be Restored as B&B
The historic Sleeping Bear Inn in Glenn Haven, built in the 1860s, and vacant since the mid-1970s, will once again host travelers.
MLive reports that Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore announced its intent to lease the the inn to the nonprofit Balancing Environment and Rehabilitation (BEAR) for restoration into a premier bed and breakfast lodge. BEAR is a nonprofit dedicated to keeping the history and heritage of Glen Haven, Michigan sustainable.
Originally built between 1865-1867, the Sleeping Bear Inn began as a frontier hotel for business travelers and local workers. It continued in operation through the the 1970s, serving as a tourist hotel.
According to a release, prior to finalizing the lease, the property will be appraised this year to determine fair market rent. BEAR will work closely with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the National Lakeshore and will "make substantial investments to rehabilitate the buildings which will involve extensive interior work, utility upgrades, and adding a fire suppression system in order to bring the building up to code.
Superintendent Scott Tucker said,
“We have been looking for someone willing to invest in the Inn, and we feel we have an excellent match with BEAR. The lease will preserve the two buildings and allow greater visitor experience in the historic Glen Haven Village.”
According to MLive, the goal is to open the restored inn to the public sometime in 2022.