An Innkeepers Dream….

 

View from Birch Lodge Porch

Historic Birch Lodge is for sale.   We are open for business as usual, but would like to find the next owners who can take it to its FULL potential.

Ideally, we feel the lodge needs serious innkeepers and an excellent chef to give it wings.   Michigan Bed and Breakfast law now states that owners may provide “meals” at no additional charge to their guests.   This is exactly what I feel would work so well at Birch Lodge.   Offer three excellent meals for the guests staying at the lodge.    Excellent food is, frankly, something that is rare in the Upper Peninsula, and we have a great location for it.  Half an hour above the bridge, the property is set nicely back from the road, and has a fantastic waterfront placement, and historic appeal. 

  The lodge is full of “commons” space, the old Birch Bar, the front lobby, the upstairs lobby and deck as well as the 100’ front porch.  The rooms are spacious as well.  It is truly a unique property…there is no other like it.

Birch Lodge Lobby

Up until the early 1980’s the kitchen did turn out meals for the guests.   The kitchen is large, with plenty of prep space, and does have triple sinks, newer refrigerator and gas stove, and a great old commercial Garland gas stove, (it no longer meets commercial code, but this is not required for a Bed and Breakfast… which falls under residential code).  

  

  The dining room is large and full of light with lovely antique tables, and china. 

  Many people would like to see the old Birch Bar open again, but I feel this would be a mistake.  It would require extensive commercial code modifications, and I feel would negatively impact the quiet peaceful atmosphere which is a large part of the charm here.   I do, however, think it may be possible to get a license to serve fine wine and beers to guests staying at the lodge to accompany their dinner and still stay within the Bed and Breakfast code requirements.   

Right now the lodge has five rentable rooms with baths, and three more rentable rooms are ready and waiting for baths to be added (the future baths have been begun).   We have also created an owner’s suite with bath upstairs over the kitchen.    The motel is fully renting with eight lake front units, and there is an old log cabin, which with updating could be used as a rental as well. 

 We have worked hard and poured ourselves into getting this old gal back on her feet.  There is a great deal of interest in lodge stays, but we simply can’t do it all.   We need someone who can now make her run.     It would be a great place for a couple with adult children, or possibly an extended family business.   Are you that chef?   Is this your dream too?   If so, let us know...serious inquiries welcome...the property is listed with Mackinac Properties.

Birch Lodge the Bed and Breakfast.....2015 Additions

 Because of the lack of help and a VERY busy motel, we did not open the lodge for booking online as a bed and breakfast.   However we did allow stays for those who inquired, for periods when I felt we could handle the extra business.   We didn't want to over commit to what we could handle without additional help.    We started out last year with two rooms downstairs....the "Dr.'s suite, a large lakefront bedroom with a private sitting room and bath, and "Ada's" suite across the hall, which is handicap friendly....also a large bedroom with private sitting room and bath. 

In July we had the front stairway handrails made code compliant and were able to open the three rooms we had ready upstairs....

Room 3 is lakefront suite with a queen bed,

new private tiled bath,

and private sitting room with two recliners overlooking the lake.

 

 

 

  Room 4 is across the hall from Room 3, and is a large light filled bedroom with queen bed and private bath.

Two large windows overlook the back of the property, and a large window at the side of the room by the comfy chair overlooks the lake.

I love this spacious vintage inspired tiled bath.

Room 5 upstairs is a corner suite off the back hallway.

It is an interesting corner layout with a large bedroom with queen size bed and Morris recliner,

a tiled private bath,

 and a small private sitting room with comfy chair and bookshelf

 overlooking the log cabin and woods.    We also worked on getting the upstairs lobby furnished with new rugs in addition to the original furniture which was stored in the attic.

and a new Bradbury and Bradbury Arts and Crafts Wallpaper Frieze called "Birchwood in Twilight"

  which I decided to frame on the wall.    We also purchased some vintage theater seats and refinished the floor in the other corner room off the upstairs lobby

to begin putting together our DVD theater room....shopping now for the TV and movies!



This fall we also refinished floors and began to move furniture in the rooms over the old Birch Bar.   These rooms are waiting for bathrooms to be added before they will be ready.  Room 6 will be a beautiful lakefront room with queen bed,

  private sitting room and bath.  I am shopping for furnishings this winter!    Room 7 is across the hall and has twin beds and

three large windows, with a lake view from the side of the room.  Will also be adding some finishing touches and well as the bathroom!

 Depending on our help situation,  2016 will have at least Rooms 1-5 available as bed and breakfast stays at least on a limited basis.  Please email us if you are  interested  birchlodgemi@gmail.com.   And visit us on Facebook!