2 resorts recognized for historical relevance to Black community
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Two local resorts have been recognized for their historical relevance to the Black community.
The Idlewild Historic District and Woodland Park have both been added to the “What’s Out There Guide to African American Cultural Landscapes” from The Cultural Landscape Foundation.
The guide includes more than 140 sites, but only two in Michigan. In a statement, TCLF President Charles A. Birnbaum said its important to recognize these historic places in order to save them for the future.
“The fragility and invisibility of significant African American cultural landscapes like Woodland Park and Idlewild makes them vulnerable to change or even worse, erasure,” Birnbaum stated. “By working in collaboration with local communities, TCLF aims to amplify the awareness and understanding of these unique places where history happened.”
New Holland Museum exhibit explores history of Idlewild
Idlewild, often referred to as “Black Eden,” became one of the region’s premier resorts for black families across the Midwest. The town outside of Baldwin served as a go-to vacation destination at a time when Jim Crow laws and racial animosity limited those options.
Founded in 1912, Idlewild quickly became a home away from home for prominent Black families. Vacationers would spend the day swimming, boating and horseback riding and spend the nights dancing and listening to the country’s top African American performers.
Idlewild’s Flamingo Club. (Courtesy Christine Byron) Performers at Idlewild’s Club Paradise in 1956. (Courtesy Christine Byron) Jackie Wilson performs at Idlewild in 1950. (Courtesy Christine Byron) The Idlewild Club House in 1930. (Courtesy Christine Byron) Idlewild in Lake County. (Courtesy B&G Cottages)
Woodland Park sprouted up nearby in Newaygo County after Idlewild first cemented itself as a premiere destination. Ella and Marion Author were the founders, purchasing land along Woodland Lake from the Brooking Lumber Mill, platting the area and selling off to middle-class Black families who built cabins and summer homes.
A giant hotel on the north shore and a clubhouse on the south shore served as the two hubs for visitors and residents alike, connected to one another by a picturesque trail that navigated the lake’s edge.
‘Something we can call our own’: The heyday of Michigan’s Black resorts
In the 1950s, Idlewild was drawing up to 25,000 visitors a weekend, but both towns saw numbers dwindle as the fight for civil rights advanced and Jim Crow laws were eventually outlawed.
Both public and private entities are working to save and even revive Idlewild and Woodland Park. Several organizations, including The Right Place, the Fremont Area Community Foundation and the MSU Extension are working together to discuss preservation plans and how to implement long-term stewardship going forward.
Julie Burrell, the Senior Economic Development Director of the Newaygo County Economic Development Partnership, said she was thrilled by the news to be added to the TCLF’s guide.
“The collaborative efforts of The Right Place, the Newaygo County Economic Development Partnership, the Lake County Economic Development Alliance and our dedicated community partners have been instrumental in preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of these historic landmarks,” she said in a statement.
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