The Great Lake State has many incredible lakeside resort towns that are worth visiting. But there is one tiny community that used to be a popular vacation destination in Michigan that is nearly a ghost town today. Many people don’t know the story of the once-thriving resort town of Idlewild, Michigan.
Idlewild is a small community in the Manistee National Forest area and was once known as “The Black Eden of Michigan.” Due to segregation, this safe haven was one of the few places in the country where African Americans could relax and enjoy a vacation.
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The resort town was a popular destination among Midwestern African Americans who would travel from as far as St. Louis, Detroit, Chicago, and Indianapolis. One famous resident was Dr. Daniel Williams who performed the first successful open-heart surgery and founded the first non-segregated hospital in the United States.
Lake County Michigan
In the peak summer season, as many as 25,000 people would flock to Idlewild for boating, swimming, fishing, hunting, camping, and horseback riding.
Don…The UpNorth Memories Guy… Harrison/Flickr
Arguably the most popular attraction was the roaring nightlife scene. The heart of Idlewild up until the 1960s was The Island which was once only accessible by footbridges. There was a hopping dance pavilion, saddle horses, a hotel, and vacation cottages.
Don…The UpNorth Memories Guy… Harrison/Flickr
Big names from all across the country came and played in nightclubs around town, including entertainers like the famous group The Four Tops. You can still see The Flamingo Club building standing today as a remnant of Idlewild’s history.
rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
In 1964 the Civil Rights Act prohibited segregation and opened the door for Black Americans to visit previously White-Only resorts. Unfortunately, this started the decline of Idlewild as a travel destination. The population of Idlewild is now below 1,000 residents but you can still feel the rich history all around the community.
Don…The UpNorth Memories Guy… Harrison/Flickr
Have you visited Idlewild? Do you remember visiting this community when it was a thriving resort? Let us know in the comments! For more fascinating black history, check out these 7 Incredible Places Around Michigan That Were Once Part Of The Underground Railroad.
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Lake County Michigan
Don…The UpNorth Memories Guy… Harrison/Flickr
rossograph, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
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Address: Idlewild, MI 49304, USA
