A Little Bit of OPC History
Our Story
The history of Old Pike Cottages is rooted in the spirit of 1930s roadside travel. The original cottages were built in that decade, likely serving as a cozy lakeshore stop along the Old West Michigan Pike—the scenic, early tourism highway that connected Chicago to Mackinaw, known by the rallying slogan "Lake Shore All the Way."
Completed in the early 1920s, the Pike helped transform Michigan’s western coast into a destination of cabins, motels, diners, and small-town charm. As families piled into their cars for the first long-distance road trips, this route became the backbone of early Midwest auto tourism.
When we modernized the property, we wanted to honor that legacy—keeping the sense of historic adventure alive. Today we carry the name Old Pike Cottages, a direct nod to those early travelers and the road they relied on.
Each cottage is named after a 1930s automobile, and the central signpost on the property mimics the original mile markers that once lined the actual Pike. It’s both a tribute and a story—rooted in place, revived in hospitality, and inviting our guests to become part of a nearly century‑old journey.