GRAND HOTEL OPENS THE VAULTS….

Written by grandhblog on May 11, 2012 — 1 Comment

Today’s blog is by Director of  Security, Jason Kladiva.

The Mirriam-Webster dictionary describes the word addiction as “the compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance … characterized by tolerance and by-well defined physical symptoms upon withdrawal.”

Bob Tagatz and I are addicted to Grand Hotel and Mackinac Island history.  This addiction causes us to track down any morsel of information, photograph, trinket, or minute scrap of historical data we can find.  Late night searches on Ebay, door-to-door winter visits of antique shops, hours upon hours of time in libraries and interviews with lifetime residents help us to get to that exciting moment when we discover an unknown fact:

“ONE OF THE GRAND HOTEL CARRAGES WAS BLUE IN 1904!“

 With this in mind, Bob and I jumped into hyper speed when the plans for the Grand Hotel 125th Anniversary celebration came to light a little over a year ago:  Exhibit!   How can anybody properly celebrate 125 years without a historical exhibit?

After pleading our point for several weeks, Grand Hotel VP Ken Hayward went to the Musser Family with the idea.  There were questions to be asked:  What would be in it?  Where would it be?  What would be used to display the items?   Finally we received the go ahead.

Bob and I cracked open the vaults of stuff we have been collecting since the early 1990s and began to bring it in.  China from the day the hotel opened, a rate card from 1888, waiter badges, menus, photographs, railroad guides, steamer guides, plates, brochures, luggage tags, uniforms, newspaper clippings, … we were in all of our glory.

Mimi Cunningham and Bob settled on a 1890s display cabinet and we had it brought to the parlor of the hotel.  Not everything was going to fit in the case so Mimi, Bob and I began to sift through the tables of artifacts and select what would be appropriate.  Stories began to fly about the different items and the history behind them.   Mimi selected some items from the collection of Mr. Musser, her father and owner, and we closed the case.

The Musser family, Bob Tagatz and I have enjoyed collecting the items in the exhibit and hope guests can share the same passion for Grand Hotel that we do.  The exhibit will be open throughout the entire 2012 season and will then close with the hotel in October.  Feel free to visit the concierge desk and ask Bob about the exhibit or the history of the island.

Oh, by-the-way, Bob and I are already working on the exhibit for the 150th.

 

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2012 Season Opening Letter from Dan Musser III

Written by grandhblog on May 3, 2012 — 15 Comments

2012 marks the 28th season of full-time work at Grand Hotel.  I would have never dreamt when attending the 100th anniversary of the hotel back in 1987 that we would be celebrating our 125th anniversary with almost 100 more guest rooms, four additional offsite restaurants, an 18-hole golf course, let alone writing a blog about Grand Hotel.

Each new season brings an excitement to it, but I have never been more eager for a season to begin than this one.  We have so many fun and exciting things going on to recognize our 125th anniversary, from the new coffee table book that is available to my wife Marlee’s painting that is available as a print for the first time to the 125-foot cake Chef Hans is going to make on our birthday on July 10 to our celebration weekend July 13-15.  Guests will notice special flags on the golf course and the front of the hotel, our turndown mints have a special logo, and a number of special items available in the shop this year that my sister Mimi has created.  Executive Chef Hans Burtscher, who is also our Vice President of Food and Beverage created two special cocktails for the season that I cannot wait to sample myself.  The Grand Celebration Cocktail is made with Grand Marnier, Veuve Clicquot champagne and candied orange peel, and our 125th Grand Anniversary Cocktail is made with Louis XIII Cognac, Grand Marnier Centenaire, Grand Marnier Cent Cinquantenaire, candied orange peel and an edible gold leaf served with a side of Russian Sevruga Caviar.

One of the things I look forward to the most each spring is welcoming back staff members.  Some I have known my entire adult life, like Maître d’ Ken Salmon.  The same holds true for the many guests that will walk through our doors beginning May 4.  Many have become close friends over time and it is certainly one of the most gratifying parts of what we do to see those friendly faces back on Mackinac each year.

Each season brings unique challenges, however, 2012 is certainly a cause for celebration.  It is truly a remarkable accomplishment for a wood frame hotel that is open part of the year to have survived and flourished 125 years and my entire family is very proud of what all of our staff have been able to accomplish and are thankful for all of the guests that have allowed us to maintain and improve a true family treasure.

We hope to see you on Mackinac sometime during our 125th anniversary season.

Dan Musser

 

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Early Opening Day 2012

Written by grandhblog on April 27, 2012 — 2 Comments

We made it through the winter and to Early Opening for the 2012 season!  The full time staff who worked in Okemos over the  winter moved up to Mackinac this week and for the past 3 days worked with the rest of the staff to get the hotel ready for guest arrival today.  

The daffodils in front of Margaret’s Garden are in full bloom, waiting to say hello to  our first guests of the season.  And, early this afternoon we began to see groups of people coming up the hill ready to check in.   The sun is cooperating quite well and, it is an absolutely beautiful Mackinac Island day.

Flower boxes are being lined up in front of the hotel and along the porch today.  The boxes are being filled with dirt and prepared for the thousands of flowers that have arrived this week, waiting to be planted.

The bright yellow awnings that line the windows of the Front Porch have been put into place and furniture has been readied in the Parlor for placement in guestroom’s and other areas of the hotel.   All furniture is stored, painted or repaired over the winter months and then waits patiently to be placed in its proper place each spring.

Our first guests have made it up the hill to give the Front Desk staff a taste of what they will be doing this summer.  The staff are prepared with registration information,  keys ready, and big smiles for every guest.

These Early Opening guests will have the opportunity to watch (some may get to help)  as the rest of the hotel comes to life and is prepared for our Titanic Weekend guests to arrive for our Grand Opening next Friday.  Groups such as Michigan Geocachers,  Superior Foods, and Creative Memories have joined us for the past several years as we go through the process of training new staff and bringing the Grand Lady to life.   We appreciate their patience and participation as we prepare for this very special 125th Anniversary season and, we hope to see you all as we celebrate this summer!

 

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Spring is here!

Written by grandhblog on April 6, 2012 — 1 Comment

 

It is that time of year once again to start the “Grand” spring awakening!  Tulips and various other spring flowers have begun poking their heads through the soil searching for the warm sunshine,   

 

 

 

 

winter snow barriers are being removed,

 

 

 

 

 

signs are being rehung, and paint is being refreshed.  

 

 

 

 

New carpet has been put down, waiting to greet the first guests of the 2012 season and the water has been turned on.

And, the final sign that spring is here…

the horses are returning from their winter playground.

Today’s blog is more of a photo journal than anything else and I hope you all enjoy seeing the “signs of spring” as much as we do.  The countdown to opening is at 27 days and we are all looking forward to this 125th Anniversary season.   See you this summer!!

 

 

 

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Celebrate Your Marriage Spring Retreats

Written by grandhblog on March 23, 2012 — Leave a Comment

Jay and Laura Laffoon have been helping couples understand each other through love and laughter since 1995.   They share their honest, hilarious,  insight into how male and female attitudes can be so different regarding the simplest every day events.

Celebrate Your Marriage retreats guide you to better understanding our differences through love and laughter.  Married couples as well as couples contemplating marriage will leave with a better understanding of each other and what it means to nourish their relationship.

Each overnight event includes sessions with Jay and Laura and their special guests, accommodations, dinner, and full breakfast.

This spring Jay and Laura, along with special guest Gary Smalley, would love for you to join them at Grand Hotel May 20 or 21, 2012, for their spring overnight retreats.  You will find registration information at JayandLaura.com.

Join us this May for some fun conversations and learn to Celebrate Your Marriage!

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AMERICA’S LONGEST RUNNING SUMMER SHOW

Written by grandhblog on March 16, 2012 — 1 Comment

Today’s blog is by Robin Hood.  Mr. Hood is the  Photographer for the Grand Hotel 125th Anniversary Book.  

After thirty years of photographing travel destinations from the ancient gardens of Kyoto, Japan to the canals of Venice; and from Alaska to Key West, I can’t remember an experience asinspiring and magical as sitting in the late afternoon light of Grand Hotel’s endless, columned front porch and gazing across the signature red geraniums to the scene below.  Viewed from the gentile comfort of the porch, the panorama of graceful sailboats passing in a slow, languid dance across the silver blue surface of the Straits of Mackinac, is a painting embedded in my memory.

In interviews and photo seminars I am often asked what is the most difficult aspect of creating successful travel and resort photography.  My answer continues to be simply “avoid being so enraptured by your subject that you fail to objectively observe and adhere to the deliberate process of visually conveying that moment, or that place, through a photograph to a viewer not present to experience it firsthand.  Photographing a beautiful, captivating subject is sometimes more difficult for the photographer than photographing a mediocre subject.  With the latter, a photographer is called upon to dig deep, and use every creative resource to produce a memorable image.

The difficulty with a beautiful setting or subject is being lulled into the comfortable opinion that anything you capture with the camera will be stunning.  This complacency will result in the photographer failing to add his own imagination to the process of creating an original and memorable interpretation of the subjects.  In photographing Grand Hotel for the 125th Anniversary book, the subject demanded at every instance that I consciously avoid being lulled into this complacency.

On the eve of the 125th Anniversary season, the scene at Grand Hotel resembles that of a long-running Broadway play, readying for a new season.  The main cast of players is assembled, and I feel privileged to have a part as the photographer and publisher of the book celebrating the occasion.

The scenery includes twenty-five thousand tulip bulbs beginning to awaken and emerge from their beds at the front entrance; flower garden-inspired Carleton Varney guestrooms; and greenhouses filled to capacity with three thousand red geraniums ready for transplant to 260 plant boxes along the “longest front porch in the world.”

The silver is polished, a chorus of wait staff in pressed teal blue jackets is standing by in the wings, and bellmen and doorman with melodic voices are uniformed in brass-buttoned red jackets as bright a their gracious smiles.  Heroic-sized Percheron horses are nervously pacing in their stalls while being brushed and harnessed for the fleet of classic crimson bus carriages that will bring guests from the ferry docks to the front door.

With the excitement of an awards night, R.D. Musser, patriarch of the family that has stewarded Grand Hotel for nearly a century, is standing center stage at the top of the red-carpeted Front Porch staircase, preparing to greet countless legions of returning guests as old friends.

“Places everyone, let the show begin.”

Posted in Entertainment

Travel in comfort

Written by grandhblog on March 9, 2012 — 2 Comments

Looking for a new way to travel to Grand Hotel this season?  Consider chartering Grand Hotel’s own Cessna 421C airplane from your hometown airport directly to Mackinac Island’s airport.

Imagine arriving at your local airport and finding our twin-engine, turbo-prop airplane waiting with chilled Grand Hotel champagne and a box of our own Grand Hotel fudge.  Up to seven passengers can ride in convenient comfort in the pressurized cabin.  Skip the traffic and enjoy relaxing in your leather seat while cruising at 260 miles per hour.  Upon landing at Mackinac Island, our Grand Hotel carriage and driver will be waiting to take you on a beautiful ride through the woods and to our front door.

Grand Hotel provides this unique aviation service in proud partnership with North Country Aviation in Gaylord, Michigan.  North Country has been in business for 30 years, and owner Nick Chaffee looks forward to making sure all our guests fly in style and comfort. 

Call Grand Hotel’s Jennifer Bryant today at 906-847-3331 to check on availability and your special rates.  All Grand Hotel guests receive 25% off regular rates when chartering our Cessna 421C.  

 

 

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Alex Graham Quartet at the Dirty Dog Cafe

Written by grandhblog on March 7, 2012 — Leave a Comment

In the mood for some swinging, hot jazz?  Then you need to join award-winning saxophonist and Grand Hotel Music Director, Alex Gram and his quartet tonight through Saturday, March 10th at the Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe at 97 Kercheval in Gross Point Farms!  The Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe was named “Restaurant of the Year” (looking at the menu I can see why) and “Best Jazz Club” by Hour Detroit Magazine.

For some surefire entertainment and great food, don’t miss your opportunity to see Alex in the off season this week, beginning tonight with seating’s at 6:00 and 8:30.  Reservations are highly recommended, call 313-822-5299 for information and to make reservations.   Encore seating’s Friday and Saturday nights at 10:30.


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Flower boxes and Don “Duck” Andress

Written by grandhblog on March 2, 2012 — 8 Comments

Spring is quickly approaching and island resident Don “Duck” Andress the master craftsman who hand-makes the 238 wooden flower boxes that line the Front Porch each season is very busy.   Duck works throughout the winter repairing old and crafting new boxes.  Once they are together, the boxes are then taken to the Pontiac Room to be painted and lined.  From there they go to storage to await the thousands of flowers that will be planted in them come spring.

At first glance, the finished flower boxes appear to be all the same shape and size.  However, closer inspection will show you that each box has a number on it.  This tells the grounds crew exactly where the box is to be placed on the porch and in front of the hotel.  Because the porch curves and the boxes must fit between the columns, many of the boxes are of a different shape and size.  This takes some pretty precise measuring and knowledge of where each box must fit and Duck knows it all.

Duck also makes beautiful hand-carved walking sticks and has one that he presented in person to the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of the American Indian. If you have ever attended a holiday parade on Mackinac may have seen Duck leading the way in full Indian dress.  He is a direct descendant of Chief Mackinac who was a Chippewa Chief in the Mackinac area around 1740.

We feel privileged to have this celebrated master craftsman as our carpenter and friend, and we hope that if you happen to meet Don “Duck” Andress the next time you are on Mackinac that you will take a moment to tell him what a wonderful job he does.

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Vintage Baseball 2012

Written by grandhblog on February 27, 2012 — Leave a Comment

GRAND HOTEL GOES TO BAT FOR MICHIGAN HISTORY IN 2012

Grand Hotel (125 years old) and the State of Michigan (175 years old) celebrate their significant birthdays in 2012 and Grand Hotel will pay tribute to Michigan’s history and celebrate it’s own throughout the summer via the early game of baseball.

The nineteenth century logging communities of Douglas and Ludington will send their vintage base ball clubs to Mackinac Island on June 9th to play three games of 1860s rules base ball with the Mackinaw City Boys.  Logging and railroads were a major part of Michigan’s early history with the industry helping to give birth to many towns throughout the state.  As the loggers moved to a new area, the train lines followed with the Michigan Central Railroad and Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad spreading from Michigan’s southernmost boarders all the way to Mackinaw City.  These two railroads were investors in the building of Grand Hotel in 1887.  The Douglas “Dutchers” also represent the strong Dutch community on the western parts of the state.

Minor league baseball has been a big part of Michigan history since the 1870s and Grand Hotel will celebrate that history on July 7 when the Bay City Independents and Saginaw Old Golds travel to Mackinac Island.  The Independents and Old Golds were members of the Northwestern League in the early 1880s while their cities also layed rails and moved timber.

Michigan was one of the leading suppliers of men during the Civil War and many of those men went on to fight in battles in the east and south.  While they were in service they learned the east coast game of baseball and brought it home with them.  The Kent Base Ball Club of Grand Rapids and the Regular Base Ball Club of Mount Clemens were formed by many of those men immediately following the war.  Those clubs will join the Independents and Old Golds on July 7 for a few games of baseball and a tribute to the Michigan men who fought and died on the battlefields of Antietam and Fredericksburg 150 years ago this year.

Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Canada played important roles during the War of 1812 – which started 200 years ago this year. July 28 will be a special recognition of the beginning of that conflict which had British and American forces facing each other on Mackinac Island. The London Techumsehs will travel from Canada to Mackinac Island to face clubs from each of these states just as the British did during the War of 1812. The Huntington Champion Hilltoppers will represent the State of Indiana and Fort Wayne during the conflict. The Chicago Salmon—from Illinois—and the Welkin Base Ball Club of Port Huron representing their respective states will also represent the sailboat racing history each city shares with Mackinac Island.  The Welkins also faced a Canadian base ball club from the London area in 1867 during the first World Base Ball Tournament in Detroit.

Michigan is full of small towns but it is the small towns that bring our state together.  The Monitor BBC of Chelsea, the Sydney Stars of Sydney, the Fallasburg Cubs of Lowell and the Midland Mighty River Hogs travel to Mackinac Island on August 18 to represent the generations of Michiganders in small towns throughout the state who built the strong logging, manufacturing and furniture industries in their own communities.

On September 8th the National Base Ball Club and Lah-de-Dahs of Greenfield Village in Dearborn travel to Mackinac to face the Forest City Base Ball Club of Rockford, Illinois. What does Rockford, Illinois have to do with Michigan history?  Michigan’s automotive history is the link. The communities of the Rockford and Belvidere work and support the Chrysler Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Illinois – a Michigan owned company.  Ford Motor Company operates Greenfield Village.  These three clubs will be joined by the Mackinaw City Boys to finish off a summer of vintage base ball.

With all of that in mind, Mackinac Island and Grand Hotel look forward to celebrating a summer of Michigan history in 2012.  Come and join us for afternoons of fun, baseball and 200 years of Michigan history.   Umpire / Grand Hotel Security Director Jason “Gypsy” Kladiva will take spectators on a trip into Michigan’s past during the games.  All games will take place in Woodfill Park near the Grand Hotel tennis courts and are free to the public.

 

2012 Vintage Base Ball at the Grand Schedule

 June 9 

12 pm – Douglas (MI) Dutchers vs. Ludington (MI) Mariners

2 pm – Douglas (MI) Dutchers vs. Mackinaw City (MI) Boys

4 pm – Mackinaw City (MI) Boys vs. Ludington (MI) Mariners

 

July 7  

10 am – Bay City (MI) Independents vs. Regular BBC of Mount Clemens (MI)

12 pm – Kent BBC of Grand Rapids (MI) vs. Saginaw (MI) Old Golds

2 pm – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2

4 pm – Winner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2

July 28

10 am – Chicago (IL) Salmon vs. London (ON) Techumsehs

12 pm – Welkin BBC of Port Huron (MI) vs Huntington (IN) Champion Hilltoppers

2 pm – Loser of Game 1 vs Loser of Game 2

4 pm – Winner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2

 

August 18 

10 am – Midland (MI) Mighty River Hogs vs Sydney BBC

12 pm – Monitor BBC of Chelsea  (MI) vs Fallasburg Cubs

2 pm – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2

4 pm – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2

 

September 8

10 am – Lah-De-Dah BBC of Dearborn vs. Forest City BBC of Rockford, Illinois

12 pm – National BBC of Dearborn vs. Mackinaw City (MI) Boys

2 pm – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2

4 pm – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2

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