I think is appropriate to start my first blog from Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island on the opening day of the 2009 season. Yesterday, I attended Grand Hotel’s employee orientation meeting. New and returning employees numbering over 500 gathered in the hotels dining room to be warmly greeted by the Musser family and hotel management. The Musser family has been associated with the hotel since 1919 and has solely owned and operated the property for the past 76 years. The general rules, employee etiquette and safety regulations were peppered with many words of optimism for a successful and profitable season. Mr. R.D. Musser himself, long time chairman of the hotel spoke to the gathering about his family’s dedication and affection for the hotel, as an institution and the proud old building itself. Fox news from Detroit filmed the meeting and will broadcast today and tomorrow from Grand’s front porch. All 385 guest rooms and public spaces have been personally inspected by the Musser family and hotel management. The stage is set, the players are in their uniforms and today the curtain goes up. It’s an exiting time and it is my hope to share more Grand Hotel and Mackinac Island happenings on this blog. To be honest, I came to Mackinac Island 14 years ago to immerse myself in the history of this horse drawn society that is truly a touchstone to the past, but this new (blog) technology is fascinating and I look forward to interacting with others whom in some way connect with the magic of Mackinac Island.
How reassuring to know that there is life at the hotel once again as spring has welcomed the opening of the hotel. I often picture Grand Hotel in my mind during the long winter months and imagine it to be a closed-down building, with squeaky pipes and sounds/heat systems like at the Overlook Hotel in the movie “The Shining”, minus Jack Nicholson and his problems in that movie. ha I will be a guest at the hotel in a little over a week, and count it one of life’s blessings to get to experience Grand Hotel twice a year. I cannot wait to walk the wooded trails on your property with all of the blooms and blossoms of spring. I let out a long sigh just thinking about what I will be doing on the island.
It really is truly amazing to see all the employees in the dinning room together, dressed in their uniforms. It is my first year at the Grand Hotel and these are my first experiences at the Grand. It truly is amazing and one of a kind. The view does not get better nor does the atmosphere. I can not wait till the day I get to be a quest at the Grand and really enjoy the experience to the fullest.
Hi Bob,
I’m excited to see you blogging for the Grand Hotel! As you said, it’s a great way to connect people with all the history on Mackinac Island.
I grew up in Michigan, and know there is nothing like the beginning of summer there. I look forward to reading your posts, and wish you all the best this season.
Warmly,
Josiah
Bob – Thank you for starting this blog. How cool is this! Great to keep in touch with all the Hotel happenings, even when we can’t be there in person. Thank you.
I can hardly wait until this coming Memorial Day weekend. Both my wife Ruth and I have been coming to the Grand Hotel for almost 25 years and thoroughly enjoy the experience. This is my favorite vacation spot and we enjoy it in the summer and fall as well. The view from the porch is breath taking and the flowers and trees are always beautiful Usually the tulips are in bloom when we arrive in late May. The service is always beyond compare and we are appreciative of everything that is done for us. We always enjoy talking to Dan Musser, Jr; we have known him for a long time. Only a couple of weeks yet!
Best wishes for a great season. With any luck, I’ll be able to join you for part of it before the snow comes back.
I’m looking forward to watching Employee Orientation on Fox News. I doubt that the recycling speech is as captivating as it used to be.
*** How supremely amazing to be at the Grand on ots Opening Day for 2009, and to watch Fox News, Channel 2, cover it~ I taped it and at the same time got up early to watch the actual coverage. Been to Grand Hotel before, but this visit was the most moving and inspiring, that I even wrote seven poems while a guest at the GRAND. The poems include – “Somewhere in TIme” (of course!), “Mint Tea”, “Meeting the President” (who I met at breakfast:) , “Afternoon Tea”, “The Grand Hotel Orchestra”, “Moon Dance” and “Seasons of Mackinac” …. ***
Hello again, Bob! Is there a Grand Hotel History Journal available for purchase, with a complimentary DVD? Not a cumbersome huge compendium, but a coffee table size book — with history, stories, photos and blank pages to write one’s own thoughts/story – and with an accompanying DVD to boot? I would love to help put one together. My poems about Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel could be included along photos you already have in your archive. Please keep me posted.
Georgianna Rose Tutay
RossettiG2000@yahoo.com
248.305.8404
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Thanks for asking about more information on Gand Hotel history. There are two books about the Hotel. The most complete history is
” Grand Hotel” By Dr. John McCabe and a small guide with lots of color photo’s of the hotel and Mackinac Island writen by me. Just ask for Bob’s book.
The Hotel has also produced a DVD of my hotel hisorty lecture with never before published images. Contact the hotel at http://www.Grandhotel.com or call 1-800-33GRAND and ask for the Shops Department. Thanks for your interest! Bob Tagatz
Hi again Bob. I checked out your Shop department online. However, the pictures are too small, with no specific measurements (unlike Bronner’s catalog). And no option to make the image larger (unlike other catalogs)… So I could not make a decision to purchase your book or the Grand Hotel History DVD.
I will just have to wait until I visit the island myself, most likely in the Fall. I am planning a lifestory writing workshop at Grand Hotel in 2010, and would like to publish a Writer’s Journal with poems and pictures of Mackinac Island and the GRAND. Any possibility of a complimentary copy of your book?
Thanks for the response, We are working on the Photos for the shop website. A writing workshop seems like great idea. let us know.
I sorry I can’t send out free books, I have to make the schwinn payment. I Look forward to your visit. Bob T.
Thanks for the input. I spoke with the shops department and they agree that the size of the photos are way to small and they are looking in to
it with our IT Department. The writing workshop sounds like a great idea, let us know. We do have to sell the books and DVDs on the hotel because I still have to
make a schwinn payment each month. Thanks for asking. Bob T
Hi again, Bob. Thanks for the info/feedback. I will definitely get your book and the Grand Hotel DVD. I’m planning my 2-day lifewriting workshop for late September 2010. Class is limited to 18-20 people. I like my workshops intimate and interactive.
BTW, how come the chief blogger doesn’t have a photo on his blog site?
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Thank you again for following along. The reason my photo isn’t on the blog is because I want people to read the blog.
I always tell people. I have a face for Radio. Just Kidding. Bob T.
I enjoy this site, it is worth me coming back
Is it true that the grand Hotel was built modular to a certain degree???
Not in any way Paula. The hotel was built from the ground up of Michigan White Pine in 1887.