Grand Ledge Opera House

Sitting on beautifully landscaped grounds, the Grand Ledge Opera House began as the Riverside Rolling Rink when it was first completed in 1884. It has since served as a theater and furniture store and was donated to the Grand Ledge Historical Society in 1984. It now hosts numerous weddings, receptions and other community events.

The original roller skating rink was short lived as Peter Blake bought the building and grounds in 1886 and converted it to an opera house that also served as a theater and venue for early silent movies.  The featured act at Blake’s Opera House was the Mackley-Salisbury Comedy Company, and the building included a portable stage and scenery painted on rolls of canvas.

Later in its life, the building served as a furniture store for both the Stephens and Mapes families starting in 1928.  After the Mapes family donated the grounds and buildings to the Grand Ledge Historical Society fund raising efforts for its restoration began in earnest.  The efforts were successful, largely due to many donated dollars and volunteer hours, and the opera house reopened in 1993.

Aside from a venue for weddings and receptions, the opera house houses an antique Barton pipe organ that was obtained from the old Michigan Theater.  It now hosts organ concerts as well as silent films with organ accompaniment on a regular basis.