Idlewild Michigan

In 1912, the Idlewild Resort Company was created and they amassed 2700 acres of land around what was then Crooked lake. The Idlewild Resort Company tried to appeal to African Americans by making advertisements in Black newspapers and hiring African American salespeople to bring attention to the newly created resort. Their marketing was a success as many African Americans from Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland began coming to the area. Idlewild saw some prominent African American people at its resort such as Madame C.J. Walker, the first self made woman and African American millionaire. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, the first surgeon in the U.S. to do a successful open heart surgery, bought a property in Idlewild. In 1921, the original developers of Idlewild gave ownership to the Idlewild Lot owners Association, which was run by African American property owners. In the 1950s, Idlewild was still growing, seeing the completion of new attractions like a roller rink and nightclubs like the Flamingo Club. As a whole Idlewild is significant because it was a “Black Eden” where African Americans could live and vacation without facing the segregation they would at resorts that did not even allow African Americans to stay there.

The story of Idlewild begins with the creation of the Idlewild Resort Company (IRC) in 1912. The IRC was started by four White couples, Erastus and Flora Branch and Adelbert and Isabelle Branch from Michigan, and Wilbur and Mayme Lemon and A.E. and Mondolin Wright from Chicago.[1] After obtaining land surrounding what was then called Crooked Lake, they began a unique marketing campaign. It was unique in that they marketed Idlewild specifically to African Americans by putting advertisements in regional Black newspapers, hiring Black salespeople, and taking African American people from many Midwestern cities on tours of Idlewild, selling lots as they did so.[2] Additionally, in their newspaper ads they emphasized the fact that Idlewild was free from segregation and prejudice, therefore appealing to African Americans who faced much segregation during the early 1900s.[3] Idlewild’s creation was significant because elsewhere in Michigan and America many resorts did not allow African American guests to stay there, but Idlewild was specifically designed to be a resort without that kind of segregation. 

Between 1915 and 1920, Idlewild was beginning to take shape. Famous and successful African American figures were starting to visit and even purchase lots in Idlewild. One such example was Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, who was the first person to successfully carry out an open heart surgery.[4] He was one of the first people to buy a lot in Idlewild and after passing in 1931, he left most of his estate to the NAACP and medical schools.[5] Another important figure was Madame C.J. Walker. She owned a beauty supply company which made her the first woman and African American millionaire.[6] Lastly, co-founder of the NAACP and civil rights activist W.E.B. DuBois visited Idlewild and purchased his own land.[7] An important event that sets Idlewild apart even more from resorts elsewhere in America was the change of ownership in 1921. The original owners transferred management to the Idlewild Lot Owners Association, which was run by the African Americans of Idlewild, making Idlewild not only a resort that was safe and welcoming for African Americans but also owned and managed by African Americans.[8] From here Idlewild saw more investment and began to enter its peak popularity. New motels and gas stations as well as a roller rink were built. The Flamingo club was also founded in 1955 by Phil Giles and was a very popular place for entertainment.

In 1964 the Civil rights Act was passed, making it possible for African Americans to visit whichever resort they pleased, and Idlewild’s popularity started to quickly decline. This aspect of the story is bittersweet. On the local level, it is disappointing that Idlewild, once a thriving community and haven for African American people, is now just an average small town of 1000 people. However on the national level, America became much more inclusive, finally outlawing segregation with the Civil Rights Act and giving African Americans the freedom that every American deserves. Regardless, Idlewild’s history is still significant to both Michigan and America because of the way it was a safe space for African American people in a very segregated time.

Overall, Idlewild was significant locally and nationally because it was a haven for African American vacationers in a time where other resorts were segregated. From its founding in 1912 to its eventual decline in the mid 1960s it saw important African American Figures like Madame C.J. Walker, W.E.B. DuBois, and Dr. Daniel Hale Williams. Idlewild became more popular as more attractions like the Flamingo club were built and up to 25,000 guests were staying there in the summer. For years it prospered as a unique and inclusive resort. However with the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, the demand for a resort that allowed African Americans declined, and Idlewild became a small rural town of 1000 people.

[1] WTTW Chicago. “Idlewild: Michigan’s “Black Eden",” March 6, 2019. https://interactive.wttw.com/chicago-on-vacation/destinations/michigan/idlewild-michigan-black-eden.

[2] WTTW Chicago. “Idlewild: Michigan’s “Black Eden"

[3] WLNS 6 News. “‘Something We Can Call Our Own’: The Heyday of Michigan’s Black Resorts,” February 25, 2021. https://www.wlns.com/top-stories/something-we-can-call-our-own-the-heyday-of-michigans-black-resorts/.

[4] Rosenbaum, Leah. “Meet The Medical Pioneer Who Founded America’s First Black-Owned Hospital.” Forbes. Accessed August 17, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/leahrosenbaum/2021/07/10/meet-the-pioneering-heart-surgeon-who-founded-americas-first-black-owned-hospital/.

[5] “Daniel Hale Williams / Williams House Historical Marker.” Accessed August 17, 2023. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=182803.

[6] Maine, Tracey A. “Black History Month Spotlight: Madam C.J. Walker.” Accessed August 17, 2023. https://blog.hocking.edu/black-history-month-spotlight-madam-c.j.-walker.

[7] WTTW Chicago. “Idlewild: Michigan’s “Black Eden"

[8] WTTW Chicago. “Idlewild: Michigan’s “Black Eden"

“Daniel Hale Williams / Williams House Historical Marker.” Accessed August 17, 2023. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=182803.

Maine, Tracey A. “Black History Month Spotlight: Madam C.J. Walker.” Accessed August 17, 2023. https://blog.hocking.edu/black-history-month-spotlight-madam-c.j.-walker.

Rosenbaum, Leah. “Meet The Medical Pioneer Who Founded America’s First Black-Owned Hospital.” Forbes. Accessed August 17, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/leahrosenbaum/2021/07/10/meet-the-pioneering-heart-surgeon-who-founded-americas-first-black-owned-hospital/.

WLNS 6 News. “‘Something We Can Call Our Own’: The Heyday of Michigan’s Black Resorts,” February 25, 2021. https://www.wlns.com/top-stories/something-we-can-call-our-own-the-heyday-of-michigans-black-resorts/.

WTTW Chicago. “Idlewild: Michigan’s “Black Eden",” March 6, 2019. https://interactive.wttw.com/chicago-on-vacation/destinations/michigan/idlewild-michigan-black-eden.