Interlochen Stone Hotel
by Jean Martin
I never have had a bucket list; but if I had one, staying at the hotel at Interlochen might have been on it.
When the high school band made our annual pilgrimage to Interlochen for band camp, we usually ate in the cafeteria in the hotel, but that was the only part of the facility where students were welcomed. Of course the mysterious lobby always beckoned.
Fast forward 50 years or so, and it was time for a sentimental journey to the place we all longed for as young music students. This time I was accompanied by an 11-year-old budding clarinetist. And we were booked into the hotel for two nights.
At first it seemed like it might be fun to get a meal ticket and eat in the cafeteria again. In the cold light of dawn that didn’t seem like such a good idea. (You kids get off my lawn.)
Early on the first morning we headed out to see what was still there after 50 years. Spoiler alert: almost everything.
Kresge Auditorium is right where it ought to be, but the Bowl seems closer to Kresge than it used to be. This is probably because each is expanding to meet the other. I know something about expanding over time.
Gruno, the practice cabins, the tennis courts — they are all still where they should be. The Intermediate Girls cabin complex and Braeside are still there. They may have painted the cabins.
The Junior Girls cabins and Pennington Hall are still in their accustomed places, but now Penn has a stage. The flag pole where the boys hung Frank Jilka’s bathing suit stands in it accustomed place. That waterfront where we used to throw the counselors in the water is looking good.
At that waterfront they still employ the buddy system. It makes me miss my little buddy, Dennis Jilka, even more to see that sign.
The north practice field is still there. It is no longer lined for field marching, and the whole area is given over to the public broadcasting service that originates at Interlochen.
All of this is not meant to imply that nothing has changed at Interlochen. The Interlochen that exists on that map in my head is still there, but the camp has grown greatly over the years. The old wishing well stands in the center of a whole new concourse of buildings and services.
Melody Freeze soft serve ice cream is still sold, but it is housed in a much finer building. The old abandoned highway where we used to practice street marching now serves as a drive for many small parking lots. All of them are filled to capacity in the evenings as people come in to attend the paid performances. Of course the concerts are still free for those who choose to sit outside Kresge and freeload.
The one thing that seems to have changed the most is the distance from the Junior Girls area back to the hotel. And the hills. I don’t recall there being hills there 50 years ago.