Odds & Ends around the Lake

[Strong Bow]

The Portage Point Inn (the big white hotel) is still there though its gone condo. Families just don't vacation like that anymore. Just as you come into Onekema was the Blue Slipper bar. For years it was a "townie" bar, then in the 70's it sold and went heavy metal. we referred to it as the Blue Shoe Zoo. THen it evolved onto a biker bar, but money has conquered and it's now a very nice eatery. THe local grocery store made the national news on NBC several years ago. It burned down and the insurance paid for the store to be rebuilt, but there was no money to stock the shelves. So the 647 residents of Onekema pitched in $85,000 and to credit slips to save the town. Angel Slide ( the dune next to the hotel) is still a popular attraction. Sadly the horse corral is almost completly grown over. It 's neat to see the old photos in its better days. More later Dave

 

[hausser]

Thanks for the Up-Date!

I remember riding to and from the Camp into Onekema in the back of the truck, and starting to sing, "Ninty-Nine Bottles of Beer" everytime we passed the "Harbor Bar," a small block building, as I recall, about halfway between town and Camp, near an intersection, and on the Lake side of the highway.

The first two or three years, our family used to stay at the Portage Point Inn, and I can remember winning $10 in their "Casino" playing BINGO. There was another "Motel" closer to Onekema ("Lakeside?") that the Buckingham's used to stay at.

In subsequent years, our family usually camped at Orchard Beach State Park North of Manistee.

 

[Steve Buckingham]

George and Bob may remember the Springer Hotel in Onekema located on the lake side of "main street" where the road turned sharply right towards Portage Point Inn (not far from the drug store). The hotel either burned or was torn down and the Springers built a motel across the street.

The Chippawa Hotel was a Manistee landmark. They hired bands during the late 60's and a group of counselors from Tosebo used to attend regularly during the season.

I stayed there once or twice during the winter with the Tonkins. It was torn down the last time I was there.

 

[Strong Bow]

Next to Springer's was a small restaurant, where I met Skip Sage just before checking into camp for the first time. A very imposing figure for a 10 year old. It's a summer toy store. The drug store doesn't have mear as much "good junk" as it used to and the Dairy Queen has remodeled but not enough to change the look. Sadly the Dog House is gone. THe Harbor Bar (great Friday fish fry) is a vacant lot after burning down 25(?) years ago. THe Chippewa was quite a place(also now a vacant lot). Manistee has spiffed up a lot after some real rough times in the 80's.