Station: Ottawa Beach, MI (Ottawa County)

Ottawa Beach Resort was organized in 1886 as a resort on Lake Michigan east of Holland. [MPN] It was reached off a Chicago & West Michigan (later Pere Marquette) branch line.

The resort was located in Park Township near Holland, this resort was developed in 1888 by Grand Rapids investors, including the Chicago & West Michigan railroad. The resort included cottages and a hotel. The C&WM and later PM owned the hotel. An early cottage owner included the President of the C&WM railroad. The PM railroad sold the hotel and resort property in 1913. The hotel burned in 1923 and was not rebuilt. The property turned into Holland State Park. [Wiki]

Photo Info: Top, a Pere Marquette passenger train passengers disembark at the Ottawa Beach depot, in this postcard view. 2nd photo, an early postcard view of the hotel at Ottawa Beach and other amenities.

Notes

Time Line

1901. The Pere Marquette built a hotel here to accommodate Chicago and Indiana residents seeking a resort.The resort made a 6% profit during its first year. The hotel included a water and electric power plant. [PMAR-1901]