LAURIUM, Mich. (WZMQ) – A historic landmark bed and breakfast in the Copper Country has just been named the best historical B&B in the nation.
WZMQ 19 News takes you inside for an intimate tour of The Laurium Manor Inn.
Built in 1908 by Thomas Hoatson, a mining magnate in the area, the Laurium Manor sits proudly atop a list of some worthy competition for the “Best Historical Bed and Breakfast” by Newsweek magazine in their annual nationwide readers’ poll.
“The thing that is so amazing about this contest is that it’s by the guests, by our community, by the people that vote, and to be number one, and we’re a small rural area, that is just amazing, that there was just that much love for the property,” said Co-owner Julie Sprenger.
Thirty-six years ago, Dave and Julie Sprenger purchased the run-down mansion, intending to restore it to its Gilded Age glory.
“There was so much wrong with it. It was unlivable. When we bought it, it had been vacant for 10 years. We’ve brought it back to the way it was originally, and that has been our goal all along,” said Julie’s husband, and co-owner, Dave Sprenger.
The colossal mansion boasts 10 guest suites and 13 bathrooms in its 13,000 square feet, 45 rooms on four floors of opulence from a bygone era.
“We try to be very, very close to the history. We want to keep the historical fabric of this house because, you know, it’s true. You want to be true to the house and the era,” said Julie.
The dining room is clad in white elephant skin wall coverings, extremely rare in any era. And room number one, where Teddy Roosevelt stayed while on the campaign trail.
“The bed that he would have slept in that night we bought from the descendant of the Hoatsons, so we still have it up in room number one.
Congratulations to Julie and Dave Sprenger and to Laurium’s “grand dame”, the magnificent Laurium Manor.
For more information on tours and booking your stay, please visit laurium.info
