MANISTIQUE, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Wednesday, Schoolcraft Tourism and Commerce held a ribbon cutting for a newly renovated hotel.
Formerly known as the Gray Wolf Lodge, Manistique Sands is located at 6670 West US-2 in Manistique. The new owners, Jarred Drown and Rick Elrod, also own Gladstone’s Terrace Bay Hotel and the future Hampton Inn in Downtown Escanaba.
“We’ve been in Delta County for years,” Drown said. “Four or five years ago, my wife and I noticed a change in Manistique—some boutique shops coming to town, some new restaurants opening. We felt a change in the energy in the area, and we decided we wanted to be a part of it.”
The new owners have renovated the lobby, common areas, and guest rooms. Manistique Sands also offers easy access to a network of ATV and snowmobile trails, as well as a 750-foot private beach.
“We’re looking forward to eventually putting a sauna down there, so people would be able to do the sauna and jump in the lake all season,” said Drown. “We’re really excited about where the property is already but also where it can go in the future.”
Drown says that while the hotel had been well maintained, this is the first time it has undergone a major update in roughly 30 years. He says Manistique Sands aims to provide an upscale lodging option within Schoolcraft County.
“There’s a high-end traveler coming through this area all the time,” he said. “There’s a bunch of really nice, kind of upper midscale properties in the community, but there wasn’t anyone serving that higher-end traveler. We’re excited to be able to bring a higher-end offering to the area.”
The owners plan to continue updating the hotel’s exterior and to potentially establish food and beverage offerings in the future. To learn more about the hotel, visit manistiquesands.com.
