Garland
Resort — A Northern Michigan Fantasy
by
Jessica Howell
A
world away from urban disturbances, Michigan’s Garland Resort is blanketed
by snow, tucked within a serene sphere of winter fantasy. It’s in Lewiston
that in-the-know travelers flock when cold winds begin to blow across the Great
Lakes.
 | Garland
Resorts Main Lodge |
A
native Michigander myself, Garland Resort has intriguingly pulled at my hearts
strings for some time. As I prepare for my visit, however, I find that not many
of my fellow friends and family are familiar with the resort and golf course,
or the striking stone bridge that crosses I-75, so firmly etched into my childhood
memory.
They know not what they’re missing… but I’m about to
share. On a Friday evening my beau
and I arrive at the resort's palatial log entrance, awed by the massive logs so
beautifully and artistically stacked upon one another. Near a corner, still bundled
in layers, we sit to listen to a brief history of the resort, which was originally
built in 1951 by the Otto family —owners of the Detroit-based Garland Manufacturing
company. Created for family and friends,
the retreat proved so alarmingly successful that in the 1960s, Garland opened
its nine-hole golf course to the public. Over the years, the resort continued
to grow, now including all that makes it the four-season recreational resort what
it currently is. From the stunning
Main Lodge — the largest log building east of the Mississippi River —
to the rolling green hills and comfy villas, Garland offers unexpected getaway
appeal. And come Old Man Winter, the property spices things up for visitors with
snowbound adventures. Northern Michigan
is a snowmobiler’s dream and Garland is no exception. Trails blaze through
beautifully groomed state and county wilderness, and are available to those who
bring their own powered sleds or care to rent some. Also on hand are an ice skating
pond, sledding hill and hundreds of wide-open miles for cross-country skiing.
Additionally, culinary cruisers can check out the Gourmet Glide, a daytime event
that takes skiers across Garland’s 3,000 acres, stopping along the way for
delicious cuisine. The highlight of
a winter weekend, however, is Zhivago Night. Drawing guests from near and far,
the romantic evening is one that’s been dreamt up as the perfect way to cuddle
while enjoying spectacular cuisine and atmosphere. Tickets
in hand, a small group of Zhivago Night attendees congregate near the resort gift
shop on a Saturday evening as dusk draws near. Here, we pick up steaming hot chocolate
(spiked with Peppermint Schnapps, naturally) as we clamber into a hefty, horse-drawn
sleigh and are covered with warm blankets.
 | The
Garland Bridge |
A
snap of the whips and we’re off, trudging through the snow and soaking up
the inspiring sights of a white-covered countryside. The winter ride alone would
be enough to quiet any urbanite, but the evening truly kicks into gear as the
horse-drawn sleigh pulls up beside Garland’s Bridge Inn. The cottage-like
structure welcomes its guests with a warm, smoking chimney and a look that promises
much more to come.
As travelers step
inside the inn, they’re pleasantly greeted by servers that whisk away cold
weather jackets, scarves and mittens, placing in clammy hands a hot cider cocktail
sure to warm. In the room, a fire blazes, and alongside the fire, a duo of musicians
play to the crowd of mingling onlookers. As
diners settle into seats around one large table, they chatter to themselves and
surrounding couples. Wine is sipped, and more is served. And then, what everyone
has been waiting for — a five-course feast of wild game that teases the palate
with an abundance of tastes, aptly paired with distinctive wines.
 | Garland
Sleigh Ride |
It
is indeed a night to remember. As we dine, the musicians serenade us with music
of their own, while taking requests in good humor, playing suggested tunes. Some
diners even get up to dance near the fire.
As
the night winds down, we bundle up once again, but this time for a quicker route
to the Main Lodge via sleigh. Close and cuddled, couples whisper among themselves,
ready to settle into the privacy of an elegant villa or condo, or a cozy guestroom
in the Lodge featuring a fireplace of its own. Also
up for grabs is the resort’s 20-person hot tub, or a seat at Hildegard’s
Dining Room or Herman’s Grill and pub. In
whichever direction diners part, they’re sure to be met with an ideal ending
to an ideal night. While the rest of
the world shivers on a blustery eve, Garland has whipped up an appetizing array
of food, fun and fortune. On a cold winter night, there’s no better place
to lay one’s head — that is certain. If
You Go…
Garland
Resort
4700 N. Red Oak Rd.
Lewiston, MI 49756
(877) 442-7526 |
