How a historic Black resort town in Michigan is making a comeback

Michigan’s Idlewild is the “Black Eden,” and it’s coming back. Long ago, Black people weren’t allowed to be in these beautiful and rich spaces during the summer. So they created their own Nantucket, Oak Bluffs, Sag Harbor, and many more hidden gems.

That’s what the people who spent their childhood summers there might say if you asked about the efforts being made to redevelop it. Idlewild is an unincorporated community that was established in 1912. The town was known as a safe haven for Black Americans who had few vacationing options and for Black entertainers who were barred from performing at white-only venues.

It was eventually dubbed “The Black Eden,” and well-known entertainers like Louis Armstrong, Della Reese, and Aretha Franklin spent their time at the resort. But after integration, fewer people visited Idlewild, and the community fell on hard times. Today, there are efforts to reinvest in the area.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation placed one of the resort’s hotels, the Hotel Casa Blanca, on this year’s list of 11 most endangered historic locations. Local leaders are working to develop the resort — people like Carmen and Kyle Grier.

They both grew up in Idlewild as kids. Last year, they opened the TEEM Center, a nonprofit that provides life skills for families in Idlewild who need it. The acronym stands for teaching, educating, equipping, and mentoring.

Today on The Metro, we talked to them about their time growing up in Idlewild, how they reconnected years later, and their plans for the TEEM Center and the people of Idlewild. We started by discussing their upbringing. Carmen’s family moved around a lot, and when her father got an opportunity to work in Michigan, he took it.

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