Visiting Bay View is a a step back in time. With beautiful, historic homes and cottages, the entire community is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was founded in 1875 by the Methodists as a camp meeting place “for intellectual and scientific culture and the promotion of the cause of religion and morality.” I didn’t stay in Bay View, but loved visiting while I was in Petoskey. It is just east of downtown.
Today the Bay View Association of the United Methodist Church continues as a Chautauqua and features a nine week Assembly Season featuring four program areas of Performing Arts, Recreation, Education and Worship. Programs are open to the public. Visit the website to sign up for the offerings. Members receive a discount.
Through a unique mix of professional and pre-professional music programs, their performing arts program encourages and educates musicians from all over the country. The Bay View Music Festival is the nation’s longest running summer chamber music festival.
The recreation program includes everything from sailing to tennis for the entire family. The ever-popular Kids Camp offers a stimulating environment in which children participate in healthy, creative activities, developing life-long friendships.
Bay View also offers a diverse array of classes in seven curricular areas: visual arts, health and fitness, culinary arts, gardening, bridge, discussion groups, and kids’ classes. There is also a focus on spirit, mind and life enrichment. Sunday morning worship services are held in the historical John M. Hall Auditorium at 10:45 a.m. every Sunday from June.
It has turned into a favorite place for summer visitors to explore the trails and enjoy a variety of summer programs. The John M. Hall Auditorium features a number of plays and musicals, lectures, films and music performances from classical, opera and jazz.
There are two inns that operate nearly year ‘round with seasonal dining. Sleigh rides are available in the winter as well as the trails available for snowshoeing.
Stafford’s Bay View Inn: This is an historic inn from 1886, at 2011 Woodland. Its Roselawn Dining Room is a great spot. I enjoyed the combination dinner of white fish plank and flash fried perch.
Terrace Inn: This Inn opened in June, 1911 as Bay View’s most modern hotel. Today it is a definite step back in time. It is filled with antiques and historical photos and items. Today the rooms are comfortable with Wi-Fi, cable TV and AC. During the summer season, its 1911 Restaurant is open for dinner nightly, during the off season, it is open two or three nights per week depending on the month.
Terrace Inn
Terrace Inn