Hemingway’s Stories Come to Life in Northern Michigan
Hemingway spent the first 22 summers of his life in Northern Michigan, a place that heavily influenced his writing. Fans of Hemingway have long journeyed to Little Traverse Bay and its surroundings, hoping to capture for themselves of piece of the magic that inspired a Nobel Prize winning writer.
Last month we shared a list of places where Hemingway spent time while in Northern Michigan. This month we’re taking a look at specific locations that found their way into his stories. His words jump off the page as you tour the towns, waters and lands in his writings. Below is a guide to the locations and the stories where they are mentioned.
Greensky Hill Indian Methodist Church – This church is listed as a Michigan historic site, and appears in several of Hemingway’s Nick Adams Stories, including Indian Camp, The Doctor and the Doctor’s Wife, Ten Indians, The Indians Moved Away,and Fathers and Sons. Established by a missionary to the Native Americans, the site has long been significant to the Chippewa history and culture.
Horton Bay General Store – Hemingway patronized this store as boy vacationing in Michigan. He writes about it in Up in Michigan, and likely modeled Mr. Packard’s store after it in The Last Good Country. Today you’ll find Hemingway memorabilia and photos on display there.
The Red Fox Inn – The inn is next door to the Horton Bay General Store. It’s mentioned in On Writing when Hemingway recalls the story of his friend, who supplied produce to the store, driving the newlywed Hemingway and his bride to their honeymoon on Walloon Lake. Today the inn is a bookstore specializing in Hemingway literature and memorabilia.
The Township School – Also located in Horton Bay, the school is across the street from the former location of the village blacksmith shop. Hemingway mentions both in Up in Michigan. The blacksmith shop also makes an appearance in The Indians Moved Away.
Pinehurst and Shangri-La – Hemingway stayed at these homes of friends near Lake Charlevoix. These luxurious cottages were part of the Dilworth Resort in Horton Bay. He mentions them in Summer People and Up in Michigan.
Lake Charlevoix Public access and boat launch – This bay and the surrounding area is used as a setting in The End of Something, Summer People, On Writing” and Up in Michigan.
Horton Creek access #1 – The creek can be accessed by a footpath in the Little Traverse Conservancy’s Rufus Teesdale Nature Preserve. Hemingway fished in Horton Creek and he mentions it in The End of Something, The Indians Moved Away and On Writing.
The Charles Farm and Schulz Nature Preserve – Hemingway had friends who spent summers at the farm, and he used the property as settings in The Three Day Blow and Summer People. You can hike the trails at the preserve.
Walloon Lake public access and boat launch – In Wedding Day a newlywed Nick Adams and his wife Helen row from this spot across Walloon Lake to their honeymoon cottage.
Windemere – This is the cottage on Walloon Lake, owned by Hemingway’s family, where they spent their summers. It is private property and not open to visitors. Hemingway features it in The Doctor, Doctor’s Wife, Ten Indians, The Indians Moved Away, The Last Good Country, Wedding Day and On Writing.
The Indian Camp – This is also private property. It’s at the junction of Indian Garden Road and Resort Pike Road near Walloon Lake. It was once home to one, perhaps two, Indian camps. Hemingway used the spot to create the setting for Indian Camp.
The Bacon Farm – This wooded land is boarded by Lake Grove Rd. on the south and Resort Pike Rd. on the east. Hemingway’s parents purchased their Walloon Lake property from the Bacons. The farm appears in Ten Indians, Fathers and Sons and The Indians Moved Away. This is also private property.
Little Traverse Historical Museum – Located in Petoskey, this building was once the area’s main train station for the Pere Marquette Railroad. Hemingway mentions it in The Indians Moved Away. Today the museum has a permanent Hemingway exhibit on display.
Penn Plaza Station – Also in Petoskey, the Hemingway family took a train from here to Harbor Springs to get to their summer cottage on Walloon Lake. This station in Hemingway’s The Torrents of Spring is likely modeled after Penn Plaza. Today the building is an office complex.
