OUR STORY
Like many of you, Trystin (pictured above in the center–with her daughter, Elsa, and husband, Jason) grew up making memories at cottages in Michigan, including her parent’s cottage in Pentwater. Now with her own family, she tries to pass on those great times in Pentwater to her children. We’ve sentimentally named our cottages in honor of Trystin’s beloved maternal grandmother, Ardis (pictured below)– whose family summered in Pentwater beginning in the early 1900’s. The Sears Nichols family owned the Sears & Nichols Canning Company, headquartered in Chillicothe, Ohio. It was one of the largest fruit and vegetable canning companies in the United States until the 1930’s, when they lost their bank financing during the depression. Our logo is an adapted version of their original logo! One of the 12 Sears Nichols Canning factories was once located on the north shore of Pentwater Lake (see below). Sadly, it’s no longer there. However, the family’s summer cottage –once called “The Buckeye Burr”, formerly the Abbey Bed and Breakfast, still survives across from where the factory was located (now owned by a non family member). Hear more about these buildings and the interesting history of Pentwater on one of the history tours given by boat or on foot in the summer by the Pentwater Historical Society. Did you know that the area has a long history of growing fruit? Did you know that the Silver Lake Sand Dunes once looked just like the wooded dunes surrounding our cottages? Check out Mac Dune Rides to find out who changed that (hint: the State Park in Pentwater is named after this Chicago man).
