What’s New at Mackinac Island’s Mission Point Resort

As Mission Point Resort approaches its April 28 season opening date, the largest family-owned lakefront resort on Michigan's Mackinac Island has shared a variety of property enhancements and unique programming groups of all kinds will enjoy.

Groups who venture to Michigan's Crown Jewel, Mackinac Island, could soak up the new impressive design of Mission Point's vaulted log beam lobby and neighboring restaurant, Round Island Kitchen. Hundreds of guests provided input on the Main Lobby redesign allowing the Mission Point team to create Mackinac Island's "Newest Living Room."

"The response to our guest survey on recommendations was overwhelming," said Liz Ware, Vice President of Sales & Marketing and daughter of owner, Denny Ware. "More than 600 guests provided inspiration in creating Mackinac Island's Newest Living Room. We learned that brightening the once dark lobby, bringing the lake and floral colors of the outside in, and creating relaxed yet elegant seating areas will draw families, friends and guests together to reconnect, play games and perhaps read by the fire with a glass of wine, as if they were in their own living room on the island."

Every element of the renovation was designed to highlight the beauty and history of Mission Point and Mackinac Island as the Main Lobby's rotunda-style architecture remains one of the most distinctive structures on the island. Nine majestic log trusses converge at the height of 51 feet to resemble a 16-sided teepee. The renovation highlights the natural beauty of the historic structure while also providing modern amenities that are expected from today's travelers. The new space was designed to bring the outside colors of Mackinac Island in with shades to mirror the stunning Straits of Mackinac, sweeping Great Lawn and gardens, and dotted rock shoreline.

The resort's front desk was also created with rocks brought from the grounds at Silver Birches on the northeast side of the island. The wood top of the desk has been repurposed and refinished from old bleachers originally used during Mission Point's Mackinac College era. Eighteen chairs original to the first seating areas in the lobby when built in the 1950's were found and will once again adorn the space, having been refinished and recovered by Detroit Denim.

Beyond the lobby, Round Island Kitchen—found at the heart of Mission Point Resort—will debut a round bar to optimize the seating for guests to enjoy the incredible lake views. Groups can also enjoy expanded al fresco seating on the restaurant's patio under state-of-the-art heated pergolas that can detect rain and close the louvers when necessary. These enhancements allow guests to enjoy the property's farm-to-ferry dining, handcrafted from the freshest of ingredients brought to the island via ferry from local Michigan farmers.

Mission Point's updates and initiatives all have been designed with sustainability to be top-of-mind, from the resort's extensive recycling and composting program to new laundry processes, automated lighting, heating and cooling monitoring, new windows and more.

Groups could also bring their furry friends along for the fun, as Mission Point is a dog-friendly resort—the only one on the island. The resort boasts Michigan-made Carhartt branded dog beds and specialty items in The Boutique gift shop along with amenities like a 'barkcuterie' bowl with toys and gourmet dog treats from Michigan-based retailer Fur Pawz.

The fun at Mission Point is extensive, from lawn games, live music and mini golf to relaxing treatments at the Lakeside Spa & Salon and more. Parents could even get some free time thanks to the Mission Point Minis Club, open to children ages 5-12 and includes dinner, activities and a sweet treat.

Learn more by visiting Mission Point Resort.

Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for Groups Today.

 Photos Courtesy of Mission Point Resort.