Hotel Stays: The Wickwood Inn

Nestled along Michigan’s scenic west coast, The Wickwood Inn offers a distinctive blend of historic charm and modern luxury. 

This 86-year-old property on Michigan’s west coast was recently renovated by Horner Martin Horner and Shea Soucie, co-founders of Chicago-based luxury design firm, Soucie Horner Interiors.  

Famous among professionals in the design industry, most people outside that world have probably never heard of them—and for good reason. As one of the firm’s founders described it to me, many of their projects are designed and built for the “1% of the 1%.”

That said, Wickwood is still intended for travelers with deeper pockets as this is a five-star property.

Currently, the Inn has 11 rooms in the main house, which is a historical landmark and has served as the local mayor’s, a nursing home, an orphanage, and a previous hotel over the course of its history since the 19th century.

The Inn is also set to expand with the addition of another private home next door that can be rented out by families and groups. And a private pool should be coming by next summer.

Many of the original, antique art pieces have been preserved, but just reorganized around the guest rooms and common areas amid new, modern touches like stainless silver sconces and marble showers in the suite bathrooms.

All of the carpets are also designed by Soucie Horner. But most importantly, the hotel retains that trademark Midwest sense of hospitality.

Most of the hotel’s existing employees stayed on when the new ownership took over and renovated the Wickwood to what it is now.

The kitchen is led by Chef Rose Duong—a veteran of Chicago’s restaurant scene as well as formerly the caterer of the green room for the Oprah Winfrey Show—who absolutely delights guests throughout the day from a made-to-order, farm-to-table breakfast experience, and then slices of her mouthwatering banana bread are available all day in the library.

There is a daily happy hour with wine, cheese, and charcuterie, hosted by the hotel’s general manager. 

And all in all, it was a pet-friendly experience. Not that there were exceptional kinds of amenities, but there didn’t need to be. Just a welcoming environment can be more than enough. The general manager welcomed us warmly and even walked us to the car when we were headed back to the airport.

Final Verdict: Would stay here again.