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Idlewild: Michigan’s “Black Eden”

Black and white photo of a group of people, mostly women, sitting and standing on the steps of a building called 'Wild Club House.' The building has a wooden exterior with wide stairs and railings, and some people are posing for the photo while others are engaged in different activities.

Idlewild’s Founding: A Vision for a Black Resort Community

In 1912, two couples from White Cloud—Erastus and Flora Branch, as well as Adelbert and Isabelle Branch—joined two couples from Chicago, Wilbur and Mayme Lemon, and A.E. and Madolin Wright, to establish the Idlewild Resort Company. This company envisioned transforming Idlewild into a resort destination for the middle-class and professional Black community in the Detroit and Chicago areas. Over time, this vision also expanded to include the black community from other cities.

Historical map of Idlewild Lake in Lake County, Michigan, from 1912, showing the lake and surrounding land plots, roads, and park areas.

A Haven for Black Land Ownership and Leisure

Black and white photograph of two women in clothing resembling the 1950s, talking and smiling, with other women in the background in a social setting.

Segregation restricted movement and land ownership to the white community. Still, Idlewild became a place where the black community could own homes and businesses and engage in many leisure activities, such as swimming, boating, fishing, horseback riding, and hunting.

Arthur Briggs at the Flamingo, 1958

The Rise, Fall, and Legacy of Idlewild

At its peak (1920-1963), Idlewild became Michigan's "Black Eden". It became a haven for black families, intellectuals, entrepreneurs, and entertainers. With the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, Idlewild saw a population decline, and soon, the once-vibrant life force dwindled to a few year-round residents. In 2003, the community of Idlewild established the Idlewild Historic and Cultural Center. Visitors could step back in time and learn of the history of this once bustling community.

Some of the notable Idlewild residents were:

Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, an African-American doctor who performed the first open-heart surgery in 1893, established Providence Hospital in Chicago in 1891, the first non-segregated hospital in the US.

W.E.B DuBois- Co-founder of the NAACP in 1909. Established "The Crisis," a newspaper dedicated to the black community the same year.

Madame C. J. Walker was the first female self-made millionaire in the US. In 1906, she founded the C.J. Walker hair care system for African Americans in Pittsburgh, PA.

Famous Musicians:

Duke Ellington
Will Mastin Trio
Louis Armstrong
Aretha Franklin
Ella Fitzgerald
Sammy Davis Jr.
Stevie Wonder

To name a few…

A single-story building with a dark gray roof, a light gray exterior wall, and multiple window openings, some covered with black material. There are two parking blocks in the grassy area in front of the building, and trees with green leaves and a utility pole are visible behind the building.

The Flamingo Club

A small wooden building with a curved roof and a sign that reads 'Community Garage' on the front. The building has four windows and a door, surrounded by trees and a dirt road.

A residential building with red brick exterior walls, some windows boarded up, and a small porch with metal posts. The building is located in a neighborhood with trees behind it and a lawn in front.

A small, pale yellow building with large front windows and a wooden door, surrounded by trees with autumn foliage.

Rusty, weathered street sign that reads 'SHYLANGER', with a green and trees background.

Look into the wonder that is Idlewild

A sign for Idlewild Historic and Cultural Center in front of a building with the same name. The sign features silhouettes of two musicians and theatrical masks. The building is gray with red trim and is surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky with clouds.

From 2020 to now, the renewed interest in Idlewild from 2022 to now, interest Id, volunteers, and projects, and volunteers, state and federal aid have positively impacted bringing Idlewild back to life.

For more information, visit the Idlewild Historic and Cultural Center:

Off US-10 Highway
7025 Broadway Ave.
Idlewild, MI 49642

(231)-757-3785

Read:
Idlewild, The Black Eden, Images of America by Lewis Walker and Ben C. Williams

Idlewild: The Black Eden of Michigan by Ronald J. Stephens

Idlewild: The Rise, Decline, and Rebirth of a Unique African American Resort Town by Ronald J. Stephens

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