Greenbush Inn – Greenbush

In the Cass City Chronicle, Dec. 23, 1927, an article on P.4 entitled “Boost Winter Climate Urges MSC Specialist”

” Already preparations are under-way for an elaborate
program of winter sports in Michigan. Greenbush Inn at
Greenbush, Grayling, and other towns in northeastern Michigan, and also towns in northwestern Michigan are
getting things in shape to entertain the lover of out-door
winter sports.”

At the Card Cow, a site devoted to vintage postcards and collectibles, a postcard, seemingly from the same period shows a large hotel in winter with winter sports enthusiasts in the foreground. The legend on the reverse says:

The Winter Sports Season Is In Full Swing At Greenbush Inn, Greenbush, Michigan. A happy crowd of guests are enjoying skating, tobogganing, bobsleighing, ice-boating, skiing, skate-sailing, ski-joring, ski-sailing, snowshoeing. Exhilarating winter fun; something doing every minute. Rejuvenating relaxation indoors. Dancing and bridge. Greenbush Inn is a modern hotel, electrically lighted, steam heated. Excellent food. Conveniently and easily reached by motor or railroad. Michigan Central offers special reduced fares. Bring your friends and make it a week or week-end winter sports party. The season is short. Write or wire for reservations and descriptive literature. GREENBUSH INN P.O. Box 15 Greenbush, Mich. Greenbush Inn–a winter resort unexcelled by any resort in the United States, Canada, or Switzerland

Greenbush Inn, Greenbush MI.

No hills are visible in the picture, although it looks like Lake Huron is behind the hotel, so any hills would be behind the viewer, to the west. There must have been some elevation as in addition to skiing, they tout tobogganing and bobsleighing (the term still in use in Canada). No mention of any tows, however, except for the horses for ski-joring or the wind for ski- and skate-sailing. Ski-sailing and snowshoeing? How delightfully 21st century!

The Robert J. Parks Public Library in Oscoda houses the collection of the Huron Shores Geneological Society. In the Knuth Photo Collection #2, the index lists 5 photos of the toboggan run at Greenbush Inn and 3 photos of the run’s cable house. So there was a tow,  at least for the toboggans. Copies are available. Contact: Compiler. Alonzo J Sherman, 308 W Dwight, Oscoda MI 48750, 989-739-3650.

On Fri., July 10, 1931, The California Eagle printed a bio piece about the owner of a new diner, Dixon’s Cafe, at 52nd and Central Ave, in LA. Lee Dixon had previously been Chef de Cuisine for several years at:

Greenbush Inn, Greenbush, Michigan. Greenbush Inn is to America what St. Maurice is to Switzerland—the greatest all-year resort in Europe. Greenbush has a lighted toboggan (run) over a mile in length.

On Aug. 30, 1935, the “Local News” column of the  Cass City Chronicle mentioned that two gentlemen were visiting one’s parents in town after spending the summer at the Greenbush Inn. Apparently it was still operating in 1935 (although in August I don’t know about the winter sports.)

On Feb. 28, 1949, Greenbush Inn lost their liquor license as the result of a lawsuit, Gamble vs. Liquor Control Commission. In the decision, it is mentioned that the inn was on the east side of State St., about 500′ north and across the street from the Union Church.

A note in the index to the collection of the AuSable-Oscoda Historical Society seems to indicate the hotel stood from 1926 until 1968, but I don’t know when they may have ended their winter sports emphasis.

If you have any information about skiing down hills at the Greenbush Inn in the 1920′s (or even if you know where the Greenbush Inn was) please post it or send it to us via the directions on the About MILSAP page.