New Development Projects
Suburban Inns Hotel Project Will Help Shape Manistee Area Prosperity for Decades
Investment in a Lake Michigan parcel - one that demonstrates the unique characteristics and opportunities in Manistee County - will create a flagged hotel that will be a destination for tens of thousands of visitors to the area. West-Michigan based Suburban Inns and Pioneer Construction worked with the Chamber economic development team and community to put together the project and gain approvals to move forward.
“This developer, this hotel project, will place our community on a path towards prosperity for the next 20 to 30 plus years,” stated Stacie Bytwork, President and CEO of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are fortunate to have them in our business community and invested in our area’s future.”
The project will have a tremendous economic impact and generate $17.214 million annually in additional visitor spending. The sector break-down includes:
- Retail stores: $2,358,333;
- Restaurants: $3,873,175;
- Recreation: $2,478,832;
- Transportation: $3,115,754; and,
- Air transportation: $1,377,128.
*Citation: Economic Impact of Tourism in Michigan 2019, by Tourism Economics
Below are recent projects that have taken place across Manistee County. Manistee has seen growth across many sectors.
Arcadia Bluffs South Course is a 311-acre just one mile south of the existing Arcadia Bluffs course which opened in 2018. The inspiration for the South Course was born out of a desire to present the guests at Arcadia Bluffs with a golfing experience unlike that of any other golf destination in America.
The project is a unique design inspired by the Chicago Golf Club design from early American golf course architects CB Macdonald and Seth Raynor.
Prominent features of the South Course:
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Large greens, averaging over 9,400 square feet, often squared off in one or more corners and separated into different sections using swales, ridges, slopes, and isolated bumps.
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Bunkering style is defined by strong grass faces and ribbons of flat sand which jut far into the fairways.
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Wide, straight-edged fairways and approaches running directly into bunkers, offering strategic lines of play.
More information can be found here https://arcadiabluffs.
It’s a great birding site, hosting over 150 bird species, and is a year-round habitat for many fish and aquatic organisms. For a map, more information about the Marsh and the Arcadia Marsh Restoration Project, visit www.gtrlc.org.
Iron Fish Distillery is Michigan’s first working farm solely dedicated to the practice of distilling a full line of small-batch craft spirits. Every step of the process – from growing and harvesting non-GMO grain to cultivating native yeast, milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling, aging, and bottling – is done by hand at the distillery. Expanded with a 4500 square foot Rickhouse, two additional fermenters, and a newly constructed kitchen. Doubling the size of its workforce.
Timeline:
2015 - Built Distillery, 5 KW solar panels installed. $1 Million Investment
2016 - Rye planted for Estate Series. Renovation of Historic Barn for Events
2017 - MAEAP certified. Over 100k visitors annually; Crib Bar and On-Site Cocktail Garden come to Life
2018 - Woodland Gin named TOP 5 GINS in the world by CIGAR & SPIRITS MAGAZINE. Iron Fish Distillery Recognized as a Top 50 Michigan Company to Watch; First Rickhouse built $ ½ million Investment
2019 - WORLD VODKA AWARDS, GOLD MEDAL FOR VARIETAL VODKA (ONLY USA GOLD); Wood Fire Pizza Kitchen Roll Out.
2020 - Second Rickhouse and Bottling Equipment Upgrade; Basecamp is created $200K Investment
2021 - Estate Series line of spirits released. Third and Fourth Rickhouse Completed; Build Out of Retail Tasting & Merchandise Bin; Bourbon Finished in Mezcal Barrels Selected As Top Craft Spirit for Michigan; Farm becomes Organically Certified; EV Charger System Installed $300k investment
Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital is investing $3.7 million in an emergency room renovation. The upgraded facilities will provide better care with equipment, privacy, and safety designs. Munson also completed a 44,000 square foot Community Health Center in 2018, at its Parkdale campus. The $13 million helped improve the hospital’s ability to deliver quality care to patients.
North Channel Brewing Co. is an anchor in downtown Manistee, offering great food and beverages in a re-purposed industrial building. The investment involved many partners in our community to re-develop the space into a mixed-use facility.
Portage Point Resort is an iconic "Up North" Michigan resort, built-in 1903. The current owner is investing in upgrades to ensure this historic gem will serve as a destination for decades into the future.
West Shore Community College invested $5 million to repurpose this vacant 14,000 square foot building in the heart of downtown Manistee. College classes, economic and community development organizations - including the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce - are housed in the Manistee Center as well.