Grand Escape Inns brochures and photo

Archive

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Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society

5x5" color publicity photo - Posed photo of Loren Kontio holding a knife behind the back of Marsha Kontio as if he was about to stab her with a smile on his face. The photo was staged at the Kirby House and used to promote a Murder Mystery event.

5x5" color publicity photo - Posed photo of Loren Kontio holding a knife behind the back of Marsha Kontio as if he was about to stab her with a smile on his face. The photo was staged at the Kirby House and used to promote a Murder Mystery event.

Name/Title

Grand Escape Inns brochures and photo

Entry/Object ID

2021.51.03

Scope and Content

Brochures promoting the Grand Escape Inns. 1989-1900 5th annual brochure, green ink on beige paper trifold with foldout map 1991-1902 7th annual brochure, blue-green ink on white paper trifold with foldout map 1993-1904 9th annual brochure, orange ink on white paper trifold with foldout map 1996-1997 12th annual brochure, sky blue ink on white paper four-fold 1997-1998 13th annual brochure, navy blue ink on white paper four-fold 2000-2001 brochure, navy blue ink on white coated paper tri-fold "Second decade" full-color brochure, undated, by Lee's Designs Photography 2005-2006 21-years 4/1 brochure (color cover, black interior) bifold 5x5" color publicity photo - Posed photo of Loren Kontio holding a knife behind the back of Marsha Kontio as if he was about to stab her with a smile on his face. The photo was staged at the Kirby House and used to promote a Murder Mystery event. See "Second decade" brochure.

Context

For more than a decade, the Grand Escape Inns of Saugatuck, a group of lodging businesses in Douglas and Saugatuck, worked together to create events to draw visitors to the area in the off season, November to April. Events included Murder Mystery Weekend, Christmas Candlelight Progressive Dinner, Sweetheart Sampler and Culinary Tour, International Gourmet Holiday tours, Spring Tonic Dinner tour, Foot-Stompin Western Line Dance, Midwest Winterfest, Saugatuck Bon Appetite, Big Band Ballroom Dancing, and Trolley Tours. Participating Grand Escape Inns included the Bayside Inn, Kemash Guest House, Newnham Suncatcher Inn, The Park House, Twin Gables Country Inn, Twin Oaks Inn, Bayside Inn, Marywood Manor and The Fairchild House.

Collection

1930+ Tourism, lodging, hotels and B&Bs

Cataloged By

Winthers, Sally

Acquisition

Accession

2021.51

Source or Donor

Kontio, Loren

Acquisition Method

Donation

Dimensions

Dimension Description

brochures, folded, max cover size

Height

9 in

Width

4 in

Location

Box

008 Restaurants and Hotels

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Kirby House/Community Hospital before 1960, 618 Water/Bayside Inn/Hungerford River House, Kemah Cottage b.1906-, 131 Griffith/Newnham Suncatcher Inn/Newnham's Rooms, 888 Holland/Park House/Clover's Waffle House/H.D. Moore residence, Hotel Saugatuck/900 Lake/Twin Gables Hotel/Singapore Country Inn, Twin Oaks Inn/Three Oaks/Lynds/John Henry house, 606 Butler/Fairchild House Bed and Breakfast/, Luckystone Inn/Marywood Manor/R.B. Newnham residence, 421 Water/Ivy Inn/Woodworth house

General Notes

Note

Text from Marsha Kontio about the Grand Escapes Inns, 2020: "The Grand Escapes began in 1986 as a way of surviving the winter months. The original group was The Kirby House, The Park House, The Twin Gables Country Inn (formally known as Singapore Country Inn and later changed their name after joining), the Newnham Inn and Kemah. We were later joined by the Bayside Inn and Twin Oaks. Ivy Inn joined toward the end of the participation of the Grand Escapes. The first of the inns to be sold was the Newnham and the new owners continued to be active in the group with the name change to Newnham Suncatcher Inn. Kemah was later sold and the owners participated for a while then dropped out. The Kirby House was sold in 1998 and the new owners participated for a short while and left the group. Twin Gables was sold and as with the other sold inns participated for a while and then declined involvement. Same was true with Twin Oaks. All events involved food…..mostly sit down dinners and in a progressive style. Participants were to visit each inn and have one course of dinner and then move to another inn. Activities involved Murder Mysteries, Sweetheart Culinary Samplers, Wine tasting, Madrigal Christmas dinners, etc. As with all of the Inns in participation everyone was welcome…..Gay, Straight, EVERYONE."

Create Date

August 27, 2021

Update Date

May 30, 2025