Our art director, Tim Hussey, spends the night in Bear Lake.
This article first appeared in Traverse Northern Michigan. Find this story and more when you explore our magazine library. Want Traverse delivered to your door or inbox monthly? View our print subscription and digital subscription options.
One of the better turns in the millennial hipster movement has been the reclamation of derelict motor lodges. Motel Bear Lake (formerly Bella Vista Inn), purchased and retrofitted in 2023 by Marta Turnbull, uses progressive kitsch styling as merely a platform for something broader, more inclusive.
Perhaps a political anomaly for the quiet town of Bear Lake, the motel offers a “queer and cannabis friendly” respite, complemented by informed and carefully curated art and design throughout. In the same spirit that draws international art lovers to Marfa, Texas, Motel Bear Lake has maintained a mindful nod to its roots while unapologetically letting its freak flag fly.
Stay the Night
12273 West St., Bear Lake
motelbearlake.com
