The Belvedere and Chicago Clubs: A Lakeside Legacy

 

Important Note About Private Communities

 

Although the Belvedere Club and Chicago Club are a special part of Charlevoix’s history, they remain private seasonal communities rather than public attractions. Their homes, clubhouses, waterfront areas, and surrounding grounds are privately owned. Visitors may not enter the properties, walk through the neighborhoods, access private docks, beaches, or take photos on private grounds. These communities can be appreciated as part of Charlevoix’s story while respecting the privacy and safety of the families who continue to preserve them.

 

Charlevoix has long been established as a premier destination for northern Michigan vacations, a reputation significantly shaped by the historic Chicago and Belvedere Clubs for over a hundred years. Established in 1878, the Belvedere Club predates the Chicago Club, founded in 1881. These private communities have been summer homes to generations, creating a close-knit community and serving as a reminder of Charlevoix’s early history. 

 

Charlevoix Train Depot

Completed in 1892 to serve the Chicago & West Michigan Railway, the Charlevoix Train Depot offered travelers a more dependable and streamlined alternative to traditional steamship travel. Before these rail lines were extended, the area was mainly reached via maritime routes across Lake Michigan. The introduction of this rail infrastructure significantly improved accessibility, enabling families throughout Michigan and the broader Midwest to conveniently access the growing summer destination.

 

The train depot was especially important to the members of the Belvedere Club and the Chicago Club. The train would stop near the Belvedere Club and then on to the main depot near the Chicago Club. This streamlined mode of transportation simplified travel significantly, encouraging a growing number of families to vacation in Charlevoix and build multi-generational properties.

 

As automobile travel advanced, the reliance on railways dwindled, leading to the eventual closure of Charlevoix’s depots. The primary train station (located at Depot Beach) was subsequently acquired and restored by the Charlevoix Historical Society. Today, this carefully preserved landmark remains a symbol of the historic transportation links that once greeted numerous visitors.

 

The Belvedere Club

Established in 1878, the Belvedere Club is a private community consisting of 91 homes nestled along Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix. Originally populated by residents from Kalamazoo, Michigan, the community expanded to include families from Chicago, Cincinnati, and St. Louis seeking a cooler summer retreat. This seasonal club is defined by a deep sense of community, as many properties have been handed down through multiple generations, from parents to children and grandchildren. These long-standing family homes have not only ensured the preservation of the club's historic architecture but have also fostered a unique culture built on shared memories and family ties. 

 

 

As the Belvedere grew in prestige, the community decided they wanted a golf club of their own to further enhance their exclusivity. In 1925, members of the Belvedere community hired Scottish golf architect William Watson to create an 18-hole golf course off Marion Center Road. Although closely associated with the Belvedere summer residents, the golf club has its own membership, and not all Belvedere homeowners are members. Many residents and their families have played there for generations, while others enjoy the club through guest privileges and seasonal activities. Since its completion in 1927, the course has served as both a recreational destination and an important social space for the Belvedere and Charlevoix communities. Since then, the course has been known for the remarkable upkeep of the original course designs. From 1963 to 1988, the Belvedere Golf Club held the distinction of hosting the Michigan Amateur Championship for twenty-six consecutive years, a tenure longer than any other club in the state.

Now more than a century old, the Belvedere Club remains a vibrant private seasonal community rooted in family and tradition. Each summer, residents continue to reconnect with neighbors and friends through activities like tennis, golf, and boating. By passing down both their homes and traditions from one generation to the next, members have successfully maintained the club's unique historical legacy.

 

Constructed in 1922, the Belvedere Casino (clubhouse) stood for over 100 years, serving as a dining and entertainment space for members of the Belvedere community. Tragically, on October 23, 2025, the historic Clubhouse burned down. The Belvedere Club has plans to rebuild the cornerstone of its community by 2027. 

 

 

The Chicago Club

Established in 1881 as a private seasonal resort community consisting of 31 homes located on the north side of the Pine River Channel and Lake Charlevoix. The Chicago Club was founded by members of Chicago’s First Congregational Church who wanted to build a summer retreat away from the city. Over time, the Chicago Club became home to generations of families who returned to Charlevoix each summer to enjoy boating, swimming, outdoor recreation, and supporting a close-knit social atmosphere.  Built in 1881, the Chicago Club clubhouse serves as the centerpiece of this historic resort. This Stick Style wooden structure originally featured a dining room for communal resident meals or entertainment, sitting rooms, a two-story veranda, and 27 bedrooms. Many of the homes within the community are built in the same Stick Style. Similar to the Belvedere Club, many Chicago Club residences have remained within the same families for generations, helping preserve both the architecture and traditions of the community.

 

Members of the Chicago Club helped aid in the development of recreation within Charlevoix. In 1896, Club Members John P. Wilson and Edward C. Waller established the Chicago Golf Club, also designed by William Watson, and featured a 9-hole course for the summer residents. The Chicago Golf Club was one of the earliest regulation golf courses in the United States. Before being sold to the city of Charlevoix, the golf course was expanded to an 18-hole course. After the sale it was reverted back to a 9-hole course. On April 14, 1937 the Chicago Golf Club was sold to the City of Charlevoix for the symbolic price of one dollar. Following this transition, the grounds became public and were renamed to the Charlevoix Golf Club/Charlevoix Municipal Golf Course. Today, the course remains a walkable 9-hole course, allowing visitors to experience a piece of Charlevoix’s early recreation history firsthand.  The Charlevoix Golf Club continues to uphold the legacy of the Chicago Club and its foundational role in the advancement of local public recreation and golfing traditions within Charlevoix.

Currently, the Chicago Club stands as a reminder of the early resort period in Charlevoix. Its historic clubhouse, private residences, and scenic waterfront grounds provide a lasting link to the city's heritage, where generations of families return annually to uphold the community spirit that first drew them from Chicago to Charlevoix over a century ago.

 

For more information on the history of the Chicago Club, please visit the Charlevoix Golf Club pro shop.