Christopher Labelle's Contact Details

Christopher Labelle's Company Details

The Kirby Hotel

Douglas, Michigan, United States • 5 Employees
Hospitality

Come taste the finest food and sip on delicious wines while you relax in one of our custom, redesigned rooms here at The Kirby. With it's modern yet charming vintage feel, you will find yourself falling in love with the deep history of the hotel, Saugatuck and people that make our place warm and unique.Sarah and Frank Kirby were married in 1883. After seven years of marriage, Sarah Kirby took out the first mortgage on the original Kirby House in 1890, the first year of its existence. Although she could not vote at the time, her name was the only one on the mortgage despite her marriage. After Frank died in 1896, Sarah continued to live in the Queen Anne style mansion until the year 1932 when she moved to California to be closer to her grandchildren. She was 70 years old. However before she did part way with the house, she was able to convert the home into a hospice-type home for patrons. This change paved the path for the house to then become the area's local hospital from 1932-1960. Many local residents still in the area today were born in one of the bedrooms. Until 1983 the house had a number of different jobs, from a real estate office to an antique store as well as continuing to be a rooming house for passerby's. In that year two devoted individuals, Loren and Marsha Kontio, bought the house and renovated it into a bed and breakfast. It was bought and "re-opened" in 1998 by Ray Riker and Jim Gowran until they sold the house in 2010.The Kirby sat vacant for many years watching as people gazed at her size, wondering if there would come a time when someone would take a chance.In fall of 2013, Jay Paul Deratany used the home as base-camp for his movie titled "Saugatuck Cures." After 3 weeks of filming in the home, Jay Paul decided to take the Kirby House under his wing and give the Kirby a revamped look and feel. Renovations on the home began in February 2014. The Kirby reopened as a boutique hotel and wine bar in early July 2014.