Michigan Radio & TV Buzzboard

Just watched a feature on Local 4 about a place called Idlewild. For six generations, it's been an area where blacks could vacation and relax without worrying about being discriminated. Nice lake. Good historical narrative. Was interesting. Blacks still go there to relax, kayak, fish, and unwind.

Nowhere is it mentioned where it's at. I was able to infer it's somewhere in Michigan. That's it. Just seems odd that whoever wrote this story may of thought to mention just where Idlewild is. And no, I shouldn't have to just Google it.

It’s in Lake County, east of Ludington. It’s also one of the Top 5 poorest counties in the State of Michigan

I think Lake County is the only county in the Lower Peninsula that has never had a full-power station licensed to a community within it. There has been a religious satellator in Baldwin for years and there is a NOAA repeater in the county as well.

I noticed the same thing when I saw the story. I knew about the place because I had heard about it years ago, but it seemed like she was trying to keep it a secret in the story.

What an ass

MWmetalhead wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 6:37 pm Yup. Just off US 10 about five miles east of Baldwin. Yates Township.

Paula Tutman did the report.

ftballfan wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 6:51 pm I think Lake County is the only county in the Lower Peninsula that has never had a full-power station licensed to a community within it. There has been a religious satellator in Baldwin for years and there is a NOAA repeater in the county as well.

Idlewild, and Lake County in general, is pretty run down and pathetic. Really nothing there but lots of poor people and forest land. Only fast food in the county is a Subway. Pretty much a drive through county I.e. you’re driving thru there to get to somewhere else

Realist wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 9:17 pm

MWmetalhead wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 6:37 pm Yup. Just off US 10 about five miles east of Baldwin. Yates Township.

Paula Tutman did the report.

ftballfan wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 6:51 pm I think Lake County is the only county in the Lower Peninsula that has never had a full-power station licensed to a community within it. There has been a religious satellator in Baldwin for years and there is a NOAA repeater in the county as well.

Idlewild, and Lake County in general, is pretty run down and pathetic. Really nothing there but lots of poor people and forest land. Only fast food in the county is a Subway. Pretty much a drive through county I.e. you’re driving thru there to get to somewhere else

The subway is gone now too.

Is Dairy Queen still open on M-37? Of course I'd rather patronize Jones for an ice cream fix. And Pompeii's subs (and pizza) were a better option than a gas station Subway.

Spent every summer near Wolf Lake as a kid at my grandparents' place. When Meijer Thrifty Acres opened in Traverse City in the 70s, poor old Baldwin never really recovered from that- grocery store wise at least.

Never could figure out if Lake County was "up north" or "west Michigan". Always seemed stuck in between. Maybe that's why 4 didn't give the location. They couldn't figure it out either.

Also, I never cease to be amused by just how many stories there have been about Idlewild. It's been making a "comeback" since the 70s but never seems to quite match the hype of the news reports.

Idlewild has a very interesting tie into the many years of racism in this state. It was a way for white people to shuttle African Americans away from their cities without feeling bad about it. It is significant.

There's great fishing in Lake County on the Pere Marquette River and a significant bit of tourism industry connected to same, they get plenty of snowmobile visitation when the winters allow. I don't know if the prison that was built north of Baldwin still is operating, but it truly is a beleaguered place.

Can't specify that I ever made it into the Government Lake Lodge, a bar/restaurant where US-10 and M-37 run together north of Baldwin, but it was a biker's favorite (The Blessing of the Bikes continues each Spring, for motorcycle fans) before it burned down in the last couple of years.

km1125 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 7:19 pm I noticed the same thing when I saw the story. I knew about the place because I had heard about it years ago, but it seemed like she was trying to keep it a secret in the story.

On the Flintstones, Fred was walking home with a fishing pole and an empty pail. Barney stopped him and said, "Where ya been, Fred?"

Fred: At my secret fishing spot.
Barney (noticing the empty pail): Where are your fish?
Fred: It's so secret, even the fish don't know about it.

Bobbert wrote: ↑Tue Aug 30, 2022 10:55 am

km1125 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 7:19 pm I noticed the same thing when I saw the story. I knew about the place because I had heard about it years ago, but it seemed like she was trying to keep it a secret in the story.

On the Flintstones, Fred was walking home with a fishing pole and an empty pail. Barney stopped him and said, "Where ya been, Fred?"

Fred: At my secret fishing spot.
Barney (noticing the empty pail): Where are your fish?
Fred: It's so secret, even the fish don't know about it.

MWmetalhead wrote: ↑Tue Aug 30, 2022 4:00 pm The Pere Marquette is indeed a very popular fly fishing destination.

Plenty of snowmobile trails up there, too. Lots of logging activity up there.

Baldwin used to have a McDonalds, but it closed many years ago. There is a large grocery store about 10 miles south of town, closer to Big Star Lake. There is a nice Ace Hardware right in town.

Those desiring fast food need to drive about 18 miles to Reed City.

And at least four Dollar Generals! From my limited experience in Lake County, there are some good local restaurants (Barski on 10/37 between the north split and Baldwin and Na-Tah-Ka in the Bass Lake area just to name two that I have personally experienced)