Welcome toOur Story
Welcome to Mission Point and the sunrise side of Mackinac Island. We are incredibly proud of the extraordinary history Mission Point Resort has as the east side of the island has long been a place of gathering and hospitality.
We are a family-owned and operated resort hotel with immense pride for Mackinac Island. Our brand promise to our guests, visitors and staff members is extraordinary Mackinac Island experiences.
Early 1820s
Reverend William Ferry, a Protestant missionary, used the east end of Mackinac Island to establish Mission Church, which was one of the first protestant churches in the Midwest. He also used what is know Mission House to house and teach Native American children. This southeast end of Mackinac Island thus became known as Mission Point.
Reverend William Ferry, a Protestant missionary, used the east end of Mackinac Island to establish Mission Church, which was one of the first protestant churches in the Midwest. He also used what is know Mission House to house and teach Native American children. This southeast end of Mackinac Island thus became known as Mission Point.
1954 - 1958
The Moral Re-Armament (MRA), a multi-national group who promoted the philosophy of love, unselfishness, purity and honesty, settled on Mackinac Island and broke ground on the construction of what is now the Main Lodge and Straits Lodge. Nine fifty-foot trusses of Norway White Pine from nearby Bois Blanc Island were floated over to build the iconic rotunda-style structure. A movie production Sound Stage was constructed in 1958 and at the time was the second largest of its type in the world; the MRA used this space to produce movies and short films.
The Moral Re-Armament (MRA), a multi-national group who promoted the philosophy of love, unselfishness, purity and honesty, settled on Mackinac Island and broke ground on the construction of what is now the Main Lodge and Straits Lodge. Nine fifty-foot trusses of Norway White Pine from nearby Bois Blanc Island were floated over to build the iconic rotunda-style structure. A movie production Sound Stage was constructed in 1958 and at the time was the second largest of its type in the world; the MRA used this space to produce movies and short films.
1966 - 1970
For a brief 4-year stint, Mission Point's 18 acres served as the campus of Mackinac College. This educational institute operated for four years and graduated one class. The class just celebrated their 50th reunion!
For a brief 4-year stint, Mission Point's 18 acres served as the campus of Mackinac College. This educational institute operated for four years and graduated one class. The class just celebrated their 50th reunion!
1979
One of the most notable events at Mission Point occurred in 1979, when Universal Studios leased the Sound Stage mentioned earlier to produce the movie “Somewhere in Time” starring Christopher Reeve and Jayne Seymour. Most of the sets were built and utilized in the Sound Stage and the production team used the Theater for filming. The entire cast and crew were hosted at Mission Point, which was at that time was called the Inn on Mackinac.
One of the most notable events at Mission Point occurred in 1979, when Universal Studios leased the Sound Stage mentioned earlier to produce the movie “Somewhere in Time” starring Christopher Reeve and Jayne Seymour. Most of the sets were built and utilized in the Sound Stage and the production team used the Theater for filming. The entire cast and crew were hosted at Mission Point, which was at that time was called the Inn on Mackinac.
1987-2014
Detroit businessman John Shufelt purchased the property in 1987 and gave it the official name of Mission Point Resort, paying homage to our historical location. Through the Shufelts’ ownership, Mission Point gained the reputation as the “friendly and casual” hotel and resort option on Mackinac Island.
Detroit businessman John Shufelt purchased the property in 1987 and gave it the official name of Mission Point Resort, paying homage to our historical location. Through the Shufelts’ ownership, Mission Point gained the reputation as the “friendly and casual” hotel and resort option on Mackinac Island.
2014 - present
The Ware family purchases Mission Point with plans for stewardship of the property, improvements and renovations, and increased community involvement.
The Ware family purchases Mission Point with plans for stewardship of the property, improvements and renovations, and increased community involvement.
Our Current Chapter
Mission Point Resort was purchased in 2014 by Dennert and Suzanne Ware. They had an immediate plan of multi-million dollar updates while also preserving the important historical nature of the hotel. Since their ownership, Mission Point has added Lakeside Spa & Salon, renovated all 243 guest rooms and suites, refurbished the Conference Center, built the Promenade Deck outdoor pavilion event space, and done many more behind the scenes improvements to infrastructure, fire safety and overall guest experience. The goal of Mission Point is to provide extraordinary Mackinac Island experiences and with the investments that the Ware family has made, the hotel has seen continued success. Three of five Ware siblings, Mark, Liz and DJ, are involved in the day-to-day operations of the resort.