The Terrace Bay Inn, formerly known as the Terrace Gardens, originated in 1922, owned and operated by Paul & Robert Wickert, originally built as a summer resort and dance pavilion providing state of the art playground equipment for children, a bathing beach as well as a first class Dance Hall with all the amenities.
1932 marked the year tragedy struck and the hall was leveled by fire. This time more beautiful than ever with a new Spanish-style architecture, the Terrace Gardens was considered the most beautiful ballroom north of Milwaukee and rightly deserved the name “Michigan’s Wonder Ballroom.” With 4,000 square feet of dancing space, it permitted 750 persons at one time without the discomfort of overcrowding. In 1934 it changed hands. Arthur Pouliot, then the proprietor of the Hob Nob confectionery store in Escanaba, deciding to try his hand at operating the now failing Terrace Gardens. After WWII, along with two of his sons, Marvin and Austin, remodeling began again. A small kitchen for light luncheons and dinner, a T-shaped bar, and the Blue Room, known today as the Embers Room, were some of the many new additions. Once again, in 1947, fire swept through the Terrace Gardens, destroying the entire dance hall and portions of the home. In 1949, after extensive renovations and remodeling, the Hall reopened once again. This time a separate ballroom was built as well as a new T-shaped bar, the Blue Room restored, and small dining area were added off the main bar, known today as the Surf Room. When operations were turned over to Marvin in 1950, that’s when “Great Times Began.” Big bands ran on a regular basis and the Terrace was once again the “Pride of the Midwest,” showcasing such greats as Guy Lombardo, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Ted Weems with Perry Como, Glen Miller, Artie Shaw, Louie Armstrong, Dick Jurgens, Jan Garber, and 50’s greats such as the Ink Spots, 4 Lads, and the Platters. Over the next three decades, change and renovations were constant. In 1958, the addition of ten motel units was made to coincide with the newly opened Mackinaw Bridge. In 1963, square footage was added to the Surf Room, opening it up to the bay, with its wide expanse of large, picture windows. In 1968, the addition of the patio and dancing fountains finished the tranquil surroundings of the Surf Room and ballroom areas. In 1972, an additional fifty-one motel units were added to the north side of the ballroom, renamed the Terrace Motor Inn. After a brief hiatus from 1975 to 1985, Marv with his sons Mike, Tony and Dan and a daughter Jeanne, took control once again. Remodeling began immediately. The ballroom and bar areas were both refurbished. Also, the Terrace Motor Inn and Lake Bluff Golf and Country Club were merged to form the Terrace Bay Resort.
1993 marked the year the outdoor pool was enclosed, which included a game room and hot tub. 1995 – The motel office was revamped – taking in 1,000 square feet of space, more than doubling the size. In 1999, a three-tiered deck and boardwalk were added to enhance the scenic beauty of the shoreline. In 2002, a long anticipated boat launch project was opened along with a fish-cleaning facility, freezer storage, and shanty rentals. The facelift, totally gutting and restructuring with the addition of a 600 square foot lower level to gain more viewing capacity, a drift-stone fireplace to help utilize the room throughout the winter, and the addition of a combination salad bar-buffet/continental breakfast center in 2003. Even though we’ve remodeled and expanded many times over the decades to meet the changing needs of today’s market, we still remain one of a kind.
