Idlewild, MI

Idlewild, wild and free
Our jumpin’ rhythms always calling me,
Country air, sweet and strong,
Packing up my suitcase
So it won’t be long,
Sing and dance ’til sundown,
It’s such a rat race in Chicago town,
Still I feel like a child,
Cuz I’m heading up to Idlewild.

– Ray Kamalay, Lansing, MI

Once called the “Black Eden”, Idlewild, Michigan was one of only a few resorts in the country prior to the 1960′s where African-Americans could vacation and purchase property. It was an active year-round community and was visited by professional and well-known entertainers from throughout the country. At its peak it was the most popular resort in the Midwest attracting as many as 25,000 visitors in the height of the summer season to enjoy camping, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, roller skating and night-time entertainment featuring the latest jazz, blues or soul. After the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which outlawed segregation, African Americans began to leave Idlewild and stay at the same resorts as whites. Today, community continues to be an important place for vacationers and retirees.

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