Bowers Harbor Inn, built in the 1880s on Traverse City, Michigan’s, Old Mission Peninsula, was the summer home of Chicago lumber baron J.W. Stickney and his wife Genevive. Today the building houses the Jolly Pumpkin, a casual restaurant and brewery, and Mission Table, an upscale restaurant. However, even though the property has passed through several hands since the Stickney’s owned it, some say Genevive hasn’t left.
Dinner at the Jolly Pumpkin
My husband and I met Mike Norton, Media Relations Manager for Traverse City Tourism, and his wife Karen for dinner at the Jolly Pumpkin, a restaurant and brewery popular with locals. Jolly Pumpkin offers a variety of sandwiches, pizzas, salads and entrees complemented by artisan ales brewed on site. Since we were dining at a brewery on a peninsula jutting out into Grand Traverse Bay, I thought it right to order the fish and chips, Great Lakes perch prepared with an ale batter. It turned out to be a good choice. The batter was crisp and light enough that it didn’t overpower the tender fish.
- Do you believe in ghosts? In his years of travel writing and research, Dr
- Robin Mead has found that people are almost equally divided between believers in ghosts and those who think ghost stories are just that–entertaining stories
- In Haunted Hotels in America, you’ll find a state-by-state guide to the lodgings that cheerfully admit to having an intangible guest or two
- Like the spirits themselves, the stories are extraordinarily varied
- Some are sad
After dinner Mike and Karen showed us the rest of the Bowers Harbor Inn. The Mission Table restaurant’s menu showcases local foods and wines, like braised lamb shank with root vegetables or pan seared lake trout served with toasted couscous, kale and pumpkin.
We climbed up the staircase to the second floor, Mission Table’s private dining room with a beautiful view of the estate and the former bedroom of Genevive Stickney.
Genevive the ghost
Genevive may not believe it is no longer her bedroom, though, or that Bowers Harbor Inn is no longer her home, as some say she still makes her presence known. Legend has it that Genevive was a jealous woman. She had a weight problem and became so obese she had an elevator put into the home when it became difficult for her to climb the stairs to the second floor.
She placed a gilded mirror in the upstairs hall that supposedly made her look slimmer to herself.
As she grew larger and it became hard for Genevive to care for herself, her husband hired a nurse to care for her. Genevive was jealous of the nurse, and perhaps rightfully so. When her husband passed away, she found out during the reading of the will that although he left the mansion to Genevive, his fortune went to the nurse. Genevive became so distraught that she eventually hanged herself in the elevator shaft.
Over the years there have been accounts of a woman in an evening gown appearing in the background of the mirror as a guest looked into it. Pans have dropped, and faucets have turned on without explanation other than that Genevive is making it known that even though businesses have occupied the building for years, including the current Jolly Pumpkin and Mission Table restaurants, it is still her home, too.
If you visit Bowers Harbor Inn
The Jolly Pumpkin and Mission Table are located on the Old Mission Peninsula at 13512 Peninsula Drive, Traverse City, Michigan. Check their web sites for hours and menus.
Accommodations
We stayed at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in nearby Acme, Michigan, during our visit to Traverse City. Find the best hotel deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say at TripAdvisor.
Disclosures: My visit to Traverse City was hosted by Traverse City Tourism. However, any opinions expressed in this post are strictly mine.
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This is pure bs. My grandmother is one of the nurses who worked for Mr. stickney and his wife did not hang herself in an elevator. This is a silly story made up to make the place more intriguing. Wish Bowers harbor could just rely on their food and service instead of relying on outlandish, made up tales.
I meant Genevive one evening in 1970. She was standing at the head of the staircase that went up to the old bedrooms. She had a long red dress on. I grew up about a mile from the inn, and had heard about the stories.
My wife and I dined there some 30 yrs. ago or so. Although the stories are pure BS, it added a little extra spark to the Dining Experience. Worth taking the ride up the Peninsula, visiting the winery and lighthouse.
Had not known there was a peninsula there until someone had mentioned it. There were also rumors Geneveve also was seen walking the hall on the 2nd floor and also the elevator would operate with no one in it. The food was excellent.
True or not, the stories do add something to the restaurant experience. And you’re right, Abe, the food is great!
Remember my Old Mission neighbors Jim and Fern Bryant and several other investors reopening this Restaurant in the early 1950’s after it had set vacant many years…. Been open ever since. .
How interesting! Thanks for sharing that information, Richard.
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I took a short vacation to Traverse City with my roommate while in Grad School in 1975. We drove up the Peninsula and when I saw Bowers Harbor Inn, (at the time) I wanted to eat there, but it was late and we had to get back to NMU. I took a picture of the restaurant and said, “Someday I was going to come back here and eat dinner in their restaurant.” Thirty five years later, in 2010 after retiring from my SLP career I finally made it back to Michigan and what is now Mission Table. We ate outside, had a great time, and wonderful food. The setting for this venue is just so beautiful. Next mission…get my sister there with me because I’ll be back!
You should have eaten there in 1975. It was very quaint and romantic. The food was fantastic! Each renovation they‘ have done since has totally destroyed the wonderful ambiance it once had.
Carole Nelson
Formerly of Grand Rapids, MI