History of Lost Valley
​Lost Valley property was originally a logging and fruit farm. The old farmhouse on Fruitvale Road at the entrance to Lost Valley has a mysterious history (though unverified) of murder and mayhem. The road back to the Lake was a two track logging trail and the Lake was only accessible by tractor.
1950s
Ben Hennink purchased the property in the early 1950s with the intent of developing a leadership camp for young future farmers from around Michigan. He built the ranch house next to the old farmhouse as a place to stay while gradually improving the road back to the Lake. The “Lodge” was built (now condos) and the first summer camp was held with teen home economics students in attendance. In 1960 East Lansing High School had its senior class trip to Lost Valley, the first of several in subsequent years.
1960s
Ben sold the property in the mid 1960s. The new owner developed about a ½ mile of road along the Lake shore. Lots were plotted, sold and cottages were built. After numerous legal battles due to lack of payment on the land contract, the property was sold to a consortium. The Lake shore road was extended down to the cul-de-sac, lots were purchased and more cottages were built. The “Lodge” became a gathering place for the community that included a restaurant.
Present
The name “Lost Valley” originated with Ben Hennink – the property was a “lost” haven tucked back in through the woods where there were eagles, deer, the Lake and PEACE! The Lake lots have had several generations of family owners and it remains a place to gather, swim, sail and enjoy the beauty and quiet (sometimes stormy) experience of Lake Michigan.
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If you have any information or pictures to share about the History of Lost Valley, we would love to hear from you.
Email lostvalleypoa@gmail.com or use our contact form.
Audio History
This is a 3 part audio history of Gray Dunes and Lost Valley - 1939 to 1967 or so, narrated by Rod Jellema in 2017.
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It begins in 1939 with a 100 mile hike that Rod Jellema (11 years old at the time) and Dirk Jellema - cousin (15 years old at the time), took from Holland to Ludington. In the hike they discovered the shoreline now know as Gray Dunes and Lost Valley. It is believed that Dirk eventually purchased the property known as Lost Valley in 1967 (maybe for $9999.70).
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Taken from a blog written after Rod’s death in 2018 - written by James Blatt for the Reformed Journal:
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"Early on Rod had hiked Lake Michigan’s east coast from Holland to Ludington with his cousin and had espied a particular stretch north of Montague that the two aimed to develop into an artist-intelligentsia retreat, Dutch-American style. The community would feature a jazz club and sites for Calvin and Hope College faculty and alumni to build summer places, gathering betimes to continue those scintillating discussions they had carried on at college.The jazz club failed, and the finances didn’t all work out, but a fair number of the intended participants did indeed build cottages there.”