Charlevoix Mushroom Thatch House. Walk to Downtown. Beach Across the Street!

Dear Guests,
I'm Barbara, Michael's Booking Manager. The beautiful Thatch House, a very charming and distinctive property, is something you'd expect as you turn a corner in the Cotswolds, England. But here it is, on the shores of Lake Michigan in its magnificent glory both summer and winter. Open all year, you can be cozy and warm in winter with the in-floor heating and fireplaces, or delight in the fabulous Charlevoix summer weather just yards from the beach. The owner is a world traveller so he has a trusted team of professionals helping him to run the Mushroom Houses - I handle all booking and financial questions, and Treasure helps you with any house questions or issues. We love our jobs and we love Charlevoix. We welcome you to The Thatch, our most beloved and distinctive house and hope you will like it as much as we do!

Dear Guests,

My "Mushroom House ensemble" consists of 4 distinct properties, all "rescued" Earl Young houses. Earl Young is the famous eccentric builder/architect who lined the Park Avenue stretch in front of Michigan Beach Park with his wonderful creations.

The main house of my "mushroom house compound". is called The Thatch House (304 Park Ave) along with The Chalet, attached at the rear. It was Earl Young's first home that he built for himself and his family. Part of this property was an old carriage house behind the main house. Both properties were in deplorable shape. Most potential buyers assumed they needed to be torn down, but I fell in love with them, and with the spirit of Earl Young that's on display along this beautiful stretch of Park Avenue. I bought the house and carriage house in 2013. Inspired, I also bought "Applecore" (8003 Mt McSauba Rd), a "Mushroom House" designed and built by Earl Young's daughter Virginia. This beautiful house sat empty for 9 years. The cottage (305 Clinton St), which shares the grounds with the main house on Park Ave, was also added to complete the collection.
I vowed to restore these properties. The house on Park Avenue was a special case, and I knew that with this property I would be going beyond, way beyond, merely restoring it. "Re-imagining" was a word used often in the extensive media coverage the building of this house generated—its iconic thatch roof has now become somewhat of a tourist attraction. For the carriage house I saw potential for use as a charming "chalet". It now shares the thatch roof of the main house—although it's otherwise separate, with its own private entrances.

My accountants told me I was crazy. And I knew they were right, but I did it anyway. It was a labor of love. That's why I didn't spare time nor expense to turn these properties into the best they could be. I wanted to do justice to the spirit of Earl Young!

Michael Seitz.

Being the first home that Earl Young ever built, and still having the original stone work, walls, fireplaces, and many details that he designed, this house creates an experience that no one else can offer.

Earl Young built this home for his family to live in, as they did for many years. However, it had been left derelict for some time until Michael Seitz bought the property and re-imagined it. He was inspired by the landscape as much as Earl had been, and was able to use his engineering background to design the current structure using the old foundation, stone steps and fireplaces inside. Michael had already built a house with a thatched roof, so he knew that this project was perfect for another. The Thatch House is famous - a unique experience you will never find duplicated. Enjoy your adventure!