The Butler

You are now sitting in one of Saugatuck's oldest, continuously used buildings. Built in 1892, this building originally operated as a steam powered mill until it was sold to a Great Lakes sailor in 1900. After the necessary alterations, the Hotel Butler quickly became a popular destination for the area's many visitors due to its convenient location near the Interurbans Saugatuck terminal. The original hotel consisted of 30 guest rooms, a dining room and bar. Wide porches wrapped around the lower two stories, providing its guests with a beautiful view of Lake Kalamazoo. Through Decades of economic and social changes, which included the loss of Great Lakes passenger shipping, the Great Depression, and Prohibition, the Hotel Butler remained a successful eating and lodging establishment. In 1961, our parents, Verser and Pat White, took over operations of the Hotel Butler and maintained it as a hotel for 10 years. In 1971, the aging and outdated hotel rooms were closed. In 1972, the top two stories were removed, leaving the present day restaurant and bar. The arched glass doorway and fireplace remain intact - a reminder of the original Hotel Butler Because of its altered exterior appearance, many people think that Hotel Butler burned. They are thinking instead of the fire in May, 1960, which destroyed the Pavilion, a popular dance hall and theatre. Today, the Singapore Yacht Club parking lot occupies the spot where the Pavilion once stood. The boardwalk you see in one of the longest wooden boardwalks along the Great Lakes. The Butler, as it is now called, continues to be a popular destination for the area's many visitors. We are proud to continue our family tradition of serving you food and drink - with the best views in town - for 50 years. We hope you enjoy your visit to the Butler and look forward to seeing you again soon.