113 Years on the Lakeshore: How Whispering Surf Became the Campground We Know Today (1966-Present)

Last month, we shared the early history of Camp Morrison, from its beginnings as a lakeshore resort in 1913 through the challenges that nearly brought its story to an end in the 1960s.

By 1966, the future of the property was uncertain. Many of the buildings were aging, tourism patterns had changed, and the once-thriving resort seemed destined to become another piece of local history.

Instead, a young college student saw something worth saving.

A $300 Investment

In 1966, Reg Yaple was a college sophomore who had grown up on a Pentwater-area farm. When he learned Camp Morrison was for sale, he borrowed $300 from his mother, Dorothy, for a down payment and purchased the property.

His vision was to create a modern camping resort.

Ironically, Reg did not realize campers had already been using the property for decades. Travel trailers had been appearing at Camp Morrison since the 1930s, but Reg believed he was introducing an entirely new concept.

That summer, he began cleaning up and modernizing the property. Campsites were installed with 15-amp electrical service, and the campground reopened on July 4, 1966, with 32 campsites.

Not everyone welcomed the change. Some local residents opposed the idea of a campground, and the first season included several incidents of vandalism.

Reg responded by giving the property a new identity.

The name Camp Morrison was retired and replaced with Whispering Surf Travel Trailer Village, helping distance the campground from the party atmosphere and alcohol-centered reputation that had developed during Camp Morrison's later years.

He also began rebuilding the property's connection to Bass Lake by purchasing back shoreline parcels that had been sold decades earlier.

By the end of the 1960s, Whispering Surf had become a licensed campground with 45 sites and a promising future.

Dorothy Steps In

Just as the campground was gaining momentum, Reg was drafted into the Army and sent to Vietnam.

Once again, Whispering Surf's future seemed uncertain.

Dorothy Yaple stepped in to run the campground while her son was overseas.

Family stories tell of Dorothy managing the campground while also teaching summer school. Reg's younger sister, only ten years old at the time, often helped in the office and occasionally found herself running it alone while her mother was teaching.

Reg returned home in 1969, but Dorothy's role in the campground's success was only beginning.

Growing with the Community

The 1970s brought significant changes to the area.

Construction of the Ludington Pumped Storage Plant created demand for housing and infrastructure throughout the region. Water and sewer service became available, allowing some campground sites to remain open year-round.

Reg purchased the property across the street on Sunset Lane, creating room for future expansion. For a short time, he experimented with a mobile home sales lot and residential sites. The current Mayor Cottage was moved from the Yaple family farm back to the campground and became the campground office.

The experiment was short-lived.

Summer guests preferred a traditional vacation campground, and Reg eventually removed the mobile homes and refocused entirely on camping.

The campground continued to grow. A playground was constructed in 1973, fifteen additional campsites were added in 1974, and Whispering Surf continued establishing itself as a favorite destination for families visiting Bass Lake and Lake Michigan.

During a renovation of the women's restroom in the Lodge, workers discovered a mysterious concrete box beneath the floor. It was never opened, and its purpose remains one of Whispering Surf's enduring mysteries.

In 1976, Reg accepted a horticulture position with the University of Alaska.

Once again, Dorothy stepped forward.

While Reg traveled back to Michigan each spring and fall to open and close the campground, Dorothy became the person who operated Whispering Surf day after day throughout the summer season.

The Woman Who Kept It Going

By the 1980s, Reg had considered selling the campground.

Dorothy had other ideas.

After the Yaple family farm was sold, she asked Reg to keep Whispering Surf and allow her to continue operating it. He agreed.

For another fifteen summers, Dorothy served as the heart of the campground. With the help of a work-camper couple, she welcomed guests, solved problems, and maintained the traditions that kept families returning year after year.

Many guests may not have realized it at the time, but Dorothy's dedication helped preserve Whispering Surf through a period when many small family campgrounds disappeared.

Modernizing for a New Century

As Dorothy slowed down in the 1990s, Reg spent more time in Michigan and began updating the campground for the future.

A new well improved water service throughout the property. The Lodge received new windows and siding. The men's and women's restrooms were modernized. Additional campsites were added, bringing the campground to 65 sites.

In 1997, Dorothy passed away.

The following year, the ark was added to the playground, creating a feature that generations of children have enjoyed ever since.

In the 2000s, additional sites were converted to full hookups, and campground manager Don Coleson was hired so Reg could continue operating his seed company.

Entering a Second Century

Whispering Surf celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013 with a week-long celebration honoring the generations of guests, employees, and owners who helped shape the campground.

A mini-golf course was added in 2011 on property across from the campground. While it has since been removed, it reflected the continuing effort to evolve and improve the guest experience.

In 2017, Reg Yaple passed away while in the process of selling the campground to Jane and Andy Hathaway.

The Hathaways continued investing in the property, remodeling and reopening three cabins and constructing an owner's residence across the street from the main campground.

In 2022, Whispering Surf entered another chapter when ownership passed to the Manning family.

More Than a Campground

Today, guests arrive by pickup truck, SUV, motorhome, fifth wheel, travel trailer, or bicycle instead of by boat.

The hand pump has been replaced by modern water systems. The privy is long gone. Meals are no longer served in the Lodge, and the Saturday night square dances have given way to new traditions.

Yet much remains the same.

Families still gather around campfires. Children still race to the playground. Guests still walk to Bass Lake and Lake Michigan. Friendships are formed, memories are made, and another generation discovers the simple joy of spending time outdoors.

More than a century after Reverend Morrison welcomed his first guests, Whispering Surf continues the tradition that began in 1913: providing a place where families can gather, relax, and enjoy the beauty of Michigan's lakeshore.

Here's to the next chapter.