113 Years on the Lakeshore: The Early History of Whispering Surf (1913-1965)

As America celebrates its 250th birthday in 2026, we thought it was the perfect time to look back at the history of Whispering Surf Campground.

Many of our guests are surprised to learn that Whispering Surf has been welcoming visitors to Bass Lake for more than a century. Founded in 1913, the campground predates Michigan's first state park, the modern highway system, recreational vehicles, and even widespread automobile travel.

For 113 years, families have come to this special corner of Michigan's lakeshore seeking many of the same things they do today: time outdoors, time with family, and a chance to slow down and enjoy the beauty of Bass Lake and Lake Michigan.

Before Whispering Surf

In the late 1800s, the Bass Lake area looked very different than it does today. Logging was the primary industry, and timber harvested from the surrounding forests was floated across Bass Lake to Lake Michigan and shipped to markets in Chicago. A sawmill operated near the location of today's Summit Township Park.

The campground's story may have begun as early as 1911, when Reverend Arthur S. Morrison brought boys from his Chicago Episcopal church to the property for a summer choir camp. Local legend even suggests Morrison won the property in a poker game in Chicago, although records show he did not begin purchasing land here until several years later.

Camp Morrison Is Born

In 1913, Morrison established what became known as Camp Morrison.

At the time, reaching the camp was an adventure in itself. There was no road to Pentwater as we know it today. Guests typically arrived by boat at the Bass Lake outlet and walked the rest of the way to camp.

The earliest accommodations were tents, meals were prepared over open fires, and water came from a hand pump. A privy served the camp's sanitation needs. The operation was largely managed by a woman known as "Nana," a divorced woman whose grown children had already left home.

Over the next several years, tents gradually gave way to cabins. The Lodge, which still stands today, was built in 1915 and became the heart of camp life.

The Roaring Twenties at Camp Morrison

The 1920s brought growth and change.

Morrison became deeply involved in the early development of the Bass Lake community and was active in efforts to improve roads and services in the area. In 1921, meals began being served in the Lodge, transforming Camp Morrison into what was known as an "American Plan" resort. Families often returned year after year, spending entire weeks at the camp.

Most employees were Chicago teenagers and local farm women who helped prepare meals and care for guests.

Like much of America during the Prohibition era, Camp Morrison developed a colorful reputation. Local stories describe poker games, bunco parties, a slot machine, and ready access to alcohol despite national restrictions. There are even longstanding rumors that members of Detroit's Purple Gang vacationed at the resort.

At the same time, Camp Morrison remained a family destination. Saturday night square dances filled the Lodge with music and laughter, creating memories that guests carried home with them.

In 1929, Morrison and Nana were married.

A Resort Community

By the 1930s, Camp Morrison had grown into a thriving vacation destination.

Electricity had arrived, cabins were modernized, and the campground began advertising accommodations for the growing number of families traveling with automobiles and travel trailers.

The camp became known locally as "a fine place to eat." Meals featured produce and meats from nearby farms, along with breads, pies, and baked goods prepared in the Lodge's wood-fired oven.

The dinner bell, which still hangs at Whispering Surf today, rang three times each day to announce mealtime. Today, guests hear that same bell on Saturday evenings when it calls everyone to popcorn.

Camp life revolved around activities. Evening entertainment was common, and guests enjoyed access to Bass Lake, Lake Michigan, tennis courts, shuffleboard, golf, and a softball diamond.

At its peak, Camp Morrison included approximately 35 cottages spread across 30 acres.

War and Change

Like many resorts across the country, Camp Morrison felt the effects of World War II.

Tourism slowed dramatically during the war years, and the resort began adapting to changing vacation habits. Cabins were converted into housekeeping cottages with small kitchens, allowing families to prepare some of their own meals. A bathhouse provided modern restroom and shower facilities.

The postwar years brought even more change. As Americans embraced automobiles, camping, and do-it-yourself family vacations, fewer visitors wanted traditional resort meal service.

During the 1950s, meals in the Lodge gradually disappeared. Home-baked pies and cakes remained available for purchase, but families increasingly preferred to cook for themselves. The Lodge evolved into a store, library, and game room.

At the same time, portions of the original property were sold, including valuable lakefront acreage. Many cabins were removed, and some of the remaining structures began to deteriorate.

Ownership passed to George and Dickie Daggett. Dickie was Nana’s granddaughter.

Uncertain Times

The 1960s brought perhaps the greatest challenge in the campground's history.

An effort was launched to convert Camp Morrison into an Episcopal summer camp for boys. Although fundraising began and plans moved forward, strong local opposition ultimately caused the project to collapse.

For a brief period in 1965, the Lodge reopened for dances, but attendance was limited and the effort was short-lived.

By the middle of the decade, the future of Camp Morrison was uncertain. Many of the buildings were aging, tourism patterns had changed, and the once-thriving resort seemed destined to fade into history.

Fortunately, the story of Whispering Surf was far from over.

In our next installment, we'll explore how a college student with a $300 loan from his mother transformed a struggling resort into the campground many guests know and love today.