Destination Dowagiac 2026

Long before it was known as Lakeview Inn, the restaurant and bar overlooking Crooked Lake began its life as the Highland Home Resort. It was a welcoming escape during a time when families from Chicago were trading city smoke for fresh lake air. It was the Prohibition era when the resort first opened, but once the ban on alcohol was lifted, a tavern was added. Glass blocks became popular in the 1930’s and 40’s as they featured prominently in Art Deco and Streamline Moderne architecture. So a backlit bar made from those blocks would have been quite the statement. So much so that they became the centerpiece of the space and the inspiration for its name: Andy’s Glass Tap. Ownership changed hands over the years. The next owner kept the tradition and made the name Eddie’s Glass Tap, and then in 1961, Ade’s Glass Tap. Through each era, generations of locals and summer visitors pulled up a stool at that famous glowing bar. For the last 40 years, the building has carried a new name, Lakeview Inn, but step inside and you’ll still find that original glass bar standing, a luminous reminder of the past. Under the ownership of Courtney and Katy Young, Lakeview Inn has embraced the best of both worlds. Guests can enjoy excellent food, thoughtful service, and a lake view that rivals any in Sister Lakes. A large porch overlooks Crooked Lake with just the right angle to offer gorgeous summertime sunsets. It’s rare to see a place stand the test of time like this. A place that evolves with each generation while holding tight to its traditions. From Highland Home Resort to Ade’s Glass Tap to today’s Lakeview Inn, the spirit remains the same: good food, good

company, and the glow of that unforgettable glass bar lighting the way.

Since July 3, 1928, Ramona has been part of the rhythm of Sister Lakes life. Ramona is Michigan’s oldest rink and one of the oldest in the country. Originally built as the Ramona Dance Pavilion by the Adams brothers, the grand wooden hall quickly became the place to be. Big bands such as George Jones and the Nine Hawkeyes, Stan Norris and Orchestra, and Jack Windel and His Famous Orchestra filled the pavilion with music, and the dance floor pulsed as Ramona became the hot spot of Sister Lakes. By the 1950s, a new trend began rolling in. To fill the gaps when dances weren’t scheduled, Ramona introduced roller skating. In the 1960s, with new owner Earl Partrage at the helm, dancing gradually gave way to skating’s growing popularity. The Ramona Dance Pavilion officially evolved into the Ramona Roller Rink. In March 2003, current owner Harold Schaus purchased the rink. It was a full-circle moment as he began working there as a teenager in 1975. Under his leadership, Ramona continued to offer skate lessons, guest DJs, games, all-night skates, roller hockey, and countless birthday parties and community gatherings.

SISTER LAKES – 9