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Looking for farm/resorts in Illinois or Michigan

Looking for farm/resorts in Illinois or Michigan

Old Jan 1st, 2007, 02:46 PM
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Looking for farm/resorts in Illinois or Michigan

Someone posted earlier about a farm/resort in South Haven, MI called Sunnybrook Farm. I have been unable to find any information about it. If anyone has any other farms to receommend where my family and I can stay for a few day, please let me know, including contact information. Thanks!

-Rebecca
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Old Mar 9th, 2007, 06:12 AM
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Rebecca, I was curious about this also. My family used to go to a resort called Sunnybrook Farm in South haven , MI when I was a kid. That was about 30 years ago. Last year I tried to see if it was still there. I have been unable to find any info on it. I would love to take my family there. Our vacations there were some of my best memories. Reminds me of the resort that's pictured in the movie "Dirty Dancing". I hate to say it but I doubt if it still exists. You don't find too many family resorts anymore.
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Old Mar 9th, 2007, 08:23 AM
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Sunnybrook Resort
68300 County Road
South Haven, MI 49090

Phone: (269) 639-8441
Fax: (616) 639-8441

I found it on a google search. There are also many other places like Fidelman's and Sleepy Hollow- but I agree, Sunnybrook is a one in a million.

If you ever saw the movie "Dirty Dancing"- that resort is higher end and with a different style, but then you "get" some of the feeling of
Sunnybrook. People went certain weeks just to see other people who had those same weeks. One or two weeks it was 90% Chicago cops and firemen and their families. LOL!

I have no idea if that entity is in business anymore- but found a bunch of stuff on the Internet when I googled. There is an OFFICIAL Sunnybrook Farm Resort postcard on sale on e-bay. LOL!
Look at the pictures, and you'll remember.

My kids, all three and of vastly different ages, were Sunnybrook addicts. They would rather go to Sunnybrook, even as teenagers, than anywhere else on earth. Moms may not see their own kids until family style dinnertime, and they LOVED it like that and with the freedom/ choices they had. Kid heaven.

One I do KNOW still exists and is in full operation is Sleepy Hollow. That is NOT like Sunnybrook for food etc. but is similar in lodging and activities and right ON Lake Michigan with fantastic beach AND pool AND other a.c. features. South Haven too, I believe.

Sunnybrook was operated by one extremely large family, like mine- extended cousins etc. and lots of their friends worked there in summers too. But the operation was immense and I bet if they are still "doing" and running the "farm" that many other professionals are probably involved now.

As a funny aside, or semi-funny. One year at Sunnybrook when I was in my younger 30's and with 3 kids and two parents with me there, I got a tremendous high fever type flu and was "out" of it literally for 2 days. But I vaguely remembered a conga line of kids drumming there way through the cabin and into the back room/ and out showing me their drums and other handmade crafts etc.

Food was great- I can still picture my youngest at about 2 running around there with his corn on the cob in hand, chewing and laughing.
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Old Mar 9th, 2007, 08:24 AM
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Oh that is SO funny, how we posted about the "Dirty Dancing" reference at the same time.

Great minds!
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Old Mar 9th, 2007, 08:41 AM
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JJ5, I am so excited to find someone else who has shared the experience of Sunnybrook. I was just wondering if it was the same one. I have heard others talk about an actual farm called sunnybrook. The place we used to go was more of a resort.(family oriented, not real stylish) It had organized games for both the kids and adults.There were talent shows,a teen club, and a park with an old car that you could climb in. I also remember a porch where you could buy snacks like snow cones. There were counsellors with names like Jumping Jimmy. Does this seem like the same place you went to? Also I went on enay to look for the postcard and couldn't find it. Was it recently?
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Old Mar 9th, 2007, 08:59 AM
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Oh yes, that's it. And the kids will now go to the dairy to see ice cream being made with "Milkmaid Mary".

One time I won the "adult" horse races at the casino "games". Remember the dances? My son-in-law and daughter won the volleyball teams once.

You could also get peanut butter sandwiches in the back clubhouse kitchen from 10pm to midnight.

google Sunnybrook Farm Resort South Haven MI

You will get pages and pages of stuff. The E-bay postcard was one about 3 or 5 down from the top. Not too far in.
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Old Mar 9th, 2007, 09:07 AM
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Oh my gosh! I had forgotten about the peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches. They never tasted so good as when I was eating them after 10pm. That was considered late as a kid.
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Old Mar 26th, 2007, 12:10 PM
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Hi all,
I am 24 and I used to go with my family to Sunny Brook. I started off as a baby then became a "Sunny Fun-cluber", Then I got one year of being a teen in before they change there ways at Sunny Brook. I have so many great memories from these vacations. I loved being a teen and sitting at the "teen" table. I remember names like Hosebag Hiedie and Tony the tiger. We used to go way back in to the woods and have bomefires and drink, we were bad kids. I even remember the song..."Sunny brook will shine tonight sunny brook will shine, when the sun does down and the moon comes up sunny brook will shine". We once T-P'ed the Jewish camp across the rode, and we used to go to finland to play video games and go carting. I really miss that place, the sand volleyball, the shuffle board, the games and outings, even the early morning wake up "Good moring sunny brookers breakfast is now being served breakfast is now being served" (bell) ding a linga ling...
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Old Mar 27th, 2007, 07:22 AM
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Oh thanks airplanes! I forgotten about the song! I know all the words-once I got started. I'm going to "use" it with my daughter when we are at Big Fish Lake in MI near Marcellus- and watch her face. LOL!

She was about 19 the last time we went and she is 37 today. Doesn't time just have wings?

When, airplanes, did it end?

To anyone topping this thread and to rsolomon if still interested- I was in SW Michigan last week for 6 days and have noted that there are NUMEROUS New Buffalo and Northwards- all the way to the Upper P. resort/spas/B&B's etc. places that are advertising now on vacation information "sheets" at the vineyards. I did some wine tasting at Warner, St. Julian, Tabor Hill- etc.

And one in South Haven is Sleepy Hollow, individual cottages right on the lake- with pool etc. Not fancy spa, but family orientated. But inland and on smaller lakes MANY high end spas etc. like The Sanctuary near Three Rivers.
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Old Mar 28th, 2007, 11:52 AM
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I was 13 when it change it's format for the summer now I am 24 so it was the summer of 95 when I last went then the summer of 96 we went to a place called Bear foot bay in WI. Some of the people who went the same week we did to SBF went to WI with us that summer but it still was not the same, I have never had another summer vacation like the ones at SBF. I heard the owner became a drug user and thats were all the money went...I hope that is not true because that would be such a shame if that is why it all came to an end...
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Old Mar 28th, 2007, 12:52 PM
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Thanks, airplanes, I have really, really wondered. When we were there last we went for a partial week and I could see that there were ownership problems big time, but I thought it was more than 1 person.

Wasn't it something!! Could you imagine the liability issues that might occur today though over the kinds of activities we all did! And the food for such large groups was great. My kids are late 30's and they still think it was the closest to heaven you could get here on Earth.
LOL!
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Old Apr 19th, 2007, 01:30 PM
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It is great to hear that there are still some Sunny Brookers out there.
I am the former childrens activities director Jumpin' Jimmy. I was even more suprised to see that sombody actually remembered me! The Ott Family sold off
the resort a few years ago and the remaining family member are living in the Fort Myers Florida area.
Sunny Brook was a wonderful place to grow up. My family started going there when I was in grade school. I liked being there so much that I worked many summers for the Otts.
Remember "When the Sun goes down,
and the moon comes up,
Sunny Brook will shine!"
Now lets get on with the shuffleboard tourny. JJ
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Old Apr 19th, 2007, 01:54 PM
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"Sunnybrook will shine tonight, Sunnybrook will shine.

Sunnybrook will shine tonight,
Sunnybrook will shine.

When the Moon comes up and the sun goes down, Sunnybrook will shine."

Glad to hear you are fine, Jumpin Jim.

And so funny that the Ott's are in Ft Meyers. So is my ex.

It was great in all those years it lasted.
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Old Apr 19th, 2007, 02:46 PM
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Does anyone else find it funny that REBECCA is looking for SUNNYBROOK FARM?



Keith
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Old Apr 20th, 2007, 06:21 AM
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Keith, I was going to say that at the very beginning of this last winter, but I thought someone would go on at me again, as has been usual here, as what they think is funny is often not what I think is funny.

But I did think it funny, noticed the Rebecca, and wondered if that really was her name or one just for this post.

AW, regardless, it WAS Rebecca at Sunnybrook Farm and so much more. The kind of fun you just don't find anymore in our PC, liability or "protected" type world.

Last night I was thinking about some nights at Sunnybrook. I remember one playing volleyball when the mosquitoes were like birds. And one where I won the "horse" races etc. Fun, fun place and I bet 1000's of people have memories of it.
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Old Aug 17th, 2007, 04:51 AM
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omg, probably none of the original posts are going to read this, but my brother just found this thread and sent it to me because we were talking about SBF. We went there for 5 years and I got one year at the teen lounge and teen table. That was the most awesome place on earth. And I remember Jumpin' Jimmy! We were there from 1968-1973. I loved running around with a bunch of kids feeling like I was totally free. I don't remember any kids that were unhappy there! It was so awesome to read posts from others that were there.

I loved going into the kitchen at 10:00 at night and eating left overs. If you were lucky, there was leftover chocolate cake! But you could get leftover chicken from dinner and whatever they had. And while you were there, whoever else was in the kitchen was like your own family! I remember our first waitress was Dee. She fed us every meal for the week. Do any of you remember the talent show, and how the dads would dress up and have a beauty pageant? It was so silly and fun. Too bad we can't just let our pc notions go and be silly and fun any more. I remember all the pictures in the main lodge by the juke box of the Ott family. Bud was the patriarch, but I don't remember any other names.

My first crush was on a boy I met there every year but the last because he couldn't go that year. His name was Steve Seminario. He always went up there with his cousin, but I don't remember her name. Some times I wonder how he is. Nice family.

I wish I knew where that property was, because I'd love to go see it. I visited South Haven a couple years ago, but I don't have a clue. Remember Sherman's Ice Cream Parlor where they made the ice cream? The counselors would pile us up into vans and I think a bus and bring us into town and we'd sing songs about the bear stood around with his foot on the ground! I also remember, was it Jumpin' Jimmy(?) would JUMP over the camp fire. I could go on with those great memories all day. Thanks to all for the great posts.

mosey
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Old Aug 17th, 2007, 06:36 AM
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mosey, oh yes!

We went in slightly later years than you did. Starting just about the time you ended. We went three years in a row when my oldest kids were about 11 to 15 and my baby was about 2 to 5.

I remember how excited he was because he (oldest) got to the teen table and perks, and how my daughter was bummed out at being on the cusp, but just missing.

Do you remember the horse races? I also remember Sherman's and the van.
And I have a picture in my head of my youngest running around with a corn on the cob eating it from the kitchen, late one night.

Oh, was it FREE and angstless! Free and easy beyond description, a real fellowship. There is nothing at all I can think of in existence now that is even close. The liabilities alone, I just shudder to think of them.

One time I had a fever and a whole group of about 30 kids came through my cabin with a home made instrument band to celebrate my recovery.

My oldest kids are 37 and 39 and we are looking, researching for a trip next summer all together with their families for the first time. What we are really looking for is a Sunnybrook in Colorado or Utah or even CA, but they do not exist.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2007, 04:59 AM
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HI JJ5-Just got back from Traverse City, Michigan with my kids! We had a great time at the Great Wolf Lodge. Not Sunny Brook, but lots to do there. Totally not Sunny Brook, because it's pricey, which, as a kid, Idk, but I'm guessing Sunny Brook was a bargain, because my step mother was very frugal. They have a kids club, story time in the lobby with animated features, this really cool interactive system called Magic Quest-the kids buy a wand and run through the center of 3 floors looking for clues. My kids are teens, 14 and 16, and they had a blast. I saw kids as young as four loving it. They also have the water park, mini golf, and a rock climbing wall. In addition, there are characters in costume at the meals. I think the closest thing you can get today is an all-inclusive.

I don't remember the horse races. But I do remember free and angstless! There was a large group that went when we did, and we kids would be running around and the parents were playing cards all night! I sure wish we could do that with our kids today. I guess I was too young to recall, but I don't even understand what you mean about the liability. It all seemed so innocent to me. But that's my kid's eye.

Oh, I just recalled this, some clients of mine go to a family Y-camp in the Poconos. The dad has been going since he was a kid. You may want to consider looking into that. Believe it or not, some of those camps can be very nice. We live in Illinois, and have a U of I camp called Lorado Taft that has all kinds of organized activities, meals (great food) and a beautiful campus for hiking. At any rate, if you look into some of the Educational Centers or Y camps, you may find something nice that's all inclusive and out doorsey.

Anyway, I loved the posts, and I just so enjoyed hearing everyone's memories. Good luck to you in your travels. How wonderful to get the whole family together like that. I hope you all have a blast!
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Old Aug 23rd, 2007, 05:14 AM
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Hi again, JJ5, Just wanted you to know, I just googled family camp and YMCA family camp. There's tons of great stuff out there. One Y camp is in the Rockies and looks beautiful. There are also a couple in Sequoia National Park. Check it out. They are a little costly, but when you consider that all activities and meals are included, not bad. Mosey
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Old Aug 23rd, 2007, 05:40 AM
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Thanks, mosey. I just saw your post now, and haven't been on Fodors much, missed your last reply before that too.

Yes, I have checked out the YMCA Rockies you mention. And I knew about the Sequoia, but did not know about the one you mention in IL. We are in IL, all of us.

The liability I mention, is the insurance for injury/mishap that a place like Sunnybrook would need to carry in a 2007 world. It would have to be so all-encompassing and $$$. Just think of all the activities and directions everyone went to, and at what ages, and with who as camp leaders etc. You could never get insurance today for that, I doubt. And if you could, it would raise the costs of a family's stay beyond a 4 Seasons. LOL!

Yes, Sunnybrook was affordable. If you took a cabin in the woods, even more so. The cabins around and in pool/activities barn area were more $ per day and yet all lodgings included the home cooked meals.

I'm going to look into your IL suggestion, but I think they will want to go farther afield.

This is the problem. We have one family (young as well 12,11,9) was has done everything and gone everywhere in comparison to the other. The more traveled family wants something "new"- which is going to be a tough row to hoe, and the other wants mainly kid activity places (7 & 5).

We are in MI all the time, year round about 20 weekends or parts of whole weeks a year. But not North.

I think the Traverse City designation might be fabulous is all else gets nixed.

Thanks!
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