Designed for the first purpose in 1876 as the county's only romantically-planned campground, and adapted for the second from 1885 to 1915, Bay View has remained in continuous operation since its foundation.

[5] The association was originally formed as part of the Methodist Camp Meeting movement and adopted a Chautauqua program in 1886.

Other facilities include a post office, beach with a swim area, children's pool and a sail house.

[6] The community is located on about 340 heavily wooded acres (140 ha), dropping in a series of terraces from a 200-foot elevation (61 m) to the shore of Little Traverse Bay.

It is located in Bear Creek Township, Emmet County on Little Traverse Bay and abuts the east side of the city of Petoskey along U.S. Highway 31.

The Bay View census-designated place (CDP) includes the association grounds and additional areas east of Division Road.

Many of the larger communal structures are located here, including the original 1877 preaching stand, as well an 1880 book store and multiple educational buildings constructed around 1890.

[10] Bay View was founded in 1875 by Michigan Methodists as a camp meeting "for scientific and intellectual culture, and for the promotion of religion and morality."

[12][13] He wrote articles of incorporation, stating the assembly was "organized for intellectual and scientific culture, and for the promotion of the cause of religion and morality.

"[17][18] Departments included Bible, Missionary, Social, Health, Industrial, Country Life: American and International.

[19] Under the leadership of John M. Hall, Bay View adopted a Chautauqua program which included a series of educational lectures, classes, entertainment, political speeches, and music, began in 1886, and the community developed around these activities.

Hall writes of the transformation of Bay View from its camp meeting roots to a Chautauqua: "founded by Methodists, it is now by its organic law interdenominational in management and life.

People of every denomination are there in large numbers and so beautiful is the hospitality of ideas that another's specific church affiliations never occurs to one.

[9] The Bay View Association was listed as a National Historic Landmark district in 1987 as "one of the finest remaining examples of two uniquely American community forms, the Methodist Camp Meeting and the independent Chautauqua.

[27] Local Odawa and Ojibwa attended camp meeting services, where "Chief Petoskey's granddaughter accompanied the singing on the pump organ.

[37] Madame Schumann Heink, Gladys Swarthout, John Charles Thomas, Richard Crooks, James Melton, Jennie Tourel, Martha Lipton, Thomas L. Thomas, Walter Taussig, Etta Moten, Mildred Dilling, Ossip and Clara Gabrilovisch, Jerome Hines, Sherrill Milnes, Diane Bish, George Shirley, Boston Brass, Ara Berberian, Martina Arroyo, and Virginia Zeani, are a few of the musicians to teach and perform at Bay View.

It became a regular feature of the Performing Arts Department when New York tenor Director Willard Pierce joined the music staff.

[42] The program revolves around the Day Camp (Boys & Girls Club) that offers a safe, stimulating environment in which children participate in healthy and creative activities.

From mid-June to August, children participate in age-appropriate morning activities at Tot Lot (ages 3–4), Fawns (5-6), and Boys' And Girls' Club (7-14).

Every Friday, an all-camp event is held for a large group activity such as the carnival, capture the flag, and the Ernie Gray Olympics.

In 1875, the Conference Committee tasked with locating a proposed site for what would become Bay View foresaw "the great summer resort of the northwest…for scores of miles in almost every direction offers facilities for recreation which are simply endless.

Since its dedication in 1924, it has been the central location for land-based recreational activities for youth, including baseball, archery, tetherball, badminton, and ping-pong.

[59] Dr. Akhil Reed Amar, Professor of Constitutional Law at Yale University lectured in 2012 and will be the 2018 American Experience speaker.

In 2017 the 'Big Read' was "Terror in the City of Champions – Murder, Baseball, and the Secret Society that Shocked Depression-era Detroit" by Tom Stanton.

When the association was founded in 1875 there were no explicit requirements, but in 1942 the Bay View Board adopted the following resolution: "No person shall be accepted as a member of this association or be allowed to rent or lease property or a room, for longer than a period of one day, unless such person is of the white race and a Christian who must provide acceptable and good recommendations.

In 1947 the by-laws were revised to add "Any person twenty-one years of age and good moral character, by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Trustees, may be accepted as a member of this Association provided that he or she is of the Caucasian race and of Christian persuasion."

[67] On August 6, 2011, the Bay View Association members voted on a proposal that would remove the Christian affiliation requirement.

[69] The Board, led by President Jon Chism, held the belief that Bay View should defend the membership requirements, resulting in a increase in the Association's directors and officers insurance.

As a Chautauqua, the Bay View Association conducts programming in the areas of religion, education, recreation, and the performing arts.

[72] The mission of the Bay View Association is to be an institution in which Christian values and traditions are central; To enrich the human experience for individuals and families within Bay View and the surrounding community through a seasonal program of religious, educational, cultural and recreational opportunities; And to provide a Christian perspective in a changing world.