Idlewild is an unincorporated community in Yates Township, located just east of Baldwin in southeast Lake County, a rural part of northwestern lower Michigan.

During the first half of the 20th century, it was one of the few resorts in the country where African-Americans were allowed to vacation and purchase property, before discrimination was outlawed through the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Called the "Black Eden of Michigan",[2] from 1912 through the mid-1960s, Idlewild was an active year-round community and was visited by well-known entertainers and professionals from throughout the country.

[3] At its peak, it was one of the most popular resorts in the Midwest and as many as 25,000[4] would come to Idlewild in the height of the summer season to enjoy camping, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, roller skating, and night-time entertainment.

The Idlewild African American Chamber of Commerce,[8] founded in 2000 by John O. Meeks, continues to promote existing local businesses and seeking new ones.

[11] IRC organized excursions to attract middle class African American professionals from Detroit, Chicago, and other Midwestern cities, taking them on tours of the rustic community, and selling lots.

Their ads in major news media offered lots at $1 down and $1 per month, and cited the hunting, fishing, boating and horseback riding opportunities.

Promoters of the area also emphasized the lack of prejudice and the freedom of movement for blacks "without ostracism and hatred", in a town where they could truly feel like "American citizens".

Walker, Fisk University president Lemuel L. Foster, Albert B. Cleage Sr. of Detroit, Fannie Emanuel of Chicago, and novelist Charles W.

IIA encouraged this new influx of community leaders to foster racial pride, economic development, decency, and respect to Idlewild.

[14] These week-long events added an intellectual flavor to the recreational life in the community, attracted people from across the country, and were praised by Michigan Republican Governor Fred W. Green.

Idlewild became a place where one could be within miles of prominent cities such as Chicago and Detroit, while remaining concealed within the surrounding woods of the newfound African American community.

The Pere Marquette Railroad built a branch line to the area by 1923, a post office opened that same year, and the Idlewild Fire Department was established soon after.

[12] The Pere Marquette Railway ran the Resort Special with sleeping cars from Chicago and Detroit via Grand Rapids from June to September, stopping in Baldwin five miles to the west.

The founding purpose of the group was to aid in support of charitable and civic endeavors and promote social entertainment and recreation in Idlewild.

(The Flamingo Club, managed by Phil Giles, had lesser-known entertainers, although LaVern Baker and Detroit's "Queen of the Blues", Alberta Adams, did perform there.

)[22][12] The list included Della Reese, Al Hibbler, Bill Doggett, Jackie Wilson, T-Bone Walker, George Kirby, The Four Tops, Roy Hamilton, Brook Benton, Choker Campbell, Lottie "the Body" Graves, the Rhythm Kings, Sarah Vaughan, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Dinah Washington, B.B.

Other vacation resorts were beginning to accommodate African-American visitors, and with federal law requiring that they be accepted anywhere, African Americans began taking advantage of this opportunity.

[28] The national recession in the early 1970s further contributed to an economic downturn in Idlewild, which led to a population decline as local employment options dwindled.

[9] In February 2019, East Lansing radio station WFMK described Idlewild as a ghost town "due to the vacated neighborhoods: block-after-block of deserted homes and yards.

[34] Nonetheless, a series of events was planned for 2019,[6] such as The 5th Annual Idlewild Education, Empowerment and Music Festival weekend (July 13–14), with guests including an original Braggs Fiesta Doll Dancer,[35] Carlean Gill.

[36][37] A 2011 Black Past article summarized the town's legacy as follows: "Despite this decline, Idlewild symbolized the heyday of the combination of race, leisure, and geography to create a briefly prosperous community through niche tourism".