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In 1890 a two story hotel annex was constructed and telegraph service was added at the Hotel. The annex added 104 guest rooms, half with a view of Lake Macatawa, the other half having a clear view of Lake Michigan. The season for the hotel and cottages generally ran from the last week of June to Labor Day as dictated by the train schedule. Although the 1890 season was a busy one for Ottawa Beach, most visitors came and left on sundays and didn't stay over at the Hotel Ottawa. By the end of the season, the West Michigan Park Association couldn't make it's payments and had to mortgage the fixtures of the hotel. 1891 saw several musical entertainments at the hotel, and the first of many Venetian Nights with decorated steam powered and sailboats parading around the western end of Lake Macatawa. The hotel was leased that year from the Association by Charles M. Heald, the head of the Chicago and West
By 1892, more visitors arrived at ottawa beach by excursion steam boats from Chicago than came on the trains from west Michigan.
Passenger and freight transportation by steamship to and from Holland, Macatawa Park and Ottawa Beach was very important in the era before good roads and affordable cars and trucks.
There are numerous postcards showing steamships in action near the two resorts and some of the cards boldly advertise the schedule and fares for the steamers. These were clearly offered for sale at the resorts and on the boats themselves.
The history of Ottawa Beach - Page Six
