Garfield Inn Bed and Breakfast

The Garfield Inn located in Port Austin Michigan is an interesting place. President Garfield was a frequent guest in this house back in the 1860s. The house was owned by his longtime friend Charles Learned and his wife Maria who purchased the house in 1857.



Garfield became smitten with Learned's wife Maria and it is rumored that Garfiled had an affair with Maria. Maria Learned died in the home from tuberculosis.
That may be the reason the sign says Food and "Spirits". On our stay we didn't experience any "Spirits" or at least we thought. The bottom portion of the Inn is a restaurant and the guest rooms are on the second and third floor. After the restaurant closes the first floor is locked and you can only get into the guest rooms. The owners of the Inn do not stay in the home at night. We were told that there would be another guest staying in the Inn that night also. At least we wouldn't be the only guests in the Inn.







We had a great nights sleep, but we did hear the footsteps of the other couple during the night. We know it was the other couple because the restaurant had closed and all the employees left. We stayed in 'the Learned Room' it was very spacious. It was decorated in Victorian style. The bathroom had a claw foot bathtub-shower combination. There was a window seat that overlooked the beautiful gardens. The room even came with a complimentary bottle of wine.



















The next morning we went down for breakfast. We took our breakfast out to the garden area and enjoyed the beauty. We asked if the other guests had eaten. The attendant said the other guest canceled their reservation. I told the attendant that we heard footsteps in the middle of the night and we thought it was the other guest. She told us that the Inn was rumored to be haunted. There have been reports of other strange happenings in the Inn. Maybe that's why the sign says "Spirits". A little play on the words for humor. We were a bit shaken because we were the only ones in the Inn and then to hear footsteps. Would I recommend the Inn...definitely. You'll have a interesting story to tell.







8544 Lake Street
P.O. Box 291
Pt. Austin, MI 48467

800-373-5254
989-738-5254



http://www.thegarfieldinn.com/