Rebuilding Michigan’s Iconic History on Mackinac Island: And Nailing It!

Michigan has an incredibly rich history. So when it comes to restoring, renovating or even rebuilding a piece of our state's history it's important to get it right. Getting the right people to complete such a difficult task is tough in itself.

Get our free mobile app

But once you're assigned to the job, the gravity of the project hits you and your team. However a Mid-Michigan Company was up to the task, and it turned out absolutely stunning!

Who Can Build a Pool on Mackinac Island in Michigan's Brutal Winter Season?

So when it came time to renovate and rebuild The Grand Hotel's iconic 100-year-old swimming pool a local company was up to the challenge. And Streeter Brothers Concrete Contractors of Burton took on the challenge... and absolutely nailed it!

Greg and Joe Streeter were able to obtain special licenses to get some equipment on Mackinac Island earlier than normal, due to the extent of the project. And five years ago, they began dismantling  portions of the Esther Williams Pool at The Grand Hotel.

Logistics of Mackinac Island Construction Mid-Winter

While a lot of the equipment and materials were brought in while the local ferry system was still up and running, they needed to get people and more supplies on to the island in harsh Michigan winters. So they had to fly it over on local air taxis.

In many cases, they would have to cut down rebar and other essentials to fit on the plane, but weighed them before loading to make sure they weren't exceeding limits.

After dealing with Mother Nature, and still finishing days ahead of schedule, the project was completed. This year celebrates the beginning of the monumental undertaking which began in Fall of 2020 when the original pool was drained for the last time.

Watch The Full Series of 'Deep Dive'

Watch the full series of videos, or checkout the recap that was submitted and helped win our local business an award with the Michigan Concrete Association.

Along with Johnny, my friend and narrator, writer and co-producer of an epic series to document the construction efforts, we produced a video series documenting everything happening with the transformation at the pool site of the Grand Hotel. We combined the full series into one exciting 50-minute episode. Check out the full pool project by clicking here. (We recommend doing this while you're on the clock at work.)