The Laurium Manor Inn is a top 10 BnB for a reason. The full experience is on YouTube @sidequestcoop, where we visit Mackinac Island and Presque Isle Park in Marquette (also known as ‘Black Rocks’) on the way to this legendary stay I plan to revisit. This film also shows where we visited Michigan’s northernmost point in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is more remote than I ever expected and the summer of 2026 will be dedicated to exploring uncharted areas, finding hidden gems, and finding the best places to stay.
Clearing Up Rumors: If you see in the video, our first impression was a little hesitant, but we soon realized the truth. We arrived after midnight because of the 8-hour drive and the stops we made along the way. It happened to be a foggy night (arrival picture below), and my media partner jokingly asked if this place was haunted. We did a quick Google search just to see what would come up, and the AI overview/the first few links all mentioned the Laurium Manor Inn as being haunted, with some people suspecting paranormal activity. It mentioned a murder here as well. We were here to tell a story about the history and we accidentally came across this information so I had to find out for myself. After doing research and talking to managers/other reputable sources, I did indeed find out the truth. People feed into paranormal activity sightings and it became a popular thing here, so the Laurium Manor Inn brought professionals out to do testing… they were disappointed to find nothing. The murders did occur here but it was one day and it was one family. It was a terrible incident and I am not trying to justify it, but the story surrounding it is not as tragic as it is made out to be. The Hurlburt family was the owners in 1949-1979 and they turned the original Hoatson family home, built in 1908, into a funeral home. Long story short, the owner, Maynard Hurlburt, and his wife were terminally ill and the grandson who burned his face off was in miserable condition as he was having to go to the University of Michigan for skin grafts on a weekly basis. On April 4, 1979, Maynard Hurlburt killed his family in an attempt to put them out of their misery. So yes, people did die in this house, but it is proven not to be haunted and the situation surrounding the murder has blown out of proportion.
Review On My Stay: I was extremely impressed with the Laurium Manor Inn. I would say they took that cozy, vintage vibe to the next level. Built in 1908, this house has had some serious renovations, but somehow they kept the original feel. The breakfast was home cooked and special… it was not another copy-and-paste hotel meal. The house is huge and it never felt overcrowded. I was only here for one night, but it was truly amazing. I always enjoy places that make you feel like you went back in time… this is that. The property and the rooms are extremely clean. I loved the staff because they felt like real people. You know when you go to a hotel and everyone is in the same Uniform and it’s just so corporate and official… the staff here still had their own separate uniforms but it was like they were visitors of the house too. It was just such a genuine experience having the staff being locals pouring their hearts into a local business and restoring a piece of the past. There are three properties on this street (featured in the video below). The Laurium Manor Inn is the main property and where I stayed (10/10), across the street is the Victorian Hall, and right next door is an additional rental property. I plan to stay in both of these one day and feature these historic properties in one film, but as of now, I can’t comment on the inside environment or the experience. If you plan to visit Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, you will love your stay at the Laurium Manor Inn
Places you can visit on the way to the Laurium Manor Inn or on the way back:
Mackinac Island (landscape version on Instagram @sidequestcoop)
Presque Isle Park in Marquette
Michigan’s Northernmost Point (mainland)
