Our History
Wake Robin is a property with two homes that were built on approximately 60 acres of wooded dune with private beach access. The beechwood forest surrounds the property in a natural, irregular manner to create a secluded, peaceful retreat. Every May, the dunes are carpeted with Trillium–a petite flower with three white petals and green leaves–that is more commonly known as Wake Robin. Thus came about the name that Paul De Kruif selected for the property 88+ years ago, which we have chosen to keep.
The property was originally developed by Paul De Kruif, a notable author of books and a writer for Reader's Digest in the early 1930's. De Kruif was probably best known for his book, Microbe Hunters, written just before he moved here. He developed the property within a beech oak forest with unusual undulating sand dunes stemming from the prevailing northwest and southwest winds. Our cabin began as his writing studio. A photo of its original design is framed on the wall inside the cabin. Many of de Kruif's books, including those written in foreign languages, are on a bookshelf. De Kruif hosted many well-known guests at Wake Robin such as Ernest Hemingway and Vice President Rockefeller.
Wake Robin was purchased by a local family in 1981. They preserved the Cabin's original structure and rebuilt the Main House to fit their family's needs. The owners lived there for most of their life, up until retirement. The property is now rented to anyone who wishes to experience the beauty of living on Lake Michigan. We do our best to keep the homes updated with modern amenities while remaining true to Wake Robin's history.