Tasha Stielstra, who also operates Nature’s Kennel Dog Sled Racing and Adventures, purchased the house-turned-bed-and-breakfast at W17266 Main St. less than a year ago. In her eye, the area needed year-round lodging as well as the option for single-night stays — both of which she now provides.

The first part of the house that now serves as the bed and breakfast was built in 1960. The second story was added in 2002, according to real estate information on Zillow.

Today, the destination, which has a view of South Manistique Lake, has five rentable rooms. In the heart of downtown Curtis, Lake Effect Inn strives to provide its guests with a taste of small-town U.P. life in comfort.

Most recently, the place was known as the Sa-Wa-Quato Inn under the ownership of John and Mary Gowan, who had the place for about eight years and opened it to guests in the summers.

At Lake Effect Inn in Curtis, the "Lake Room" (shown) The Lake Room includes a queen bed and a twin trundle bed A private bathroom with walk-in shower is attached. (Courtesy photo)

Some locals might recall knowing it as the Brotherton House before that.

Stielstra, who purchased the bed and breakfast from Mary Gowan and has operated it since July 2025, said that there wasn’t much she needed to do to bring the home to the state it’s currently in.

“John and Mary definitely did a lot of the upgrades, a lot of the renovations, a lot of the decorating,” Stielstra said. “She (Mary) just had a fantastic eye for decorating. It’s very cozy and homey… very clean.”

Stielstra chose to rebrand, but didn’t make the decision lightly. A street off of Main is called Saw-Wa-Quato Street, so the American Indian-inspired name is still carried on in the town.

Looking for something more pronounceable, she landed on Lake Effect.

Two large public rooms downstairs are available to guests of the Lake Effect Inn -- a dining area and lounge. (Courtesy image)

“These lakes are beautiful right here,” she said simply. “That’s what Curtis is surrounded by, are three beautiful lakes.”

During winters in the Upper Peninsula, “lake effect snow affects daily life … more than any other weather phenomena. It drives our economy and often drives us crazy as we shovel, plow, and shovel some more,” states the Lake Effect Inn website. “Thankfully, summer always returns,” and visitors experience a whole new set of possibilities with each season.

But it’s not just the beauty of the lakes or the great fishing that makes Stielstra and others love Curtis.

“I think people just are still enamored with … small-town life,” Stielstra said. Whether visitors come from cities like Detroit or other places in the country, they find unique charm in the area. “I love sharing with people what makes the U.P. special,” she said.

The small town of Curtis is very walkable, which people take delight in during the warmer months. The Erickson Center for the Arts hosts events, and music in the park occurs regularly in the summertime.

A view from the deck of the Lake Effect Inn shows Main Street in Curtis and South Manistique Lake. This spot is within walking distance of the local arts center, library, park, restaurants and lake access. (Courtesy photo)

In the winter, many of guests at the inn book packages that include dog sledding. Stielstra provides snowshoes and ice cleats for guests to borrow, which come in handy for day trips to places like Eden Ice Caves.

In the summer and autumn, Lake Effect Inn provides a central stop for people hitting destinations like Kitch-iti-kipi, Seney Wildlife Refuge, Pictured Rocks, Tahquamenon Falls and more. Locally, the lakes around Curtis offer kayaking and paddleboarding.

If visitors are unsure of what to do in the area, Stielstra said she enjoys helping people develop itineraries. She personally does a lot of hiking and blueberry-picking, can show people places to check out, and “I build a lot of little day trip ideas for them as well,” she remarked.

At the inn itself, five rooms may be rented individually, or the entire inn may be booked for a large party.

Mornings at Lake Effect Inn feature a “deluxe continental breakfast” that includes local baked goods and locally-made breakfast pasties, which Stielstra said people love.

Outdoor seating at Lake Effect Inn. (Courtesy photo)

All the sleeping quarters are on the second floor. The rooms sleep two to four people.

The bedrooms do not have televisions, and each of the five is a little different — though they all have multiple window views and local fine art photography on the walls. Two suites have private bathrooms, while three other private rooms share a bathroom.

The Aurora Room, Waterfall Room, and Lake Room have images from Shawn Malone of Lake Superior Photo in Marquette. The Winter Room and Rock Room have images from Nova Mackently of Night Flight Images, based in Paradise.

Downstairs, two large common room areas are available for guests to relax in and mingle with others if they choose. A wooden deck outdoors is partially surrounded by trees and faces the lake on the other

“It’s warm, cozy,” Stielstra said. “It’s all carpeted; there’s a fireplace in the guest lounge. I mean, it just feels warm.”

Steilstra also lives on the property, though the residence and entrance are separate and private.

To learn more about Lake Effect Inn, readers may call 906-748-0513 or visit lakeeffectinn.com.