The Felt Estate is a busy place during the warmer months, booked with weddings and other events every weekend. This summer, though, a time for self-guided tours has been set aside throughout the season.
“We are doing something different at the Felt this year,” said Patty Meyer, Felt operations director. “In the past, our weekends were completely booked with private events, and we never had any time for weekend tours. Therefore, a number of people couldn’t visit. So, this year, we left one Sunday afternoon per month for tours.”
The regular self-guided tours are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
The first of the new weekend self-guided tours is Sunday, June 18, from 1-4 p.m. The cost is the same as weekday tours — $15 for adults; $12 for students and senior citizens; and free to children 12 and under. Please arrive by 3 p.m. for the tour. Doors close at 4 p.m.
Other special tour dates are July 16 and Aug. 20.
The mansion is at 6597 138th Ave. in Laketown Township.
The 25-room, three-story Felt Mansion was built in 1925 by Dorr Felt, inventor of the Comptometer, a basic adding machine. After Felt’s death, the property was purchased by the St. Augustine Seminary for a school then, in the 1970s, by the State of Michigan to use as a prison. After the prison and Michigan State Police post that was in the mansion closed in the 1990s, Laketown Township purchased the property.
About the tours
A self-guided tour generally lasts about an hour guided by a booklet including architectural and historical details about the estate.
The Felt Mansion is handicap accessible on the first floor only. Visitors must be able to navigate steps to view the upper levels. An alternate virtual/video tour is available for those with mobility issues.
A documentary called “The Man and His Mansion” may also be viewed on the tour at no additional cost. Just request this upon arrival for a self-guided tour. If a group has already visited the mansion but would like to see the carriage house, chapel, and more of the grounds, staff can also arrange that on a separate tour.
Always check the Felt website calendar before any self-guided tour. Event times can change due to staffing shortages or private events.
A special guided public tour is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10.
This will be Meyer’s final public guided tour. It will feature beer, wine, and refreshments, plus a question-and-answer time and door prizes. Cost is $40. Tickets available here. Coupon code MEMBER2023 $5 off admission price.
Meyer’s last day as director will be in October. Over more than 20 years, she has led the restoration of the mansion from an abandoned structure to a vibrant, historical venue used for community events and weddings.
Concerts
The Felt Estate is also the site of the free summer music series Thursdays at the Felt.
Concerts are 7 p.m. every Thursday in July on the Carriage House stage, 6595 138th Ave. in Laketown Township. Food service starts at 6 p.m.
For more information, visit the Felt website at www.Feltmansion.org
The bands this summer are:
July 6 – Kevin McDaniel House Band: Oldies, rock, country.
July 13 – Brena: Oldies to current hits, classic rock to R&B, country to dance music.
July 20 – Great Scott!: Songs from the 1950s to hits of today.
July 27 – Bucket o’ Maybes: A variety of rock styles featuring classic favorites.