The second in a trio of new weekend self-guided tours at the Felt Mansion is 1-4 p.m. Sunday, July 16.
Weekends through the summer have traditionally been completely booked with private events, but this season, the mansion set aside three times for the tours so visitors could see the facility.
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.
The first tour was in June. The final is 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.
Always check the Felt website calendar before any self-guided tour. Event times can change due to staffing shortages or private events.
Special tour
A special guided public tour is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10.
This will be Felt Operations Director Patty 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.