The word 'Interlochen' means two things around here.
One is the world-class arts boarding school and summer camp that's been in these northern Michigan woods since 1928.
The other is the nearby village with its restaurants and homes and businesses.
Interlochen Public Radio recently took its local broadcast of "Morning Edition" to Bud's — a restaurant in the heart of the village of Interlochen — and while we were there, we heard from leaders of both Interlochens.
Listen below
Green Lake Township Supervisor Marvin Radtke's family has lived in this area since the late 1960s, and he's been in local government for 25 years. We talked to him about how Interlochen has changed, and will change.
"The concern is that we're going to lose our rural character, our way of life that we've come to enjoy here. With many more people coming in, you're going to have a tendency to lose that. ... We're trying to focus on our developed areas, such as Interlochen, and working with ICA and their growth."MARVIN RADTKE, JR. | Green Lake Township supervisor
Just south of the village is Interlochen Center for the Arts — one of the world's best known arts boarding schools and camps. It's been here nearly a century, so we began by asking President Trey Devey to tell us about the early days (before we asked him about the present and the future).
Interlochen founder Joseph Maddy "imagined this place in this pristine environment with water and recreational activities and art, off the coast of Maine. Obviously, Interlochen did not land off the coast of Maine, it landed here in northern Michigan, and aren't we grateful for it?"TREY DEVEY | president, Interlochen Center for the Arts
Editor's note: Interlochen Center for the Arts owns IPR's broadcast license. Our editorial decisions are made independently by the newsroom team.
