Ghosts of Ballrooms Past: The Avery Beach Casino/Pavilion, South Haven

The Avery Beach Casino, pavilion, and hotel are all gone.

Once located at North Shore Drive in South Haven, this awesome dance hall began life in the 1880s.

It started out as the Avery Beach Hotel and lasted a good handful of years until it was accidentally (or was it?) burned down in 1907. Seems like all the wonderful historic Michigan structures were getting destroyed by fire, no matter what town or city you name.

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Six years later in 1913, from the hotel’s ashes came the Avery Beach Pavilion. It became one of the hottest spots around, drawing people in from miles away. Dances were held, big bands were hired, and it became nicknamed “The Big Casino”.

The pavilion also had a movie theater and barber shop. After a few years, the dance floor was transformed into another favorite pastime, roller skating. The floor was turned into a rink.....but what do you think happened 24 years later?
That’s right.
In 1937, it too, was destroyed by fire.

In the 2020s, it’s still an impressive spot to drive-thru, with many gorgeous structures that sit on the banks of the Black River in Ellen Avery Park.

Photos of past and present are below.