Pleasant View Hotel & Dance Pavilion, Clark Lake: 1891-1964

The Pleasant View Hotel and Dance Pavillion was located near 5812 N. Shore Drive at Clark Lake. It was built from 1891-1893 by Tom Beach and stood on the north side of the lake, across from the Eagle Point Pavilion. Pleasant View, Eagle Point, and Ocean Beach were all at the center of activity as the community of Clark Lake began to grow, becoming one of Jackson County’s hottest destinations.

On Pleasant View’s opening day in 1893, it was quite the event: the grounds were mobbed with people ready to party. A brass band was on hand to entertain the crowd, and there was plenty of food, beer, and games to keep everyone busy and happy.

Dancing, dining, swimming, fishing, and the obligatory cavorting were enough reasons the Pleasant View stayed popular for decades – longer than many other venues of this type. Boating was extremely huge, with the hotel providing canoes, rowboats, sailboats, and even a toboggan slide.

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Tom Beach managed the Pleasant View for many years. Operations were taken over by Larry Miller, who continued the tradition through the 1930s, 1940s, and likely into the 1950s.

It all came to a sad end on October 6, 1964 when the hotel caught fire, ending its reign. However, the pavilion escaped damage and continued on as “The Lodge”. Entertainment at the lodge lasted for 20 more years, and it was finally demolished in 1984.

Scroll down to see some old photos of the long-gone Pleasant View!