Few hostelries anywhere in the nation can boast the credits piled up over the years by the House of Ludington. Known to many as the Great White Castle of the North, its glass walled exterior elevator and medieval looking cupolas dominate the waterfront scene at the foot of Ludington Street.

It has survived wars, fires, stock market crashes, prohibition, the depression, the post-war booms and the so-far present inflation. Ever since its conception in 1865, it has maintained a nationally known reputation as a hotel with "class" and has hosted some of the most famous people in the world. Among the dignitaries who have enjoyed its food and services are, to name a few, John Sousa, Randy Travis, Patricia Neal, Henry Ford, Prince Bertil of Sweden, Cornelius Vanderbuilt Jr., Guy Lombardo, Fred Waring, Jimmy Hoffa, George Gobel, Johnny Cash, Lynn Dickey, and scores of others too numerous to mention.

Originally made of wood and named the Gaynor House Hotel by owner E. Gaynor, the house was renamed the Ludington Hotel in 1871 after lumberman Nelson Ludington. Late 1800s proprietor John Cristie then purchased the hotel in 1883, tore it down and re-built it as a brick structure, renaming it the New Ludington Hotel. The design exemplified Queen Anne Resort Architecture, popular in the 1880's and 1890's. Later, the west wing was added and in 1910 the east wing expanded the building to 100 rooms. Behind the hotel were livery stables for family and hotel-owned horses. There was an inner courtyard where the present bar is now located.

The hotel was sold to Pat Hayes in 1939, an energetic, colorful individual from Chicago. Although the hotel had always enjoyed an enviable reputation, Pat's skills and eccentric personality made it grow into legendary proportions. Throughout the years, Pat implemented many renovations to the house. The most outstanding of which was the external glass walled elevator, installed in 1959.

Although the house started out with over 100 rooms, it now has only 25, due to the fact that many of the rooms were combined into apartments and suites.

Since the fall of 1982, the hotel had undergone extensive remodeling and redecorating by owners Gerald and Vernice Lancour before being closed again in 1996. After lying vacant for over a year and a half, new owners Edward and Suzell Eisenberger of Weidman, Michigan, with their two children, Kallie and Wyatt, reopened the hotel in 1998.