The Village at Traverse Commons

The State of Michigan in the late 1800s built a huge complex on 70+ acres with over 50 buildings for ....well it was called an insane asylum. The state abandoned that concept of treatment (think One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest) and once going to tear down this historic landmark. The people of Traverse City said, "Hey, you have already destroyed huge complexes of beautiful buildings in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, why not turn these grounds over to us. They created a shopping and residential complex.

This outlying building used to be the fire house. It now has a brick wood burning oven in the back where they make wonderful healthy breads and also things to stick in the fridge for when the sweet fairy comes at night. (Think tooth fairy but no money is left under your pillow. 

These four story buildings have shops and restaurants on the first floor and condos above. It was a rainy day so we toured down the hallways.

Someone did an interesting project and the results were posted in a hallway. He interviewed 30 homeless people and
 put their pictures and stories on the wall. The stories were quite honest and put a face on these individuals.

A 1970 Schwinn two seater bicycle for sale. It looks new. The lady in the bike shop said these people had a house on the islands and kept it inside. Even the tires are original.

The state was going to put these under the wrecking ball.

The asylum was self-sufficient with its own dairies and farms.

Partial ariel view of the present grounds

A wonderful restaurant that uses only local produce and products.

Another out lying building that sold cheesecake.

I don't eat sweets but I did buy a slice. I'll put it in the fridge and within a couple days the Sweet Fairy will whisk it away.

The rooms wee all designed for excellent natural light.

Those were less politically correct times. A post card.  You would have to be off your rocker to find this funny.  You'd have to have lost all your marbles to buy this. Just plain wacky.