Hello and welcome to this edition of Exploring the Region. Today we will explore the Indiana Dunes Pavilion. The Pavilion is one of the most historic and recognizable landmarks inside the Indiana Dunes State Park. Every year, thousands of people visit the Indiana Dunes to sit on the beach and enjoy Lake Michigan. However, many people (myself included until recently) don’t know about the Pavilion’s history. This is where The Region Life comes in.
If you’ve followed my publication, you know I love exploring the region for historical landmarks. I love learning about the places that shaped our little corner of Indiana, taking my own pictures, and writing up fun and interesting posts about them. In this edition, I will give a brief history of the Indiana Dunes, followed by the story of the Indiana Dunes Pavilion. I will include photographs from my visits and discuss my time there as well. I’m excited to dig into the history of this landmark, and I hope you’re just as excited to read it!
Also, as someone who dislikes when publications hide the location of their topic until the very end of their article, I wanted to present the address to my readers now. The Indiana Dunes Pavilion is located at 1600 N. 25 East, Chesterton, IN 46304.
A Brief History of the Indiana Dunes
I understand it sounds “boring” to some when an article starts its sentence with, “Thousands of years ago”, so I won’t do that. Millions of years ago, the climate of our planet fluctuated between “glacial periods” and warmer periods, which is considered most like our climate today (5). Throughout the glacial periods, ice sheets developed in the area we currently call the “Great Lakes region”. The glaciers carved the basins, and the melting ice filled them.
Within the most recent glacial period (estimated to be about twenty thousand years ago), there was a glacial retreat and Lake Michigan was created. The retreat also formed beaches and sand dunes along the lake shores over ten thousand years ago, as “sediments carried by rivers and weathered from the shore by wave action were deposited along the coast.” with modern dunes and beaches forming around six thousand years ago (5).
As thousands of years passed, the Dunes continued to be shaped by the winds and the waves as they carved away at the shore. Eventually, the Indiana Dunes became a popular vacation destination for those looking to bathe in the sun and swim in Lake Michigan in the early 1900s.
The History of the Indiana Dunes Pavilion
As visitation to the state park increased, it was clear there needed to be a more permanent structure for park visitors and beachgoers. In 1926, officials decided the pavilion had to be built in order to serve the park’s visitors and, in 1929, construction began on the two-story Indiana Dunes Pavilion (1). The pavilion functioned as a bathhouse, which also boasted a gourmet restaurant, restrooms, and concessions. The building also gave visitors a beautiful view from the rooftop observation deck.
Throughout the years that followed, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) could not sufficiently fund the pavilion’s interior renovations and maintenance, which led to the federal government lending a hand in 1973. The Land and Water Conservation Fund was used to make the improvements. However, even after the renovations were made, the building continued deteriorating (1). In 2014, Pavilion Partners LLC was commissioned by the State of Indiana to bring the building back to its former glory (4). Their task was to strategically modify the structure and to add a banquet hall that would complement the natural beauty of the area. After Pavilion Partners was contracted, the DNR revised the contract and announced the “beach offering, including concessions, will be ready by Memorial Day weekend, restaurants will be completed by May 2020, or Pavilion Partners will face thousands of penalties.”
If facing thousands in penalties wasn’t enough pressure on Pavilion Partners, an organization by the name of Dunes Action spoke out against the plans the contractors made. Dunes Action supported the restoration of the pavilion, but believed the current restoration plans would ruin the pavilion’s character (4). They claimed that Pavilion Partners did not comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, stating, “a property used for its historic purpose should require minimal change to the defining characteristics of the building”. The group advocated against the high glass-walled bar on the roof of the building, the two balconies overlooking the lake, and the bar (which was proposed to be on both the first and second floors).
After a six year restoration process, that some would probably describe as contentious, the historic building celebrated its grand opening on June 17th, 2021 (4).
My Visit to the Pavilion
I have visited the Dunes Pavilion a few times this year, and each time I find myself more and more intrigued by it. When you pull into the parking lot, the beautiful pavilion is the first thing you see. It’s surrounded by sand, Lake Michigan, and tons of people. When you walk into the renovated building, you can feel its past all around you. It’s kind of eerie, but it’s also an incredible feeling. When I was walking through the building on our second visit this year (after I had started my research) I couldn’t help but think about all the people who had walked through it before me. How they were here many years ago, in the same building, but at the same time, a completely different one. They were there with the same purpose as the rest of us – to spend a day at the beach with their families.
As my wife and I ate at the window bar, overlooking the beach, I couldn’t help but feel relaxed, like I was at peace with the world. We bought food from Jonna’s Beach Cafe & Bar. I ordered the Italian Beef. I was told it was a family recipe of Jonna’s (assuming that’s who I was speaking with), and my wife ordered a cheeseburger. Since I mentioned it, I must say the Italian beef was fantastic. You should definitely check out Jonna’s Beach Cafe & Bar when visiting the Dunes!
When we finished our lunch we walked next door into a gift and souvenir shop. It was a cute little store with tons of clothing, toys, and trinkets. When we finished exploring the first floor of the pavilion, we walked out into the sand and enjoyed the quiet beach. We listened as the waves of Lake Michigan crashed against the shore, and watched as a man and woman practiced juggling four or five balls. They were really good, it was fun to watch!
Although I grew up in the region, I only went to the Dunes a handful of times. Now that I’m older, I find myself asking, Why didn’t you go more?. It’s an incredible place to be! The lake breeze, the beach, the pavilion, the dunes, and so much more make it a great experience for families looking to spend a day together, tourists wanting to visit the greatest of the Great Lakes, and anyone wanting to be outdoors.
Even if you don’t plan on spending your entire day at the beach, the pavilion is worth visiting. If the history doesn’t interest you (although, if you made it this far I’m going to assume it does), the breathtaking views of the lake, and the great food and atmosphere might. It’s a great place for a day trip, but if you want to stay for a weekend or longer, there are plenty of hotels and inns nearby.
Tips for Visitors
- Parking at the pavilion is covered by the Indiana Dunes State Park entrance fee.
- Jonna’s Beach Cafe & Bar is open from 11am – 5pm during the season.
- Always check the official website before visiting, as hours vary: https://www.dunespavilion.com/
- The rooftop is open from 4pm – 10pm, although the kitchen closes at 9pm.
- There are restrooms near the beach and inside the pavilion.
- There are showers to rinse the sand off before entering the pavilion as well.
- Lastly, leave all your worries at home. Enjoy the beach and the fresh air. Enjoy each other’s company. Enjoy yourself!
Citations
- https://autopsyofarchitecture.com/indiana-dunes-park-pavilion/
- https://www.southshorecva.com/listing/dunes-pavilion/6591/
- https://www.dunespavilion.com/
- https://abandonedatlas.com/indiana-dunes-park-pavilion/
- https://www.usgs.gov/geology-and-ecology-of-national-parks/geology-indiana-dunes-national-park
- https://www.nps.gov/indu/learn/historyculture/early_development.htm?fullweb=1
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