photographs
Catalog Number
2021.8.1Description
Framed photographs of Point West. This hung in the Ottawa Beach Inn for many years.History
The Ottawa Beach Inn, better known as OBI from faithful patrons, is a popular steak and perch restaurant at 2155 Ottawa Beach Road in Holland. The first restaurant named Ottawa Beach Inn that appears in City Directories was in 1975 when it listed Darwin Fuglstif (Fuglseth) as its owner. The 1980 City Directory lists Wayne A Overway as owner. Later Wayne sold the restaurant to his son Tim. A 2014 Sentinel article tells of Eric and Sue Chaitin taking ownership of the restaurant. OBI is a popular restaurant for local residents as well as guests to the lakeshore area. The beach and boating motif fits well with its location overlooking Lake Macatawa. It is thought that Stratsics Tavern and Kilcare Tavern once occupied this building prior to the OBI restaurant.The Point West Inn was located on Lake Macatawa at the end of South Shore Drive in Macatawa Park, just south of Holland, MI. It was operated by Richard Den Uyl (1929-2011) from 1963 to 1986. The elegant restaurant faced Lake Macatawa. Den Uyl believed a happy work environment produced happy customers. This philosophy was a key to his success.
New owners bought the property in 1986 for $4.4 million. In 1993 they filed for bankruptcy which led to the sale of the property in 1994. This third owner had the Point West Inn torn down in 1995.