ABOUT
Who we are
For years, we were known fondly as Bowers Harbor Inn. In spring 2010, we officially reopened as Mission Table at Bowers Harbor Inn. We still hold true to the basic ideology that made us one of Michigan’s most highly regarded culinary destinations for decades, but have focused & renewed our vows to our valued patrons:
With an awareness of our place in the community of the Old Mission Peninsula & Northern Michigan, we — the owners, chef & staff — take our inspiration from the land & waters that surround us.
Our menu features the best ingredients available from farms & fishermen, using the freshest products, honoring the seasons & supporting the agricultural economy of the region. These foods are used in ways both innovative & traditional to bring out their unique essences. Garnish & presentation are always secondary to flavor & quality.
Wine, beer, & spirits are focused on local growers, brewers, vintners, & distillers. Our wine list reflects our unique & fortunate place in the heart of Northern Michigan wine country.
Service reflects the generosity of the land & the casual cheerfulness of the local people. Our service staff is chosen for their passion to serve others, & remembers that gathering at the table with family & friends is a central human experience. We believe that, rather than being separate from kitchen & operations, service is the final part in the natural sequences from farm to harvest to kitchen to table.
The atmosphere is warm & inviting, a place where our guests can relax & feel welcome. A meal might include a breeze off the bay, a great sunset or a glowing fireplace, but it is always a genuine Old Mission experience.
With our recent substantial renovation — & the addition of other facilities at the complex — we’ve reinvented ourselves & recreated the pure epicurean experience.
Welcome!
HISTORY
Built in the 1880s & remodeled in the 1920s as a summer retreat for Chicago lumber baron J.W. Stickney & his wife Genevieve. Bowers Harbor Inn sits peacefully along West Grand Traverse bay amidst the majestic oaks & pines of Old Mission Peninsula. This well-loved historic structure has been a treasured part of the Old Mission Peninsula landscape for generations.
After years as one of the Midwest’s most respected fine dining destinations, Bowers Harbor Inn was purchased in 2006 by Jon Carlson & Greg Lobdell, two natives of Old Mission Peninsula. From the outset, their intention was to protect the Inn, & after years of hard work, the Inn is now preserved in perpetuity! To achieve this, the Carlson & Lobdell families worked closely with the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy & the Michigan Historic Preservation Network to donate the development rights on the property, & placed a conservation easement that protects the historic, scenic, & shoreline characteristics of the property.
Peninsula Township Supervisor, Rob Manigold, commented on the landowners’ decision to protect the Bowers Harbor Inn property: “I think we owe the Carlson & Lobdell families a lot of gratitude for their efforts to preserve this important historic landmark, not only for the residents of Peninsula Township, but for the residents of the region.”
Nancy Finegood, Executive Director of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network, reflected on the significance of the Bowers Harbor Inn site: “The buildings are very important to the historic integrity of the whole peninsula. It’s very unique because of all of the original farmsteads, its charm, its history, & the water. It’s a wonderful resource within the State. We are losing so many historically significant properties & it’s important that we protect what we have.”
Since taking over stewardship of the Inn in 2006, Carlson & Lobdell have renovated & retooled every aspect of the property:
Northern United Brewing Company now calls The Bowers Harbor Inn property its home. The new microbrewery & distillery are housed behind the historic Inn.
The former Bowery restaurant was completely renovated to become the Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant, Microbrewery, & Distillery.
The new Peninsula Room event facility was constructed as the perfect location for weddings & all private events.
Saving the best for last, the former Bowers Harbor Inn Restaurant was remodeled & is now home to Mission Table Restaurant & Tasting Room.
THE LEGEND
Over the years, the Inn has also gained notoriety for being home to the ghost of its original owner, Genevieve Stickney. Rumor has it that Genevieve, an obese & jealous woman, had an elevator installed in the Inn to transport her between levels. Near this time, Mr. Stickney engaged a nurse to help care for his wife. Soon after, the nurse became his mistress. Genevieve detested the woman, fearing her husband would bequeath his riches to her. Upon his death, Genevieve’s premonition came true, as Mr. Stickney left his money to the nurse, & only the Inn to his wife.
Some believe the situation drove Mrs. Stickney into severe depression that eventually led her to hang herself from the rafters of the elevator shaft.
Since her demise, many have sworn they’ve seen evidence of her presence. Lights have suddenly turned on, mirrors & painting have fallen off walls, & guests have reported a blurry female appearing in vacation photographs. During one bizarre episode, a former owner was going over bills downstairs when the elevator began to move. Thinking one of her children was awakening, she ran upstairs to investigate, joined by a friend who also witnessed the elevator moving. Yet both found the children asleep & the elevator empty.
In 1964, a patron rushed downstairs shaken, her face ashen. She had been standing before Genevieve’s gilt-edge mirror. “I was alone in the hallway & noticed another woman looking in the mirror behind me.” Her hair was pulled back in a bun, just how Genevieve had worn hers.
Genevieve’s antics have appeared on “Unsolved Mysteries” & have been featured in books documenting authentic ghost stories.
THE TEAM
HEAD CHEF, GENERAL MANAGER, & MANAGING PARTNER– paul olson
Head Chef, GM, & Managing Partner Paul Olson sets the course for the restaurants within the Bowers Harbor Inn property. From culinary direction, food preparation, & sourcing to architectural design, hours, & staffing, Paul is the guiding light. Shaping all his decisions is a mission to have the shortest distance between the food source & the table, which means he will always use local ingredients first.
Olson is a Michigan native & graduate of both Michigan State University & the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. He honed in his skills under the tutelage of Chef Frederic Perrier at La Cite, La Boheme & Café Luxembourg in Manhattan, where he discovered a passion for classic bistro cuisine.
Olson served as executive chef at Luna in Mount Kisco, NY, a position that resulted in a partnership that allowed him to open five restaurants, including Connecticut’s best rib joint, The Cookhouse in New Milford, CT, & The Inn at Newtown in Newtown, CT. Olson has crafted dishes for such notable events as A Tribute to Billy Joel in 1990, the James Beard Foundation Dinner in 1991, & the Aspen Food & Wine Classic in 1995.
After a total of 18 years in the East Coast, an opportunity at Bowers Harbor Inn lured Olson back to Michigan. He brings along his philosophy of fresh flavors, local ingredients, & superbly executed dishes to Mission Table & Tasting Room & Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant, Microbrewery & Distillery.
general manager– jim demarsh
Jim DeMarsh is a Traverse City native where he & his wife are raising their two boys. He has been in the hospitality industry for nearly 20 years.
Jim graduated from Grand Valley State University with degrees in Business Administration & Finance. After a short stint in the banking world the desire for the human experience & interaction brought him to the hospitality industry, serving as General Manager of Grand Rapids’ Bar Divani for three years.
Jim joined our team in spring of 2009 where he has worked his way to his current position of General Manager. Jim exemplifies hospitality. He cares as much about our employees as he does our guest experience.
EVENTS DIRECTOR– BARBARA OLSON
Barbara Olson brings over 20 years of marketing experience to Mission Table & Tasting Room, including stops at MTV, HBO, Comedy Central, Pepsi Cola North America & Kraft Foods North America & the ROR Restaurant Group. Her goal now is to share the beauty & bounty of the Bowers Harbor Inn property (& its resident ghost, Genevieve) with all its guests.
A graduate of Western Michigan University, Barbara’s career took her to New York, but the call of Northern Michigan brought her back home in 2006 with Chef, GM, Managing Partner & husband Paul Olson. She arranges all private events at Mission Table & Tasting Room, as well as the other facilities on the estate– Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant, Microbrewery & Distillery & our large format event space, the Peninsula Room. From receptions, rehearsals, business meetings, fundraisers, birthday & anniversary dinners, & everything in between, she & her husband’s goal is to ensure that each & every guest receives nothing but the most impeccable level of service. Contact her today at Barb@missiontable.net so that she can use her expertise & resources to make your event truly a memorable one.
EVENT MANAGER– MADI BYSTRY
Our Event Manager, Madi Bystry, joined out team last season. Madi graduated with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Grand Valley State University. Since then, she’s pursued experiences across the hospitality field throughout our state on Mackinac Island, Saugatuck, and most recently Traverse City. She has enjoyed getting to know these Michigan coastal destinations and sharing that love with guests who are drawn to them as well.
Her favorite part about hospitality and events in particular is making each experience unique and memorable. In addition to helping our clients vision come to life, Madi also recaps the action on our social media platforms. She is an incredible asset to our team and we look forward to you meeting her.