The Judson Heath Colonial Inn is an eight room bed and breakfast located in the heart of the downtown historic district of Saugatuck Michigan. The inn was originally built by Elnathan Judson in Gull Prairie Michigan in 1837 along with the now attached coachhouse which was originally a separate tavern. Judson operated a stagecoach stop, referred to then as a Public House, which was serviced by The Good Intent Line coach service. In 1854 Judson moved his family, his business operations and the two structures to 607 Butler Street, Newark Michigan (now Saugatuck). The Inn served as a personal residence for Judson, a mill owner, lumber dealer and land speculator, as well as a boarding house for his mill workers. Circa 1870 the property was subsequently purchased from Judson by George P. Heath, also a mill owner and lumber dealer, serving then both as a family residence and also guest quarters for ship captains procuring lumber contacts to rebuild Chicago after the great fire of 1871. In the early 1900’s after the Judson/Heath industrial era, the house was successively operated as a resort, a rest home, and then a private residence. The building, an Asher Benjamin "Georgian Federal" design, is historically significant architecturally as well as to the history of the town of Saugatuck. The property was acquired in 2016 and underwent a thorough and much needed restoration and rebirth as a bed and breakfast. Join us in celebrating the resurrection of this historic property and rebirth as the Judson Heath Colonial Inn!
