By Petula Brown
First a confession: I got lost. As a seasoned traveler, I became overconfident, and my assumptions got the best of me. Getting low on gas, I exited US-131 near Kalamazoo for a quick fill-up, but the on-ramp back on to North US-131 was closed for construction. The recommended detour took me on US-89 through Otsego and Allegan. Though not the most direct path, it did get me to Fennville. I noticed street numbers were rising as expected to get to Red Spirit’s 118th address. I didn’t expect that streets intersected avenues that also had numbers. Combined with overlooking that Red Spirit’s address is on 118th “Avenue,” my drive on US-89 took me to the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan. Though an unintended detour, being blessed with good weather allowed me to explore the region that is home to a unique retreat experience known as Red Spirit.
My path to Red Spirit was a bit circuitous but had nothing on owner Karen Duffin’s journey to create the southwestern Michigan escape. Originally from central Illinois, Duffin moved to the area in the 1960s, when her husband relocated for work. Circumstances led the couple to move back to Illinois in the early 1970s, but they wanted to return to Michigan to start a farm. Fast forward to the 1990s; Duffin was divorced and the owner of 20 acres of undeveloped land between Allegan and Saugatuck. Duffin became a caretaker of the land and when she saw a red glow enveloping the landscape, it moved her to name the area “Red Spirit.” Few others have seen the glow, but visitors with psychic and wellness backgrounds “love the energy.” It inspired her to create an intimate, restorative space imbued with natural beauty.
That natural beauty predates Red Spirit by thousands of years. The landscape’s high ground and low wetlands were well-positioned for settlement by indigenous communities, which explains why arrowheads and pottery have been found in the area. In the 1800s, the purchased land was transitioned to agricultural use by A.M. Todd known as the Peppermint King of Kalamazoo. In the 1900s the site was a global supplier of peppermint before wilt destroyed the crop in the late 1930s leaving the land to serve as cow pasture (though still known as the Todd Farm to those east of Red Spirit). By the 1980s the land had become a residential property that included a cabin, barn, and manufactured home with minimal land maintenance.
From this foundation, Duffin’s 1994 land purchase began her journey as a steward of the land and its wildlife. As a full-time resident, she could appreciate the area’s character across all seasons. Duffin and the Kalamazoo Boy Scouts developed a symbiotic relationship: the scouts could make meaningful contributions that help them earn badges, like clearing trails of debris and overgrowth, and Duffin received support for her custodial efforts. She also pursued membership in the Old Growth Forest Network, an organization dedicated to preserving native forests throughout the U.S. Duffin’s role extended beyond caretaker to cultivator when she led efforts to create a space for others to experience healing and rejuvenation that respected the environment. The result–Red Spirit.
As a retreat location, Red Spirit’s 20 acres are ideally suited for people eager to “get off the grid” but not looking for a deserted island. Ready to pitch a tent for a fully rustic experience? Red Spirt offers campsites with grills, tables, campfire locations, and a commode. Interested in a solo getaway with more amenities? The Artist’s Cabin offers beds, small appliances, and a screened-in kitchen tent as well as outdoor shower and commode facilities. Families or friends looking for group accommodations? Red Spirit’s Main Cabin includes five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, a screened porch, laundry, and an expansive deck outfitted with grills and a picnic table. Next door to the Main Cabin, Studio 64 provides a queen bed, additional bathroom and cooking facilities, laundry, dining/living space, and additional outdoor seating options. The variety of accommodations means Red Spirit can host larger groups interested in renting the entire property.
Regardless of where you stay, guests can partake in a peaceful landscape dotted with walking trails. Next to Studio 64, a one-acre Frog Pond provides a tranquil escape for reading, writing, or reflection. Red Spirit does have internet access but is decidedly low-tech (no phones, television, some cell service). As a hostess who lives in an apartment attached to Studio 64, Karen is not intrusive, but readily accessible, and creates homemade pies as gifts to guests. The retreat’s cooking facilities allow visitors to bring groceries from local shops as well as supermarkets in nearby South Haven. Guests can also support area eateries such as the rustic Salt of the Earth, or the eclectic Root Café, the sandwich shop at Farmhouse Deli, or events at Everyday People Café.
Red Spirit’s location between county seat Allegan and beach-haven Saugatuck is ideally placed for visitors interested in experiencing the contrasting communities. In my quest to find Red Spirit, I learned that family-friendly Pier Cove Beach and the Allegan State Game Area (the state’s largest game area) are especially close.
With its natural beauty and proximity to beaches, it’s understandable that Red Spirit has hosted a variety of activities, including family reunions, health retreats, educational workshops, scout outings, and performance groups. While facility rentals are a focus, Duffin is excited to introduce Wonder Weekends in October. The intimate gatherings will provide guests with opportunities to meet people with interesting experiences and careers. Participants can share perspectives and exchange information. Duffin describes Wonder Weekends as “a place to listen, learn, and be curious while you make new connections.” The Wonder Weekends will give guests a chance to use the site’s restorative setting to encourage creative thinking and intellectual curiosity, the foundation for discoveries. “Where you can walk the trails through an old forest” commented Duffin, “and wonder at how renewed you’ll feel to make the world a better place.”
Red Spirit is located at 6491 118th Avenue, in Fennville, MI 49408. Dogs are allowed to stay for an additional fee. For more information call (269) 355-3339 or visit theredspirit.com.
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My path to Red Spirit was a bit circuitous but had nothing on owner Karen Duffin’s journey to create the southwestern Michigan escape. Originally from central Illinois, Duffin moved to the area in the 1960s, when her husband relocated for work. Circumstances led the couple to move back to Illinois in the early 1970s, but they wanted to return to Michigan to start a farm. Fast forward to the 1990s; Duffin was divorced and the owner of 20 acres of undeveloped land between Allegan and Saugatuck. Duffin became a caretaker of the land and when she saw a red glow enveloping the landscape, it moved her to name the area “Red Spirit.” Few others have seen the glow, but visitors with psychic and wellness backgrounds “love the energy.” It inspired her to create an intimate, restorative space imbued with natural beauty.