"...In 1916 Ernest Hemingway briefly visited several small northern Michigan towns, including Kalkaska. It is apparent by looking at excerpts from the journal that Hemingway kept of the trip (written in a ruled pocket ledger courtesy of the Old Hartford Fire Insurance Company) that the excursion made an impression on him and helped him produce two of his finest Michigan stories: "The Light of the World" and "The Battler."
-- Taken from the article, "Gone Fishin'," by Jack Jobst
(Michigan History Magazine, November/December 1995)

Today you can still walk the trails that Hemingway walked and see the sites he saw.  The cottage of Windemere is still there at Walloon Lake, though it is not open to the public.  This region inspired two books, "Up In Michigan" and "Big Two-Hearted River".

Lumbering camps abounded in the area (it was lumber from here that helped rebuild Chicago after the great fire), and it had an Indian village. Many of Hemingway’s Nick Adams stories are filled with tales gathered here and in the neighboring towns.

The innkeepers at Horton Creek Inn can direct you to local sites that Hemingway visited and can even tell the tale of an Indian maiden said to haunt the area to this day.

This Michigan getaway is sponsored by the Horton Creek Inn Michigan

Horton Creek Inn
Horton Bay Michigan

Web Site 

Windemere