An English Manor in Michigan?

July 7, 2008 9:03 PM

LocationScoutFilter: I'm looking for an historic home in Michigan that can stand in for a 19th Century English country manor (this is for a low-medium budget film.) Google has disappointed, but I thought there may be some MI historical-society types that could help out. The film is a period piece, so they should be places sitting on at least a couple acres.
posted by skammer to media & arts (11 comments total)

You should contact the National Trust for Historical Conservation, they are a good bet, especially for period homes that are inhabited and therefore furnished and lived in, rather than museum set pieces that will have more rules. There is probably a Michigan ally group, but the National Trust is a good starting point.
posted by parmanparman at 9:21 PM on July 7, 2008

Oops, it's the National Trust for Historic Preservation http://www.preservationnation.org/
posted by parmanparman at 9:22 PM on July 7, 2008

On the east side of Grand Rapids there is Heritage Hill. Hundreds of victorian houses from the late 1800s to the early 1900s that have been kept up in a historic fashion. It isn't quite what you're asking for but some of them are very large and, with some creative camera work, you could probably fake it.
posted by 517 at 9:28 PM on July 7, 2008

Historic House Museums in Michigan

The Felt Mansion
posted by Jahaza at 9:49 PM on July 7, 2008

The Turner Dodge house in Lansing? We are on kind of a big movie kick here right now, as there is talk of a studio being built downtown...so now would probably be a good time to approach the city about shooting at a venerable public mansion.
posted by Tesseractive at 10:30 PM on July 7, 2008

Have you contacted the Michigan Film Office? Back in my reality TV days I found state and local film offices to be very helpful with identifying possible shooting locations. It looks like Michigan's is no exception. Frankly, though, if you're really shooting a low-to-medium budget (what's that, somewhere between 2 and 20 million these days?) film on location in a state you're not familiar with, you have no excuse for not hiring a professional location scout who is familiar with the area. Maybe one of these folks can help.
posted by dersins at 12:18 AM on July 8, 2008

Curwood Castle is the only place that comes to mind, that includes some land about. Other houses exist that would be great if you shoot tight to the building.
posted by Goofyy at 2:51 AM on July 8, 2008

These guys should be able to help you find what you need.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:00 AM on July 8, 2008

Cranbrook.
posted by Floydd at 6:46 AM on July 8, 2008

Meadowbrook Hall on the campus of Oakland University (outside Detroit).
posted by not that girl at 12:56 PM on July 8, 2008

Are you just looking to do exterior shots?

You could try the old Traverse City State Hospital (now known as The Village at Grand Traverse Commons). It's one of the last remaining Kirkbride Buildings, although the main center of it was demolished sometime around the 1960s. The building is currently in the process of being restored, so you might have some work ahead of you to secure a non-busy spot.

In Petoskey, the Bay View Association has a number of very nice homes from the 1800s. They are in rather close quarters though, so I'm not sure if they would work for you.
posted by Dr-Baa at 2:19 PM on July 8, 2008