Devils Lake and Manitou Beach: resort history and lake access

Start with the lake itself. Michigan DNR describes Devils Lake as a natural lake of about 1,300 acres, the largest in Lenawee County, with a maximum depth of about 63 feet. A state public boating-access site sits on the southwest side. In warm weather, expect a well-used recreational lake rather than a quiet backcountry launch.

The resort story arrived in stages. The yacht club’s history says Allen’s Landing, the lake’s first hotel, went up in the 1870s. Pleasant Grove Hotel opened in 1881. Rail service later brought more summer visitors, and other hotels and entertainment followed around the turn of the century.

The yacht club came much later. Local boaters organized the present Devils Lake Yacht Club in December 1941, then bought the old Pleasant Grove Hotel in 1945. That distinction matters: the resort era began in the 1800s, but the present club is a 1940s organization housed in one of the earlier resort buildings.

For a day on the water, check current DNR fishing rules and any posted lake notices before launching. If you’re considering a house nearby, the bigger questions are legal lake levels, special assessments, septic systems, and lake-specific boating rules. Our guide to buying on a Lenawee County lake walks through those pieces.