Pottawattamie Resort has a rich history extending back to the 1800's when the Pottawattamie Indians first used the area as a campground. After Pier Road was developed, people from surrounding areas as far away as Chicago started visiting and settling in this scenic area.

Sometime in the early 1900’s the first resort property was established at Pottawattamie. As road and train transportation became available, the area quickly became a popular vacation destination. The resort expanded to include a full service banquet kitchen and a grand ballroom.

For many years, the ballroom was a major draw and eventually became the 'mecca' for entertainment in southwestern Michigan. Over the years, the ballroom hosted many well-known entertainers such as the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and Frank Sinatra. Pottawattamie visitors danced into the morning hours and delighted in late night walks on the beach.

As communities to the south (St. Joe) and north (S. Haven and Saugatuck) continued to develop and offer their own tourist attractions, Pottawattamie, though still run as a resort for many years, lost the means to continue as it once was. The then owners decided, due to Pottawattamie’s strong history of summer rentals, that it was time to update and expand Pottawattamie. The original ballroom was converted into a condo building (the condos still boast the original ballroom floor), and the poolside building was built. The resort continued this way for many years.

In 2006, the ownership of Pottawattamie changed hands for the final time. The new owner, charmed by the scenic location and colorful history of the resort, has begun much needed renovations in order to restore Pottawattamie as a premier destination in southwestern Michigan. With no doubts as to the resort’s greatest asset—its pristine beachfront on the shores of Lake Michigan—the new plan for Pottawattamie is to embrace and preserve the beauty of the area while implementing improvements designed to aid Pottawattamie guests in their enjoyment of this great asset.