Harrison’s Main Street Inns, Churches and Bars

Carl and Louise Burkhalter

This article is dedicated to Carl (1909-1992) and Louise (1912-2026) Burkhalter.

View Mrs. Burkhalters recent obituary at https://www.clarecountycleaver.net/stories/untitiled,160274

Budd Lake Bar & Restaurant

198 E Main St.
Harrison, MI 48625

By ANGELA KELLOGG-HENRY

Cleaver Managing Editor

Carl and Louise Burkhalter moved to Harrison in 1940. They became beloved citizens who ran several successful businesses and were active in the community. The June 27, 1940, issue of the Cleaver announces their first business venture, taking over the Budd Lake Inn.

“New Budd Lake Inn Now Open

The Budd Lake Inn, which has been undergoing extensive repairs for the past several weeks, is now open to the public and is an attractive business house in our city.

The building inside has been finished in rustic effect, which is in keeping with the northern part of Michigan. The outside is finished in imitation brick which gives it a new appearance.

The place was opened last week with several special parties.

1. Miller of Flint is proprietor of the Inn and Carl Burkhalter is the manager. Mr. Burkhalter extends every courtesy to the public when dining, dancing or dropping in for refreshments. Mr. Burkhalter comes from Tampa, Fla., and his pleasing personality is winning for him many friends in Harrison.”

The location mentioned in 1940 was actually on the corner of Main and Second Streets, vacated in recent years by the Harrison District Library and now the location of The Rustic Owl.

Prior owners in the 1930s include Jim Buchan and the Dancer family.

The Main and Second Street location was for sale by 1943, and the Burkhalters relocated the Budd Lake Bar to Main and First Street where it sits (closed) today. The east part of the building was actually a church (see photo) and the entrance facing the stoplight was where the steeple stood.

The Budd Lake Bar for decades held the annual beaver supper for the Harrison Sportsman’s Club. The Bay City Times reported on the dinner in 1961, with the headline “Trout’n’Beaver”

 “The Harrison Sportsman’s Cub will hold it’s fifth annual beaver supper Saturday at the Budd Lake Bar, in connection with the opening of the trout season at midnight that evening. Ham will be on the menu for those who don’t want beaver. Sportsman’s club members prepare and serve this dinner to hundreds of anglers who flock to this area for the trout opener.”

In 1958, the Burkhalter’s opened the Harrison Marina on the corner opposite the Budd Lake Bar. The location was formerly the Sinclair Station, the Nash dealership, and the auto dealership of Jay Woods and Ellwood Davis. Later the location was owned by Lois and Bruce Chinn as the Harrison Sports Center.

The Burkhalter’s passed ownership of the Budd Lake Bar to Terry Dunn and Judith Kinney in 1973. It was later owned by Katie Coveart who made popular soups and sandwiches. The establishment changed hands in 1999 and was purchased by Keith Thomas and expanded and improved with a larger kitchen, dance floor, and sports bar theme.

Carl Burkhalter passed away in 1992 at the age of 82 and Louise Burkhalter passed away on February 23, 2026, at the age of 113 years. Her obituary is on page one. At the time of his passing Carl was a real estate agent for Jerry L. Brandt Realty. Louise continued to live in Harrison until about 2007 when she moved to Grand Rapids to be closer to family. Carl and Louise are both laid to rest in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Harrison.

The current owner of the Budd Lake Bar closed the business in 2023 after 15 years of ownership citing the need for a full-time owner/manager to oversee the business that they couldn’t provide at that time.