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One of the most recognizable Copper Boom landmarks in all of the Keweenaw Peninsula is up for sale. The Thomas Hoatson House, better known as the Laurium Manor Inn, is part of an eight-property package with a listing price of approximately $3.5 million dollars.
The seller’s description says all are currently used as bed-and-breakfast hotels, with over 35,000 square feet, 40 bedrooms, and 33 bathrooms in the grouping. The listing says that Michigan’s copper rush was a greater economic driver than even the California gold rush and no expense was spared by Hoatson when building his exquisite mansion.
“In America, the Gilded Age was characterized by exotic opulence and what could be more exotic than having gilded and embossed elephant leather wall coverings. In the dining room of Laurium Manor Inn, the wall covering is actual gilded elephant hide leather. The dining room chairs were also covered in elephant leather. The elephant hide wallpaper is a prime example of the period’s extravagance.”
The Laurium Manor has been owned since 1989 by Dave and Julie Sprenger, Michigan Tech students who moved out to Silicon Valley before returning to restore the Hoatson home. The listing says that the properties already have staff in place and are ready for operation as soon as a prospective owner can close on them.
The listing agent is Nick Asplund of Lux Partners. The firm specializes in properties of this nature, mostly in the Detroit area.
