OUR STORY & WHAT WE DO
About Us
BASED IN TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN
WUERFEL RESORTS
Wuerfel Resorts is a hospitality investment, development, design, and management company founded with the intention to create unique destination properties that showcase the beauty of Northern Michigan.
The Wuerfel’s are blessed to call Traverse City home and are dedicated to providing locals and visitors with hospitality facilities that provide lasting memories for generations to come.
OUR STORY
5 generations born & raised in Northern Michigan
The family has called the area home for over 125 years. From cherry farmers on Old Mission Peninsula, founding Swenson Memorials, and eventually moving into hospitality, we have always been focussed on small businesses catered toward our local community.
Roy and Gerri Hooper on Old Mission Peninsula (1930’s)
Our beginning, Wuerfel Resorts is founded in 1970
Wuerfel Resorts was founded in 1970 by John and Leslye Wuerfel who had a passion for hospitality and a vision to share their beautiful hometown with visitors and locals.
John & Leslye at the Beach Haus Resort (1970’s)
Expanding the portfolio and to the second-generation
Over the past 50 years, Wuerfel Resorts has managed six hotels and developed three of the six, resulting in 400+ guest-rooms on over 1,000 feet of frontage on East Grand Traverse Bay. Josh (President) & Tonya (Vice President) Wuerfel joined for the development of the Sugar Beach Resort Hotel and has continued the firm to present day.
1st wall at The Baywatch Resort’s Phase 2 (2019)
Let’s Play Ball! Local development beyond hotels & resorts
In 2006, the firm expanded beyond hotel development and established the Traverse City Beach Bums.
The Beach Bums were an independent professional baseball team in the Frontier League and played home games out of Wuerfel Park between 2006 - 2018.
John Wuerfel holding up Frontier League Cup (2015)
Three-generations later, Wuerfel Resorts today
A now third-generation firm, the family remains focused on local hotel development. Today, Ally and Quinn Wuerfel have partnered with their parents, Josh and Tonya, to continue and expand the family business.
U.S. Navy Blue Angels practicing during demolition and site preparation for Alexandra Inn (2022)