Bottom Creek Resort

The Bottom Creek project is a 16,000 SF brewery, restaurant, and open-air pavilion situated on a ~600-acre natural site in North Branch, Michigan, designed to create a destination hospitality experience centered around nature, community, and outdoor recreation.

What makes this project unique is the integration of hospitality construction within a large-scale, undeveloped natural environment, requiring coordination between site development, architecture, and long-term land use planning. The project is part of a broader vision that includes trails, water features, events, and outdoor programming to create a fully immersive guest experience.

A defining feature of the project is the use of custom-engineered exposed heavy timber framing, including white oak harvested directly from the property and repurposed into structural columns, casework, shelving, and interior finishes.

Additional complexities included:

• Developing infrastructure on a large rural site with limited existing utilities
• Integrating indoor and outdoor spaces (brewery, restaurant, pavilion, event areas) into a cohesive guest experience
• Coordinating construction sequencing to align with future phases and long-term site programming
• Maintaining the natural character of the land while delivering a high-end hospitality product

From a sustainability and community standpoint, the project emphasizes:

• Use of on-site materials (white oak timber) to reduce material transport and enhance authenticity
• A design centered around outdoor engagement and environmental preservation
• Creation of a regional destination that supports local tourism, events, and community gatherings

Overall, Bottom Creek represents a highly customized, experience-driven project that blends modern construction techniques with natural materials and site-sensitive design, resulting in a one-of-a-kind hospitality destination in Michigan.

Key Project Statistics

• Project Type: Brewery, Restaurant, Event Space, Pavilion
• Location: North Branch, Michigan
• Building Size: ~16,000 SF
• Project Value: ~$15 Million
• Site Size: ~600 Acres
• Key Features:
  • Open-air pavilion + indoor/outdoor dining
  • Heavy timber structural system
  • On-site harvested white oak integrated into construction
  • Large-scale outdoor programming (trails, events, waterfront, etc.)