We are honored to share that Island House Hotel has been recognized on Historic Hotels of America’s 2025 Top 25 Most Romantic Proposals list. This selection of 25 authentic historic destinations celebrates the places where love stories unfold against backdrops shaped by centuries of architecture, artistry, and heartfelt hospitality.  We are proud to see Island House included among places where life’s most meaningful questions are asked.

For generations, Island House Hotel has been woven into the love stories of Mackinac Island, offering a rare sense of continuity as the island’s oldest operating hotel and a designated State of Michigan Historic Landmark. Romance here is shaped by history and place, from the iconic front porch and veranda overlooking the harbor, to the rocking chairs, sweeping waterfront views, and the gentle clip clop of passing horses that create a timeless, unhurried atmosphere. The porch at sunset remains the most beloved proposal spot, while the 1852 Grill Room provides an elegant indoor setting with candlelit tables, harbor views, and live piano music. Evenings by the outdoor fire pits, with stars reflecting off the water, offer another intimate moment to ask the question.

The Island House Hotel team works discreetly with each guest to plan personalized proposals, from arranging flowers, photographers, and horse-drawn carriage rides to coordinating celebratory dinners or in-room touches like sparkling wine and chocolate-covered strawberries. Romantic offerings such as the seasonal Romantic Retreat package and the special 2026 Once Upon an Island weekend help couples celebrate milestones with intention and ease. Classic Mackinac Island experiences like private carriage rides, scenic bike rides with picnic lunches, or the playful Ryba’s Fudge Shops Fudgemaking Experience add to the charm.

What makes the Island House Hotel truly extraordinary is how often couples return to mark life’s most meaningful moments, revisiting the same rooms, views, and traditions across decades. Stories like Ron and Kathy Farnum’s, who honeymooned here in 1975 and returned for their 25th and 50th anniversaries, or couples who come back to celebrate engagements, weddings, and even their children’s birthdays, reflect the enduring magic of a place where personal histories become part of the hotel’s own. Island House Hotel dates to 1852 and was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2005.

Being named among Historic Hotels of America’s most romantic proposal destinations is a reflection of the couples who have trusted Island House with their stories for more than a century. We look forward to welcoming future love stories to Mackinac Island for generations to come.