Perched high above the bluffs of Mackinac Island, the Grand Hotel is one of the most photographed hotels in the world—and for good reason. Its sweeping façade, classic architecture, and world-famous 660-foot front porch are unmistakable. But behind its timeless beauty lies a harsh reality: this landmark sits in one of the most unforgiving environments a wood surface can face.
Surrounded by water and exposed to intense sun that reflects off Lake Huron in summer—and hit with winter storms that sweep across the lake in colder months—the Grand Hotel’s porch had endured decades of punishment. Over time, the original wood planking was replaced with man-made materials in an effort to keep up with the elements. But these alternatives fell short, leaving the porch looking dingy, uneven, and a far cry from the elegant gathering space it once was.
Architect Gene Hopkins of HopkinsBurns Design Studio entered the scene and was determined to restore the hotel’s iconic “living room” to its original luster.
A Challenging Environment for Any Wood Product
A porch this large—and this important to the guest experience—comes with unique demands. It’s exposed to extreme UV rays, heavy traffic, luggage trolleys, food carts, and the steady scraping of wooden rocking chairs as guests jockey for the best sunset views.
Making matters more complex, the porch is raised 10 feet above ground, with hotel offices and public spaces below. That means almost no airflow or drainage beneath the flooring—conditions that would send most wood products running. Gene knew that standard materials wouldn’t be enough.
A Collaboration Begins
Looking for a solution that could perform where others had failed, Gene reached out to Thermory CEO Mark Challinor. After evaluating the site, it became clear that our thermally modified ash porch flooring might be the only wood product capable of standing up to such extreme conditions.
Thermory Benchmark Ash offers:
- Durability fit for the intense Northern Michigan climate
- Stability in areas with limited ventilation and drainage
- Beauty befitting a property as iconic as the Grand Hotel
Still, the hotel management wanted proof—so they approved a real-world test.
The Test Porch: Installed, Exposed, and Put to Work
During the winter closure of 2024–2025, a full test section of the porch was removed and replaced with custom-milled Thermory Benchmark Ash porch flooring. We created a specialty profile exclusively for the project and pre-finished every board for additional protection. The contractor, Spence Brothers, installed the new material with precision, and when the hotel opened in spring 2025, the test area went straight to work.
Through long summer days, luggage traffic, rocking chairs, and thousands of footsteps, the Thermory section took everything the season could throw at it.
Proven Performance — and a Clear Path Forward
At the end of summer, Hopkins and Challinor returned to Mackinac Island to evaluate the results with hotel management. The verdict?
A resounding success.
Benchmark Ash had performed beautifully, impressing hotel leadership, staff, and guests. With confidence high, the Grand Hotel approved a full restoration of the entire porch over the next two seasons. Several of the hotel’s balconies have already been replaced with Benchmark Ash, with more scheduled for next year.
What began as a test has grown into a strong, ongoing partnership—one that is helping protect and elevate one of America’s most beloved architectural treasures.
Looking Ahead
With the porch transformation underway, the collaboration between HopkinsBurns and Thermory is only gaining momentum. The next potential project? Perhaps a Thermory spa, sauna, or pool deck at the hotel’s outdoor pool area—bringing the same blend of beauty and durability to another iconic guest space.
This is more than a renovation. It’s a preservation of history, a celebration of craftsmanship, and a testament to what Thermory products can achieve—even in the harshest environments. We’re honored to be a part of The Grand Restoration.
