Louhelen’s Heritage
75 Years of Hospitality and Service
Since 1931, Louhelen has consistently provided guests with a warm welcome and friendly service, whether they are attending a conference, meeting, retreat, or reception.
The Animating Spirit of Louhelen
Louhelen’s spirit of unity provides the key to excellent service. As a leading center of Bahá’í learning, Louhelen offers courses and seminars relating to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith, whose vision of a unified humanity offers the basis of a practical model for world peace. The world’s six million Bahá’í’s represent perhaps the most diverse, yet unified, group on the planet.
Origins and History
In 1930, soon after he had become a member of the Bahá’í Faith, Mr. L.W. Eggleston purchased a farm near Davison, Michigan with the express intention of using the grounds and facilities for a Bahá’í Summer School. In the same year, he and Miss Helen Whitney were joined in marriage, and together they made plans to start the school the very next summer. The first nine days of August, 1931 marked the first season of Louhelen Bahá’í School. 
In all, 35 Bahá’ís and friends, from six states, attended as full-time participants, and about 50 others, mainly from Detroit and Flint, came as day students to one or more classes. The sessions were held that year in a wooded area sloping down to a clear stream, either in a lodge on the hillside or in an open-air amphitheater nearby.
To ensure that the School would continue season after season, the Egglestons worked diligently to improve the school’s facilities. A small barn was partitioned into private rooms and became the Pullman Lodge. A dining porch was added to the main house to improve the serving of meals. 
For nearly twenty years the Egglestons poured out their energy, effort, and money in improving and maintaining the accommodations. Finally, in 1949 they deeded to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States the school buildings and the land on which they stood. In the late 1970s Louhelen underwent tremendous change, removing older buildings and erecting new ones. In 1983, the National Spiritual Assembly opened the buildings which currently comprise Louhelen. A new auditorium was added in 2001. With your interest and support, Louhelen constantly strives to enhance its service to all, while remaining true to its heritage of beauty, charm, and peaceful atmosphere.
