Little Traverse Inn, a Leelanau County landmark and destination for year-round merriment is once again ready for its next proprietor.

Innkeeper and chef/owner Graeme Leask, who has operated the British gastro pub and B&B (149 E. Harbor Highway, Maple City, $1,900,000) for 11 years, also listed it for the same asking price last year at this time. “We had an offer within the day,” he says, “and nine people in line.”

That original offer stayed in motion for several months, but that buyer eventually dropped out. Leask continued running the inn and B&B for what he thought was his farewell summer, and he’s prepared to do so again.  “It didn’t hurt my feelings, in hindsight,” he says of the deal falling through. “I love doing what I do. I was put on Earth to cook and entertain.”

The property, which is offered as both a commercial listing and as a private residence, was the homestead of the Atkinson family, who built it in 1890.

The 7500-square-foot main house has a long tenure as an inn: “They began letting rooms in 1896,” shares Leask. “The story is they had eight boys and a girl, and they would boot the boys out to the barn and let their rooms out.”

Legend also has is the Atkinsons “took in folks from a boat that had run around in Good Harbor Bay. They took the crew in and that is what spearheaded it.”

The daughter took over the household and ran it as Traverse Lake Resort up to the 1950s.

Pictured above is a group celebrating V-day at the inn at the end of WWII, “you can see the ‘V’ for victory on the porch,” says Leask. “I was given that photo by a family member. There are numerous Atkinsons and Andersons still around in Leelanau County,” he says, several of whom are regulars at the pub.

The listing includes the long-term turnkey business, the main building situated on three acres, the restaurant, beer garden and patio, a six-room B&B with private bathrooms, and an innkeepers’ cottage, garage and other outbuildings.

All fixtures fittings, furniture, inventory, POS system and licenses are included in the $1.9M asking price. Leask, who is from Scotland, says he is “more than happy to guide and train a new owner. The goal is to just get back to my folks. They are at an age they are beginning to need a little extra care.”

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