Full Breakdown
Interlochen Center for the Arts to Demolish Former Jeffrey Epstein Lodge
5/28/2026, 2:02:58 AM
Decision to Demolish Green Lake Lodge
The Interlochen Center for the Arts Board of Trustees approved in May 2026 the demolition of Green Lake Lodge, a cabin funded by Jeffrey Epstein and bearing his name, saying the structure’s associations conflict with the school’s values and that removal will be safe and prompt. No demolition date was disclosed.
Epstein’s Historical Connection to Interlochen
Jeffrey Epstein attended Interlochen Arts Camp in summer 1967. Between 1990 and 2003 he donated over $400,000, including $200,000 for a cabin on Green Lake. After his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor, Interlochen removed his name from the property in 2009, renaming it Green Lake Lodge.
Timeline of Key Developments
1967 – Epstein attends camp; 1990-2003 – he contributes >$400,000, funding the lodge; 2008 – his Florida conviction triggers Interlochen’s first internal review; 2009 – lodge renamed Green Lake Lodge after finding no misconduct; 2019 – second review after his federal sex-trafficking arrest found none; Dec 2025 – DOJ files reveal Epstein met a 13-year-old girl at Interlochen in 1994; May 2026 – board votes to demolish lodge.
Financial Contributions and Institutional Reviews
Epstein’s gifts exceeded $400,000, half funding the Green Lake cabin. ICA’s internal reviews in 2009 and 2019 examined records for any abuse reports involving Epstein and found none. The lodge has been idle for years.
Official Institutional Response
Interlochen said the lodge’s symbolism conflicted with its mission and that the board’s decision reflects a commitment to institutional integrity. The school affirmed full cooperation with government inquiries and noted many DOJ-released documents had already been provided.
Criticism and Legislative Oversight
State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) introduced a bill to form a committee probing ICA’s ties to Epstein, questioning whether the donor’s cabin enabled access to minors. Lawmakers argue internal reviews may miss historic misconduct.
Conflicting Reports and Unresolved Questions
ICA’s internal reviews report no abuse, yet DOJ files and a victim’s testimony describe Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell meeting a 13-year-old girl at Interlochen in 1994, labeling it the start of grooming. The gap between findings and evidence remains unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The lodge has, over time, come to carry associations that are not reflective of who we are as an institution or the values we strive to uphold.” — Interlochen Center for the Arts
- “After careful consideration, the Board determined that removing this structure in a safe and timely manner is the right step for Interlochen at this time.” — Interlochen Center for the Arts
- “One cannot help but wonder: did he donate a cabin so that he would have more unfettered, unsupervised access to children?” — State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou
- “the beginning of ‘grooming behavior.’” — Woman who met Epstein at Interlochen (now adult)
What’s Next
Interlochen will proceed with demolition while an independent external review of historic abuse continues. Michigan legislators plan to advance the investigative committee, and federal authorities may further examine the DOJ files. The site will be repurposed after removal.
