Turner-Dodge House — Attraction in Lansing

I really enjoy the Turner Dodge House and it’s history, but my last experience wasn’t great. Usually, at the Open House, they have tea and cookies and some Christmas music, plus workers that are chatty and friendly. This year, we got there at 4pm like we did last year but there was no tea or cookies, no music playing with only the strange squeak of one of the displays upstairs which didn’t make the upstairs super comfortable. Then, a worker there told us it was 4:50pm in a way that seemed like they wanted us to leave as we looked at the decorations upstairs. I was surprised at the lack of trees. In the past, I saw Fenner and other places that had cool trees, even a group I have been apart of, Capitol Steam, had one. Overall, we were going to the open house to see if we might be able to bring my boyfriend’s family there on Christmas since few things are open but I was hoping to show them the whole experience with tea and cookies, etc, but I am unsure now. I have really enjoyed the Halloween events I have done there, so I am torn. Plus, I was told if I want to volunteer there, I can but I did this three years in a row, leaving my info, and no one contacted me. Would the fourth time make a difference? People tell woes about Lansing but this isn’t the only place where I waved my arms and would offer free labor, yet no one seems to care. I do love this building and it’s history. This experience doesn’t make me not want to attend say, a music event, in the future. It just makes me on the fence about bringing out of state family there for Christmas as their first exposure there, especially if we seemed ushered out early. But it is worth the $5 for us to see that super cool Wizard of Oz tree. I should post a photo of it here. I do enjoy how the house isn’t roped off like other historical houses. It makes it a more...

The Turner-Dodge House is really a very beautiful place to have a get together for whatever reason. I had a party there and all the guests loved it. However, the woman that is the care taker there is completely unorganized and added a lot of unnecessary stress. She was supposed to set up the tables and chairs, all we were allowed to do was bring food and decorations. When we got there, at the contracted time, she had not arrived yet. She was late, we had to wait for her AND she had not even set up the tables and chairs. We had to wait for her to do that before we could set anything up so the party was late getting started. VERY extremely aggravating...especially when you pay by the hour. A few of our guests also complained that she was rude to them. We were able to tour the house but these particular guests were yelled at for going in a room or using the back stairs when they were NOT blocked off by ropes. Just saying...you can't say roam the house and yell at guests for roaming the house. If you don't want someone to use a stairwell, fine, but rope it off!! This is a great place to have a party but set it straight with that caretaker to hold up her end of the bargain so you don't have the...

Absolutely loved my experience with the Turner-Dodge house! I had my open house there and it was such a beautiful and perfect place to have it. The amazing woman who is taking care of the house does a phenomenal job of keeping the house pristine and flawless. It is truly a great place to be at. The history of not only the house but the family who created it is just so fascinating and quite amazing. Definitely check it out and keep it in mind for any event...