There is comfortable lodging available for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race at the nearby Munro House B&B in Jonesville. The races take place just 30 minutes away at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in Brooklyn, Michigan the weekend of June 7-9. Many race fans camp out at the track because there are limited hotel rooms in the area. Additionally, many race fans are in and out in a day because of the high pricing of nearby hotels. It can get hot in June, which means it can get muggy, or it could rain, which means it could be sloppy. Camping is not the best choice for many people who would prefer to stay indoors in a comfortable, dry, air-conditioned room at a quieter place, like the Munro House in Jonesville. Regular rates are in effect for the NASCAR race weekend, so there’s no price gouging going on here.
A full house at the track, along with all the workers that are required to make things run smoothly, means that around 70,000 people have needs. NASCAR races and their fans have become an iconic symbol of pop culture in the new Millenium. The logistics of handling that many people is difficult to imagine. There has to be food, drink, rest areas, parking, and lodging available to take care of the plethora of fans that gather for these events. Bringing in more food and drink and rest stations has not been a problem. Lodging, on the other hand…
Brooklyn, Michigan, is a town of about 1,200. Jackson is the nearest “big” city with a population of just 36,000. Ann Arbor, Toledo, and Detroit are much bigger cities, but they are 30, 47, and 80 miles away according to google maps. When it comes to lodging for the horde of race fans, there are not a lot of options that are convenient, clean, and comfortable. Building and filling more hotel and motel rooms is not a viable option for the other weekends of the year. Many fans are relatively local and will be in and out in a day. The majority of overnight fans invade the numerous campgrounds for a very casual experience. There is only one chain hotel in Brooklyn–it’s a Super 8. That means that there is an opportunity for nearby towns and villages to promote their mom and pop hotels and a fair number of bed and breakfast inns.
The Munro House B&B in downtown Jonesville according to google maps is located 23.3 miles (about 27 minutes) from the track on U.S. highway 12. Although they typically cater to romantic couples on weekends, they welcome NASCAR fans to the house over race weekends each year. Unlike some nearby properties that command a rate 5 times normal with a 7-night stay required, they hold their prices consistent with the rest of the year and only require a 2-night stay. It is probably a good idea to stay 2 nights anyway. The officials get cars out of their parking lots as efficiently as possible. But the closest interstate highways are about 20 miles away, so traffic can be pretty slow. When you consider waiting among 70,000 people to get in and get out of the track, race day can be a very long ordeal. Staying the night before and the night after the race is almost always a very good idea. For people who also want to attend time trials or minor races on the preceding days, an additional night accommodation is a good option and is offered at a reduced rate.
The house tends to get traditional race fans–mostly couples who are here to watch the race and to watch everyone else go wild. Munro House’s clientele has been responsible and respectful. They are a very good fit for this historic home. There are no worries about things getting loud or out of hand. Guests get a comfortable night sleep, a big breakfast, and have a straight shot to the track. Some folks leave early and opt for breakfast ‘to go’–after all, it is a bed and breakfast. Race fans who only want to spend one night will be lucky to find a place within an hour of the track. Most every lodging property requires at least a 2-night stay for these special event weekends. Find a place to stay and if you get there and like it, ask for dibs on next year’s race.
Mike Venturini – Innkeeper
“Life is good in Jonesville”