by Christine Lorraine Morgan, Dec. 25, 2025 with research from Toby/GC68

Believe it or not, Presque Isle at Erie, PA was a happening place in about 1870. That’s when local entrepreneur Jake Graham put up a shanty in a nearly inaccessible ravine and named it the Lone Fisherman’s Inn. This picturesque place was situated in a scenic dell about a half mile east of the Massassauga Point Hotel, on Presque Isle bay’s south shore.

This serene Tracy Farm location was reachable only by a sand beach from the Head, by a path through the woods, or by boat. It sat near the mouth of a scenic glen with a small sparkling stream running through it.

As soon as the doors of its low-budget frame building opened, the resort was packed with pleasure-seekers. Guests flocked to the Inn for shooting, fishing, or to indulge in one of its famous fish suppers.

Colorized image of the Lone Fisherman’s Inn credited to “Erie, Penna. Illustrated” 1888 ~ This sketch may be the only existing image of this 150-year old hideaway.

As the Inn’s reputation soared with sportsmen, families and leisure seekers, its popularity continued to gain traction. Considering that Graham was a hotel proprietor with extensive experience, it wasn’t long before he began to develop the property, for which he held a long-term lease.

In 1875 a dock and a sturdier building were constructed. Measures were taken to allow for a safe landing area to accommodate sailing craft, yachts and steamers to bring in guests. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Louis Schumacher purchased Graham’s interest in this growing business.

Schumacher didn’t waste any time in improving the property, and set about updating and expanding the existing structure. He also added a large dining hall, a 53×80′ dancing pavilion, and a detached kitchen.

These new additions to the Lone Fisherman’s Inn certainly defied the name of the place, a concept which almost seemed to further its mystique and desirability. Not only did it attract parties of picnickers, it also brought in fishing parties from across the state, pleasure seekers, and independently wealthy people looking for a boast-worthy place to retreat.

“Visitors from Pittsburgh, Western New York, Eastern Ohio and West Virginia frequented the beautiful surroundings, taking advantage of world class fishing, fish fry’s and a large dance hall. Eventually, a carriage road was built on an easy grade from the ‘Lake Road,’ current day West 6th Street,” according to the Hagen History Center.

This Carriage road was a major upgrade because it offered guests a safe overland route to the Inn during inclement weather, which might make travel by boat or footpath through the woods potentially treacherous.

Due to poor health, Schumacher sold his interest in the Lone Fisherman’s Inn to John Schaffer, who continued to manage the property until he was imprisoned in 1891.

“Mr. John Shaffer, the proprietor of the Lone Fisherman’s Inn, came before the court this morning for sentence. Judge Gunnison had taken pleas of selling liquor without a license and the district attorney had recommended a nolla prosequi in two other cases,” according to the Sept. 21, 1891 Erie Daily Times.

“Judge Gunnison then sentenced Mr. Schaffer to undergo an imprisonment for six months in the Erie County Jail – three months for each offense, and pay a fine of $1,000 – $500 in each case, to the commonwealth. Mr. Schaffer has commenced his term of imprisonment and will most likely be allowed to go at the end of the term, as he has not the means to pay a fine of that amount.”

Six months later, after the Lone Fisherman’s Inn had been destroyed by fire, land owner Mr. Daniel Tracy ran into obstacles when he tried to regain possession of the grounds from the indisposed John Schaffer. Due to these entanglements, Tracy devised a way to regain possession of his property from Mr. Schaffer’s long-term lease, which was still active.

Tracy hired the Constable Bros., to whom he had awarded the contract to build a new hotel, to shrewdly purchase the bowling alley on the property. Once that transaction was complete, the Constable Bros. were able to take possession of that building and placed materials and tools inside.

As soon as the resort area was accessible again, plans were made for an expeditious commencement of building the new structure, which was to be the centerpiece of the freshly conceived Tracy Point Hotel. It was to be located in the same spot as the former Lone Fisherman’s Inn. That resort lasted until the early 20th century, when a series of other local establishments tried to operate at that scenic locale.

What stands now, in 2025, where the Lone Fisherman’s Inn was, is shown in the image below.

Here’s the site where Lone Fisherman’s Inn was from 1870 until 1892, which is now occupied by the Sommerheim building in Millcreek Township. This view was captured across Presque Isle Bay in August 2024. Prior to the installation of the Carriage road, one could reach the Inn by boat across this stretch of Presque Isle Bay.

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Thus, the famously beautiful getaway spot known as the Lone Fisherman’s Inn was operational from about 1870 to 1892, before it vanished by burning down, leaving very few crumbs behind for hungry historians to feast upon.

Sources utilized for this feature:

“Erie, Penna. Illustrated” ~ 1888

Erie Times News article Sept. 21, 1891

Erie Times News article March 23, 1892

Hagen History Center website