New owners promise big changes for the Ginkgo Tree Inn

Local husband and wife David and Layla Davis hope to establish the Ginkgo Tree Inn as a staple of the Mt. Pleasant community under their new ownership.

“This property has a lot to offer the community,” David says. “We saw an opportunity to preserve history and this was the perfect hidden gem.”
The entrance room and front desk at the Ginkgo Tree Inn.
David and Layla are both Central Michigan University alum with diverse backgrounds in entrepreneurship. Layla runs Essence Imagery, her adventure wedding and portrait photography business. They also own several local rental properties. They enjoy connecting with nature and appreciating the natural beauty of Michigan while raising their two young children, Olivia and Liam.

The inn, located at 309 N. Main St. in downtown Mt. Pleasant, was the ideal community development to invest their efforts in, says David. They took over from the previous owners, David and Jean Prout, back in September and have been working closely with the Middle Michigan Development Corporation (MMDC) as well as the Michigan Small Business Development Center to develop their goals for the inn.

“We’re always happy to see a successful business transition and know that the new owners of the Ginkgo Tree Inn will build on its legacy while also adding their own unique touches to the business,” says Kati Mora, MMDC Vice President.

They’ve already been hard at work making improvements to enhance the guest experience such as installing a TV in each bedroom. They plan to update the decor while still maintaining the integrity of the historical home, says Layla.

The Golden Oak Room is one of five bedrooms available at the Ginkgo Tree Inn.

In the coming year, they plan to add a gift shop featuring local goods, open their bar services, renovate the outdoor garden and patio space, and build decks along the river. They hope for people to freely gather at the inn.

“We want this to be a space for the community to come together, whether you’re an overnight guest or just stopping by,” David says. “We’re creating an environment that gives people an experience they want to keep coming back to enjoy.”

Their long-term goals involve more additions and renovations. Over the next five to 10 years they hope to remodel the small home adjacent to the inn to increase the inn’s indoor space. They also envision a glass atrium to unify the properties together.

“We’re being very strategic with all the renovations and we plan to stay open during these changes,” David says.

“We’re excited to turn this into a community space while still preserving the intimate experience at the heart of this inn,” David says. “If people visit Mt. Pleasant or CMU we want Ginkgo to be a must-see location.”