The Interlochen Center for the Arts, a prestigious Michigan summer arts camp and boarding school, has announced plans to demolish a lodge that was once named after convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision comes after years of scrutiny over Epstein's connections to the institution, where at least two of his accusers have said they met him in the 1990s.
Background of the Lodge
The Green Lake Lodge, previously known as the Jeffrey E. Epstein Scholarship Lodge, was built with a $200,000 donation from Epstein, who contributed over $400,000 to the school between 1990 and 2003. Epstein himself attended Interlochen as a teenager in 1967. After his first conviction in 2008, the school severed ties and removed his name from the lodge.
Reason for Demolition
In a statement, Interlochen said: "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. 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."
Epstein's Visits and Allegations
Epstein visited the camp periodically, often accompanied by his former girlfriend and convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and stayed in the lodge now slated for demolition. According to Justice Department records released recently, Epstein directed that tuition for at least one student be paid from his donations and once flew violinist Itzhak Perlman to the school on his private jet.
Investigations and Historical Misconduct
Interlochen stated it has conducted two internal reviews, most recently after Epstein's 2019 arrest, which found no reports of misconduct involving Epstein in its records. The school also said it has invited accusers to speak with an independent investigator as part of an external probe into historical misconduct at the institution.
Epstein's Criminal History
Epstein died by suicide in a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019, a month after being indicted on federal sex trafficking charges. He had previously served jail time in Florida after pleading guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for her role in recruiting underage victims and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Interlochen remains a world-renowned destination for young artists, with alumni including Grammy winners Chappell Roan and Norah Jones and Oscar winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph.
