Fisher Mansion
Fisher Mansion
4
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.1
17 reviews
Excellent
8
Very good
5
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Robert M
23 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
I can't recommend this tour enough. My wife and I went in December 2023. Basically, we got a private tour with a private tour guide. He was able to tell us some of the history of the mansion, some of the changes that were made, and interesting insights to the Hare Krishna movement. In addition to the converted yacht well, we saw the main entrance hall, both ballroom, the library, dining room, and both bedrooms. It was so interesting that for the first couple rooms I forgot to take pictures because I was so immersed in the experience. I couldn't recommend it more.
Written December 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jocelynd102
Grosse Pointe, MI1,375 contributions
Jan 2014 • Family
I have been going to the Fisher Mansion since the Krishna's have operated it in the mid 1970's and never grow tired of the architecture!! It is a beautiful home built in the early 20's and really interesting grounds. Call ahead for tours and if you are around on a Sunday, don't miss the fabulous vegetarian feast that is served after the lecture/discussion that starts at 5p. Usual serving time is 6p. Only a donation is expected. Very nice and interesting people show up. The feast is served in the once boat mooring(inside and beautiful tiles) area.
Written January 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David R
Saint Clair Shores, MI22 contributions
Oct 2012 • Friends
Get it straight, even though this IS the Fisher Mansion it's now a center for the Hare Krishnas. Believe it or not, this is the same mansion that hosted Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and many, many huge stars of that day (50s/60s). At some point, the property was given to the Hare Krishnas (Ford heir? 70s?) and now serves as a temple for the Krishnas and cultural center for the Indian population in the area.
If you're not sympathetic to the Krishnas you probably won't have a great time here, and it might seem more than a little strange. But if you're open-minded and a little adventurous (and a little brave - the area is so-so at best) then you can see what once must have been one of the most magnificent properties of it's time. There are usually "devotees" on the property who will show you around, but it's kind of hit and miss as it seems there are not as many as there used to be. They have a temple where they do their services and chanting. They're not overly pushy at all and even serve a free vegetarian meal during the week (Sunday evening?). Fascinating history to a fascinating place.
If you're not sympathetic to the Krishnas you probably won't have a great time here, and it might seem more than a little strange. But if you're open-minded and a little adventurous (and a little brave - the area is so-so at best) then you can see what once must have been one of the most magnificent properties of it's time. There are usually "devotees" on the property who will show you around, but it's kind of hit and miss as it seems there are not as many as there used to be. They have a temple where they do their services and chanting. They're not overly pushy at all and even serve a free vegetarian meal during the week (Sunday evening?). Fascinating history to a fascinating place.
Written July 8, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rose B
2 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
I chose the oldest day that they allowed me to pick from the drop down menu.
My husband and I went to tour the mansion, having toured other mansions in the area. We were shocked to find them in the process of changing the mansion to the current temple. Our guide told us George Harrison of The Beetles purchased it for that purpose. The boat slip, that had previously come directly into the home, had been filled in, and we came during a ceremony for the Krishna. It felt odd walking across in front of their worship and offerings in front of their god. Not the expected mansion tour. This was probably 20 years ago, so IDK how it's changed now.
My husband and I went to tour the mansion, having toured other mansions in the area. We were shocked to find them in the process of changing the mansion to the current temple. Our guide told us George Harrison of The Beetles purchased it for that purpose. The boat slip, that had previously come directly into the home, had been filled in, and we came during a ceremony for the Krishna. It felt odd walking across in front of their worship and offerings in front of their god. Not the expected mansion tour. This was probably 20 years ago, so IDK how it's changed now.
Written August 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bluesapphire24
detroit45 contributions
Went on Sunday in Sept. The mansion was run down. There were few cars in the lot. I went inside the home and it was dark inside with two kids running around. Shoes were hung up on a rack with a sign asking people to remove them. A man approached me and I asked if there was a tour. He told me he would get someone to give me one. It was dark and spooky. Last I knew it had been given to the Hare Krishna's. I did not wait for the gentleman to return as my friends all that it was too creepy to go in. What a shame that it was not kept us. Shame on you Krishnas for letting a good piece of property deterioate.
Written September 5, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sueski99
Detroit, MI38 contributions
Dec 2013 • Family
First off the picture posted here is not the Fisher Mansion on Lennox Avenue. I am pretty sure this is the Ford Mansion. The Fisher Mansion has a great story behind it, and it is totally worth going on the tour. Just call them a head of time and you go. $5.00 donation. The Hare Krishna's call this home in Detroit and have since the 70's. Mystical Asian art mixed up with former billionaire mansion.
Written January 1, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AbeSingh
Detroit, MI1 contribution
Oct 2014 • Family
A super excellent Mansion, with such a history in it! Such a beautiful mansion built by Architect: C. Howard Crane
Architectural style: Embellished Mediterranean Revival
Spanish Mission exterior.
Interior called “Hollywood Vintage”, a blend of Art Deco and various World styles, “basically, anything goes”
Style similar to mansions being built in Florida & California. Workers were brought from Europe
Worked round the clock, lived on-site
Cost: $2,000,000 (Today would be $25,000,000)
Venetian stained glass windows
Ceiling done in Spanish style with gold leaf
Walnut walls with diamond-shaped burled walnut motif.
Pillars from a fifteenth century German Castle.
“Solomonicas – after the syle of pillars found in the palace of King Solomon in ancient Jerusalem”
Floors and walls contain very expensive yellow Italian onyx marble.
Mary Stantton Pewabic tiles behind water fountain
Fisher’s favorite room floor - 2.5 feet thick oak wood constructed with butterfly joints and pegs – “no nails, will not creak”
Hand tooled Spanish leather wall covering with red and blue gold leaf
Fireplace marble from extinct quarry in Italy. Made with fossils
Door in corner leads underground tunnel which goes to a domed, heated, indoor swimming pool.
Mostly French influence, with leaded glass paintings from a French chateau
Ceiling done in manner of Swiss chalet
Sandstone fireplace, with figures of angels with lion’s claws on each side.
Figure sculpted on each is Leda, the mistress of Zeus, riding a sea monster. The Living Room side is done in Oak, the Music-Room side is Walnut
Dancing and singing female figures along the edges of the ceiling
Ceiling done in classical Japanese style
French embroidered silk wall
Floor is walnut and black walnut parquet
Paneling along base of walls of African zebra wood
Overall effect is that of open-air Spanish courtyard
Francis Geck framed mirrors
Red and gray American marble
Now serves as temple room
Done in French style from era of King Louis XVI
Hand painted canvas panels by William Wright.
“Cameos at the top of each panel are pictures of Fisher’s girlfriends”
Ceiling borders have leafing of mixed gold and silver
Ceiling Mediterranean style from Southern France
Floor is East Indian rosewood
Bathroom walls are mostly Pewabic Tiles from the American Tile Company
No two tiles are alike
“Created by dropping chemicals in a random pattern on tiles before firing”
Gold in floor tiles: Silver in blue wall tiles
In January 1976, Alfred Brush Ford (great-grandson of Henry Ford) and Elisabeth Reuther (daughter of Walter Reuther) purchased the Mansion for $300,000 then donated it to their spiritual teacher. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The mansion was then renovated and transformed into a temple and cultural center, which is its current use today.
Architectural style: Embellished Mediterranean Revival
Spanish Mission exterior.
Interior called “Hollywood Vintage”, a blend of Art Deco and various World styles, “basically, anything goes”
Style similar to mansions being built in Florida & California. Workers were brought from Europe
Worked round the clock, lived on-site
Cost: $2,000,000 (Today would be $25,000,000)
Venetian stained glass windows
Ceiling done in Spanish style with gold leaf
Walnut walls with diamond-shaped burled walnut motif.
Pillars from a fifteenth century German Castle.
“Solomonicas – after the syle of pillars found in the palace of King Solomon in ancient Jerusalem”
Floors and walls contain very expensive yellow Italian onyx marble.
Mary Stantton Pewabic tiles behind water fountain
Fisher’s favorite room floor - 2.5 feet thick oak wood constructed with butterfly joints and pegs – “no nails, will not creak”
Hand tooled Spanish leather wall covering with red and blue gold leaf
Fireplace marble from extinct quarry in Italy. Made with fossils
Door in corner leads underground tunnel which goes to a domed, heated, indoor swimming pool.
Mostly French influence, with leaded glass paintings from a French chateau
Ceiling done in manner of Swiss chalet
Sandstone fireplace, with figures of angels with lion’s claws on each side.
Figure sculpted on each is Leda, the mistress of Zeus, riding a sea monster. The Living Room side is done in Oak, the Music-Room side is Walnut
Dancing and singing female figures along the edges of the ceiling
Ceiling done in classical Japanese style
French embroidered silk wall
Floor is walnut and black walnut parquet
Paneling along base of walls of African zebra wood
Overall effect is that of open-air Spanish courtyard
Francis Geck framed mirrors
Red and gray American marble
Now serves as temple room
Done in French style from era of King Louis XVI
Hand painted canvas panels by William Wright.
“Cameos at the top of each panel are pictures of Fisher’s girlfriends”
Ceiling borders have leafing of mixed gold and silver
Ceiling Mediterranean style from Southern France
Floor is East Indian rosewood
Bathroom walls are mostly Pewabic Tiles from the American Tile Company
No two tiles are alike
“Created by dropping chemicals in a random pattern on tiles before firing”
Gold in floor tiles: Silver in blue wall tiles
In January 1976, Alfred Brush Ford (great-grandson of Henry Ford) and Elisabeth Reuther (daughter of Walter Reuther) purchased the Mansion for $300,000 then donated it to their spiritual teacher. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The mansion was then renovated and transformed into a temple and cultural center, which is its current use today.
Written October 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wallace S
Weehawken, NJ22 contributions
Jul 2013 • Friends
The Fisher mansion in northeast Detroit was built by the heir to "Body by Fisher" in the late 1920's, supposedly inspired by Hearst Castle in California. For the past 20-something years, it has been a cultural center for the Hare Krishnas. Tours are available at the modest price of $6, and I highly recommend one. The house itself has superb features, including a magnificent tiled master bathroom, that any aficionado of grand houses will enjoy, but it's the addition of Krishna information and detail that gives the tour its special character. Without the aid of a GPS, finding the house can be a bit tricky, but persevere. Don't be afraid to ask people on the street. Finally, ignore information in any guidebooks about a vegetarian restaurant inside the mansion. The restaurant has been closed for years, and according to our guide, there are no plans to reopen it. The peacocks are long gone, too.
Written July 29, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
edj0nes
Detroit, MI1 contribution
I have always wanted to visit the mansion. Last I heard about the mansion was that it was a cultural center of the Krishna's in Detroit. So, last Sunday evening I decided to drop by. I was really impressed by the warm welcome, wonderful tour and the multimedia exhibit at the mansion. The tour guide walked us throug the mansion which depicts art and architecture from every corner of the world. And the vegetarian food they offered tasted really good. It is definitely worth it visiting this place at least once, if not more.
Written October 6, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AKAshon
Oakville, Canada2,035 contributions
Nov 2016 • Solo
I came here on Sunday after visiting Pewabic Pottery. And it is interesting, that's for sure! The exterior of the house is quite nice, but it's the inside that's the gem! There were many Indian children playing outside while inside, there was a dance going on with men and women on separate sides. Immediately upon arriving inside the house, I was greeted by a volunteer who informed me about what was going on. He lead me to the room where the dance was taking place. Watching the dance and listening to the music was transfixing! I felt like I was transported to India! After about 20 minutes of watching, I decided to take a tour of the mansion where I was grouped with two other people and we were guided to various rooms in the house. In a few of the rooms, there were wax sculptures of the founder of the Krishna conscienceness. I thought that they were real! They looked so life-like and kinda creepy to be honest (I thought that their sheen was due to being oiled or something). The interior was beautiful! All the architecture and paintings were gorgeous! I wondered what the inside looked like when they housed the Fisher family. After the tour, we stayed for the last 15 minutes of a lecture on spirituality. After at 6pm, there was free vegan food! The food was good! I especially liked the fried stuff (not sure what it was, but it was yummy)! After, we decided to leave where we were each given a package consisting of a CD with music from the dance, a book about life after death written by the founder and a postcard with a photo of one of their deities. Email addresses and phone numbers were exchanged for updates on future festivals and events at the mansion. It was a very interesting experience that I highly recommend for anyone seeking something new and different!
Written November 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Did you book this tour in advance or did you just walk up? What was the price of this tour?
Written December 20, 2016
Did you just walk up to the mansion and receive a tour or did you have to book it in advance? What was the price of the tour?
Thanks!
Written December 20, 2016
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