Big Rapids Elks 974

Big Rapids Elks Lodge 974 has operated out of 203 E. Pine Street, next to City Hall in downtown Big Rapids, since it was chartered in 1906. As a branch of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a national fraternal organization founded in 1868, the lodge builds its work around the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity. In 2026, the lodge received Freedom, Gratitude, and Beacon grants from the Elks National Foundation, with funding going toward local programs that support youth and veterans in the Big Rapids area. The lodge hall can host groups of up to 150 guests, with meeting space and communal areas for gatherings. On-site parking is also available for members and guests. Members meet on a regular schedule throughout the year, gathering less frequently during the summer and December months. Locals return to the lodge for its mix of community fundraising, veteran support programs, and youth-focused grant work, a combination that has kept the Big Rapids chapter active for well over a century. Visitors interested in the Elks' charitable mission or considering membership can reach the lodge by phone or email, and the downtown location puts it within walking distance of Big Rapids City Hall and other civic buildings.