Legalized racial segregation and Jim Crow laws in the United States led to the growth of Idlewild. In 1912, Idlewild was one of the only places in the nation where blacks could own land and vacation. It quickly became a black resort town, known as the 'Black Eden' of Michigan, and many bought land sight-unseen in what was marketed as a "utopia." Many new landowners capitalized on the growing tourism, and all of the businesses in Idlewild were owned by blacks. Idlewild's appeal was increased by its natural beauty and activities such as camping, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, roller skating, and nighttime entertainment. Several black entertainers including Aretha Franklin, Sammy Davis Jr., The Four Tops, Dinah Washington, and Louis Armstrong vacationed and performed in Idlewild, drawing large crowds of both black and white fans that sat side by side in the same clubs. Almost ironically, the 1964 Civil Rights Act that led to desegregation and integration caused this 'Black Eden' and other similar resort towns to decline. Today, Idlewild is a small town compared to its heyday, but residents and visitors of all races still remember the great entertainers they came to see in this busy resort town and the excitement of Idlewild.