Constructed in 1884 as a roller skating rink, the building was purchased by Peter Blake and opened as Blake's Opera House in 1886. Audiences enjoyed talent shows, vaudeville, silent movies, and athletic contests there. Between 1928 and 1984, the Stephens and Mapes families used the building as a furniture store. The Mapes family donated the building for a community center, and it was restored by the Grand Ledge Area Historical Society and the chamber of commerce.