Friends of Ford House

The Estate Is Yours. All Year Long.

NEW FOR 2027: Music in the Main, the Daily Guest Pass, and the Companion Add-On. Current Friends keep 20% through 2027. See below for details.

Unlimited access to the house, grounds, and more

Friends of Ford House Friendship is your all-access pass to one of Michigan’s most beloved historic estates. Walk the lakeside grounds every morning. Bring the family for a self-guided visit any time. Dine at The Continental with a standing discount. And know that your support helps keep this place alive and open for everyone.

The Math Works in Your Favor

A Ford House Friendship isn’t just a membership. It’s one of the best-value decisions you can make if you love this place.

Young Friend, $30

0 visits

Individual, $50

0 visits

Dual, $75

0 visits

Family, $100

0 outings

Based on House + Grounds admission of $15 per adult and $7.50 per child ages 3 to 17. Family assumes two adults and two children.

Choose your Friendship

Each level includes everything in the level before it, plus what is listed. Not sure where to start? One adult: Individual Friendship, or Young Friend if you are 25 and under. Two adults: Dual Friendship. Bringing family or a guest: Family Friendship.

$ 30 per year

All benefits below (see Why Become a Friend)
Photo ID and age confirmation at sign-up and at renewal
Moves to Individual Friendship at the first renewal after you turn 26
Pays for itself in 2 visits

$ 50 per year

All Young Friend benefits
Pays for itself in 4 visits

$ 75 per year

All Individual benefits, for both named adults
Pays for itself in 3 visits

$ 100 per year

All dual benefits
One guest per visit and the children in your household
Pays for itself in 2 outings

Best Value

$ 200 per year

All Family Friendship benefits
A second guest
ROAM reciprocal admission to 100+ museums nationwide
Choose this if you regularly bring two guests

Want to increase your support?

$ 400 per year

All Family Friend+ benefits
One Behind-the-Scenes tour per year
A welcome gift

$ 1250 per year

All Edsel's Circle benefits
One complimentary major-event ticket for each guest in the Friendship
A private leadership-led experience each year
Leadership engagement

$ 2500 per year

All Eleanor's Circle benefits
A private reception on the estate
20% off private event room rental
An exclusive annual 1928 Circle experience

COMING IN 2027
Add a Guest or Companion

$ 7 per guest

House + Grounds admission for a visiting guest, at 50% off the regular price
The cardholder must be present
One pass per cardholder, per day
Cannot be combined with other discounts

$ 30 per year

Add one named Companion at any level
Your Companion is a cardholder in their own right
They can visit, buy tickets, and claim benefits without you

Why Become a Friend?

2026 Perks

Digital Friendship Card*
Complimentary House + Grounds Admission and Grounds Admission on every visit
Dogs welcome on the grounds seven days a week (excluding Bird Island)
20% off dining and shopping at The Continental, The Speedster, and The Shop*
A three-day ticket pre-sale before the public
20% off Home for the Holidays tickets
50% off guided tours
Friends pricing on photography sessions*
Access to 300+ gardens nationwide through the American Horticultural Society Garden Network
Access to 100+ museums through ROAM (Family Friend+ and higher)

Friends can request a physical Friendship card through our online request form. Beginning January 1, 2028, physical Friendship cards will be phased out as part of our commitment to sustainability.

2027 Perks (as of January 1, 2027)

Complimentary House + Grounds Admission and Grounds Admission on every visit
Dogs welcome on the grounds seven days a week (excluding Bird Island)
10% off dining and shopping at The Continental, The Speedster, and The Shop*
10% off concessions, excluding alcohol, at Outdoor Summer Concert Series, Harvest Day, Little Goblins, and Home for the Holidays
A three-day ticket pre-sale before the public
20% off Home for the Holidays tickets
50% off guided tours
Friends pricing on photography sessions*
Access to 300+ gardens nationwide through the American Horticultural Society Garden Network
Access to 100+ museums through ROAM (Family Friend+ and higher)

*These rates take effect January 1, 2027. Current Friends keep 20% at dining and shopping through December 31, 2027, if your Friendship extends into 2027 or you renew by December 31, 2026. The dining discount excludes alcohol. Photography pricing applies to standard sessions and does not apply to sessions with 10 or more guests. Names adults must be from the same household.

Purchase or Renew Your Friendship

Friendships expire after one year, at the end of the month of purchase. For example, if you purchase your Friendship on April 1, it expires on April 30 of the following year. Click below to purchase, renew, or gift a Friendship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are several “How To” tutorials as you navigate our Friendship portal. For questions about Friends of Ford House, please contact friendship@fordhouse.org or call 313-884-4222.

Is my friendship tax-deductible?

Friendships at Ford House are not considered tax-deductible donations. When you become a Friend, you receive tangible benefits such as complimentary admission, special discounts, and exclusive access to events and programs. Because these benefits carry a fair market value, the IRS does not recognize your Friendship as a charitable gift.

Friend Walks

Friends of Ford House are invited to enjoy daily access to the grounds, seven days a week, from 8 a.m. until sunset. Please note that some dates may be unavailable or have shortened hours for Friends Walks due to estate programming.

Stay in Touch

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