Jeffrey Epstein's Connection to Interlochen Arts Camp
Department of Justice records and former campus administrators indicate that Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell utilized Epstein's wealth to access the prestigious Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. They allegedly used a rental lodge, which Epstein donated to the school, as a base to recruit some of their earliest victims.
Department of Justice records and former campus administrators indicate that Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell utilized Epstein's wealth to access the prestigious Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan.
Interlochen, established nearly a century ago, is a boarding school offering grade-school and high-school level programs in music, theater, dance, and visual arts. It is known for fostering young artistic talent.
Investigation Details
NPR conducted an investigation, reviewing hundreds of pages of Department of Justice documents on Epstein, interviewing current and former Interlochen officials, and speaking with a woman who reported being targeted by Epstein and Maxwell as a teenager at the school. The findings suggest Interlochen became unwittingly associated with Epstein's activities by accepting his financial support.
Epstein's History with the School
Epstein's initial association with Interlochen dates back to 1967 when he attended the school's summer camp at age 14. He renewed his ties in the 1990s, at which point administrators considered him a loyal alumnus and major benefactor. Russ McMahon, a former administrator, stated that access mistakes may have occurred due to naivete.
Victim Testimonies
A woman, who testified at Maxwell's 2021 criminal trial, stated in a lawsuit that she was 13 years old when she met Epstein and Maxwell at the Interlochen Arts Camp in 1994, leading to grooming and sexual abuse. Another woman reported meeting them as a 14-year-old student a few summers later, describing it as the beginning of a manipulative and controlling relationship that lasted for years.
Campus Environment and Policies During the 1990s
Former administrators described the campus during the 1990s as very open, with students, faculty, visiting artists, and concertgoers mingling in common areas. Interlochen states it maintained a policy prohibiting unsupervised contact between donors and students, but enforcing this rule was challenging in that open atmosphere.
Alleged Recruitment Methods
Epstein visited the school for brief stays over several summers between 1994 and 2000, according to testimony from his personal pilot. Both women who reported being targeted described similar initial on-campus contacts with Epstein and Maxwell, noting the pair often walked a small dog to help initiate conversation.
After getting to know the young artists, Epstein allegedly offered financial support for their education. One woman stated Epstein paid her tuition for Interlochen's year-round boarding school and offered to finance her attendance at a top-tier conservatory. She described the interactions as calculated.
Interlochen's Response to Epstein's Crimes
Interlochen stated that Epstein's last donation to the school was in 2003. In 2008, the school severed ties with Epstein and removed all donor recognition in his name after he pleaded guilty in Florida to charges of solicitation of prostitution, including with a minor.
Epstein was arrested again in July 2019 on sex trafficking charges and died in prison approximately one month later. Maxwell was convicted on sex-trafficking charges in 2021.
Epstein's Donations and Access
Tim Ambrose, who served as vice president for institutional advancement from 1990, oversaw a series of large donations from Epstein totaling over $400,000 across a 13-year period. These donations funded the construction of an on-campus lodge, established a scholarship fund, and supported other school activities. Ambrose stated he was unaware of Epstein's reputation at the time and primarily interacted with Maxwell regarding Epstein's affairs.
In 1994, Epstein donated $200,000 for a rental lodge. A letter from Ambrose noted Epstein could use the lodge for up to two weeks each year. Ambrose would prepare the lodge for Epstein and Maxwell, who tended to self-check in and out, often without direct interaction.
At the time, it was common practice to notify donors of scholarship recipients and offer to arrange meetings between them. However, Ambrose stated he did not recall ever arranging a meeting between Epstein and a scholarship recipient.
Current Campus Security Measures
Trey Devey, the current Interlochen president, stated that campus security has significantly increased since the 1990s. Current measures include front gates, 24/7 safety patrols, and surveillance cameras. An anonymous reporting form is also available.
Devey noted that internal reviews in 2008 and 2019 found no reports or complaints involving Epstein, possibly due to a 10-year paper record destruction policy that was in place during the 1990s.
Institutional Perspective on the Events
Trey Devey described the events involving Epstein as "heartbreaking" and "horrific," stating the school would learn from them.
Russ McMahon characterized Jeffrey Epstein as an "anomaly" who acted contrary to the school's mission.
The woman who spoke to NPR emphasized the vulnerability of young individuals aspiring to careers in the arts, who might be manipulated by those offering pathways to their dreams.