9 minute read
U.P. MICHIGAN REGION
Calendar
Aug. 4-7 Iron River – Iron Co. Fair Aug. 5-7 Pelkie – Baraga Co. Fair Aug. 6 Iron Mountain – Pine Mountain 500 Aug. 11-14 Ironwood – Gogebic Co. Fair Aug. 12-14 Crystal Falls – Humongous Fungus Festival Aug. 13 Iron Mountain – Italianfest Aug. 13 Iron Mountain – Tour de Dickinson Bike Ride Aug. 13 Ironwood – Lake States Mud Races Aug. 12-14 Crystal Falls – Humongous Fungus Festival Aug. 19-27 Ironwood – Masters and Youth Art Show Aug. 21 Rockland – Old Victoria Craft Fair Aug. 26-28 Silver City – Porcupine Mountains Music Fest Aug. 27 Alpha – End of Summer Blues Fest Sept. 2 Ontonagon – Labor Day Celebration Sept. 9-10 Marenisco – Lake Gogebic Fall Walleye Tournament Sept. 10 Crystal Falls – Harvest Fest Sept. 17 Baraga – ATV/UTV Wilderness Waterfall Adventure Sept. 23-24 Ewen – Log Jamboree Sept. 24 Ironwood – Bridges & Bluffs Half Marathon Run Sept. 24 Iron River – Beechwood Apple Fest
Step Up to These Challenges
FLORENCE & IRON MOUNTAIN – In this issue we’re offering two suggestions for you folks who like to do a bit of climbing without the danger of falling off a cliff. Along the way up you’ll be humming Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.”
Lace up your favorite outdoor shoes and head to Florence County where at Keyes Peak Ski Hill you will find a new exercise challenge: 168 steps on a trail that is a quarter mile long with an elevation change of 200 feet. A concrete path starts at Keyes Peak Lodge that leads to a series of wooden steps. Once on top of Keyes Peak, you can view Keyes Lake, the Keyes Peak Lodge and the surrounding hardwood forest, which is especially breathtaking with reds, oranges and yellows in the fall. There’s plenty of parking at the lodge.
If you want a real workout on steps, give the legs a temporary rest and drive to Iron Mountain, where the Giant Pine Mountain 500 is a set of concrete stairs. And, yes, 500 stands for the number of steps! You’ll be climbing nearly half of a mile almost straight up. For the ultimate in leg burn, pause for a moment or two to enjoy the vista and then tackle the ski jump steps. The stairs are open year-round for the public.
We don’t know if there’s a word that adequately describes the next leg burn option, but if you are in fine physical shape you might be tempted to compete in the annual Pine Mountain 500. No leisurely walk up the stairs here, as you will be racing against others to be crowned “King or Queen of the Mountain.”
The 2022 premier athletic event will take place Saturday, Aug. 6. From the top of Pine Mountain, participants will race down Kramer Drive to Lower Pine Mountain Road/Hibbard Street before turning on Pine Mountain Road and racing to the Pine Mountain 500 for the next leg. The event is chip timed and participants will receive an overall and a Pine Mountain 500 time. “Dual Duel” participants will do it twice! Registration ends Aug. 5. Find more info at PineMountain500.com.
This Fair is Packed Full with Family Fun
IRONWOOD – From mud races to youth contests, there will be something for all to enjoy at the 2022 Gogebic County Fair when it comes to the Gogebic County Fairgrounds Aug. 11-14. The fairgrounds is located at 648 E Cloverland Dr. (U.S. Highway 2), Ironwood.
This fair boasts an “all-inclusive price program.” In simple terms, your gate admission fee (along with a wristband) allows you and each wristband holder to enjoy the K&M Carnival rides, all the grandstand shows and concerts, on-grounds entertainment and harness racing at no additional cost for that day/evening. A discounted season pass is also available that covers all four days.
Among the attractions will be Timber Arts chainsaw carving demonstrations, 4-H blue-ribbon competitions inside the Multipurpose Building, livestock judging, horse show, lawn mower races, musical entertainment including the Dweebs on Friday night, harness races Friday and Saturday, antique tractor pull Saturday, chili eating contest, Lake States Mud Racers on Saturday, and a tractor parade. The Midway sparkles when the sun goes down. All your favorite fair food is at your fingertips.
Juried Art Show Reflects Wide Range of Talent
IRONWOOD – This August, the Range Art Association is hosting its 67th annual Masters and Youth Art Show in the Ironwood Memorial Building auditorium, located at 213 South Marquette St., Ironwood. This juried show offers $1,300 in cash prizes and ribbons and is hosted in association with the Emberlight Festival of the Arts. Some artwork will be for sale, and there will be a raffle sponsored by the Association.
The show will be open for public viewing • Friday-Sunday, Aug. 19-21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; • Monday- Thursday, Aug. 22-25 from noon to 5 p.m.; • Friday, Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and, • Saturday, Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The reception is also
Aug. 27 from noon to 2 p.m. with the raffle drawing at noon.
The public is invited and admission is free.
SKANEE -- Building on the success of previous tours, sponsors of the third annual Baraga County ATV/UTU Wilderness Waterfall Adventure are welcoming sign-ups for the Saturday, Sept. 17 tour.
The guided tour will take participants to 10 waterfalls and other natural attractions in Arvon Township. As a bonus, Mother Nature should be well on her way to painting the beautiful Huron Mountains in her striking fall colors.
As riders travel the back country of Baraga County, they will be taken to Mt. Arvon, Michigan’s highest natural point, and also to the historic rock cut. The organizers are planning to accommodate four groups with a maximum of 25 machines per group. The travel will be on two track, railroad grades and unimproved trails.
The first groups will take off at 8:30 a.m. EDT that Saturday, with the event ending at 5 p.m. Lunch will be available for purchase at the half-way point. For entry fees, accommodations suggestions and more details, contact the Baraga County Chamber of Commerce at 906-353-8808 or baragacountychamber@ gmail.com. U.P. Michigan Region
Th e U.P. of Michigan is fi lled with adventures waiting for you!
Area Events!
7/1-8/31: Emberlight Festival of the Arts,Ironwood, MI 8/11-8/14: Gogebic County Fair, Ironwood, MI 8/21: Old Victoria Craft Fair, Rockland, MI 8/26-8/27: Porcupine Mountains Music Festival 9/2-9/5: Labor Day Festival, Ontonagon, MI 9/9-9/10: Walleye Tournament, Lake Gogebic, MI 9/10-9/11: Copper Peak Trails Fest, Ironwood, MI 9/24: Bridges & Bluff s Half Marathon, Bessemer, MI
Ironwood Chamber of Commerce
150 N Lowell St. Ironwood, Michigan 49938 1-906-932-1122 chamber@ironwoodchamber.org ironwoodchamber.org facebook.com/IronwoodChamber/
Lake Gogebic Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 114 Bergland, Michigan 49910 1-888-464-3242 info@lakegogebicarea.com lakegogebicarea.com facebook.com/lakegogebicarea
Wakefi eld Chamber of Commerce
M-28 at US-2 Wakefi eld, Michigan 49968 PO Box 93 1-906-224-2222 chamber@wakefi eldmi.org wakefi eldmi.org
Travel Ironwood
213 Marquette St. Ironwood, Michigan 49938 1-906-932-5050 info@travelironwood.com travelironwood.com
WAKEFIELD – Early September will bring a couple of possibilities for those who like to bounce a jig off the lake bottom for walleyes, and for those entered in a friendly basketball competition. Let’s first get to the fishing!
Walleyes are not only fabulous table fare, but they are also fun to catch. Add in the challenge of catching “old marble eyes” during a tournament, and you have the “catch of the day” for fun and excitement. Reason enough to enter the 44th annual Lake Gogebic Fall Walleye Tournament, set for Sept. 9 & 10. While not mandatory, catch and release is appreciated.
The top prize is $2,000 along with a trophy. Come up a bit short, and you’ll still take home $1,000 for second place or $300 for third place. There are also prizes for 4th-10th place. Various daily prizes of cash and merchandize will be awarded for largest bass, perch and northern pike. For complete details, call 888-4643242, e-mail info@LakeGogebicArea.com or go on the web at LakeGogebicArea.com.
Reminder: The chamber is also sponsoring an annual tagged and monthly fishing contest through Sept. 12. Visit the website for more details.
Gus Macker
Sept. 3-4 are the dates for Wakefield’s Gus Macker, the original 3 on 3 basketball tournament. The tournament is designed so that anyone can play, no matter their skill level, age or height. Online registration (macker.com/local/wakefield-mi) deadline is Aug. 15. Mail-in registration is Aug. 12. The event is being organized by the Great Start Collaborative of Gogebic-Ontonagon Counties.
Gogebic Country Club Celebrates 100 years
IRONWOOD – In 1917, mining company executives and business owners in the Ironwood area were flush with cash, but had few opportunities for “cultured recreation.” Their attention turned to starting a golf club. On March 30, 1917, articles of incorporation were filed and the Gogebic Country Club (GCC) was born. The new organization raised funds by issuing stock, soliciting donations and offering lifetime memberships.
By the early 1920s the first 5 holes of the course were built, but now a clubhouse was needed. Architect Hubert Nelson created plans for the clubhouse. In March 1922, the club hired master mason Anton Urli, and construction of a rugged-stone clubhouse began. Completed in 1924, the clubhouse’s total cost was $30,000.
By 1934, the Elks Club had taken ownership of the GCC clubhouse. A separate organization was needed to manage the golf course property. On May 15, 1934, the non-profit Ironwood Clubhouse Association was formed. For the next 79 years, the two corporations would operate the golf course and clubhouse side-byside.
In the 1980s issues between the two corporations arose over ownership and revenue streams. In 2003, those issues were settled, and on Feb. 27, 2003, the two corporations merged into one non-profit corporation named the Gogebic Country Club-Ironwood Clubhouse Association. The merged corporation continues to operate the 18-hole public golf course, which offers great golfing for beginners and avid golfers alike. This year the club is observing 100 years in operation. For more information, visit golfgogebic.com. U.P. Michigan Region
