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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Michigan State Historic Site
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
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Location	Grant Township, Keweenaw County, Michigan
Nearest city	Copper Harbor, Michigan
Coordinates	47°27′33″N 87°54′36″W / 47.45917°N 87.91000°W / 47.45917; -87.91000
Built	1934-1935
Architect	WPA; Louis Azzi
Architectural style	Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements, Shingle Style, Western Stick; Rustic
NRHP reference No.	80001878
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	June 18, 1980
Designated MSHS	June 18, 1976

The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex is a resort located near Copper Harbor, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1976 listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, and open to the public.

Description

The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Complex covers 167 acres (68 ha), and consists of multiple buildings, including the main lodge and 23 cabins. A golf course, constructed at the same time as the lodge and cabins, covers much of the remaining land. Mountain bike trails and a disc golf course have been added in recent years. All structures within the district are unified by their rustic construction; the structures have low gable roofs and are made using rough-cut stone and dark painted logs.

History

During the early 1930s, the Great Depression hit Keweenaw County hard. The mining industry had fallen on hard times, and unemployment stood at over seventy percent. Ocha Potter, the head of the Keweenaw County Road Commission and superintendent of Ahmeek Mine, conceived of constructing a resort complex in the county. In 1933, he applied to the federal government for funding under the newly created Civil Works Administration. The county Board of Park Trustees had previously negotiated purchase of 167 acres (68 ha) of land from the Keweenaw Copper Company, situated about one mile (1.6 km) south of Copper Harbor.

Clearing of the forest cover began in the winter of 1933/34, and the stumps were cleared as the weather let up. The logs from the property were used construct the lodge. By the end of 1934, the lodge was nearly completed and the first nine holes of the golf course were cleared and seeded. (A second planned nine holes was never completed.) In 1935, another project to build 20 cabins was approved by the Works Progress Administration, which were completed during the next few years. Four additional cottages were built in 1947/48 using profits from the operation of the lodge.

In July 2018, Keweenaw County will auction off the lodge.

Significance

The lodge complex was designed and built in 1934 and 1935, in the depths of the Great Depression, using crews of local workmen. The construction was overseen by Keweenaw County and used federal relief money. The site is an example of government-funded work projects designed to boost local economies, and is significant in its effort to protect and maintain the environment while offering recreational opportunity.

References

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. ^ "Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex". Historic Sites Online. Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Archived from the original on April 24, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
3. ^ Jackson, John W. "Keweenaw Mountain Lodge". Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
4. "Copper Harbor". Hunts' Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
5. Jaehnig, Graham (June 30, 2018). "Last Update: Lodge goes to auction". The Daily Mining Gazette. Archived from the original on June 30, 2018. Retrieved June 30, 2018.

Further reading

• LaVanway, Paul (2010). The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Story. Copper Harbor, MI: Paul LaVanway. ISBN 978-0-9823451-1-5.

External links

• Official website

v t e National Register of Historic Places in Keweenaw County, Michigan
Historic districts	Central Mine Historic District Eagle River Historic District Fort Wilkins Johns Hotel Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex Minong Traditional Cultural Property Minong Mine Historic District Tobin Harbor Historic District
Historic properties	SS Algoma SS America (1898) Brockway Mountain Drive Central Mine Methodist Church SS Chester A. Congdon Church of the Assumption Copper Harbor Light PS Cumberland Eagle Harbor Coast Guard Station Boathouse Eagle Harbor Light Eagle Harbor Schoolhouse Edisen Fishery SS Emperor USS Puritan (ID-2222) SS Glenlyon Gull Rock Light Station SS Henry Chisholm Holy Redeemer Church Houghton County Traction Company Ahmeek Streetcar Station Ishpeming Fire Tower Isle Royale Light SS Kamloops M-26–Cedar Creek Culvert M-26–Silver River Culvert Manitou Island Light Station SS Monarch New Feldtmann Fire Tower Ojibway Fire Tower Passage Island Light Rock Harbor Light Rock of Ages Light Sand Hills Light US 41–Fanny Hooe Creek Bridge
See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Keweenaw County, Michigan and List of National Historic Landmarks in Michigan

• Hotel buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan
• Shingle Style architecture in Michigan
• Sports venues completed in 1935
• Rustic architecture in Michigan
• Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan
• Works Progress Administration in Michigan
• Michigan State Historic Sites in Keweenaw County
• Tourist attractions in Keweenaw County, Michigan
• Resorts in Michigan
• National Register of Historic Places in Keweenaw County, Michigan
• Golf clubs and courses on the National Register of Historic Places
• Golf clubs and courses in Michigan
• 1935 establishments in Michigan
• Log buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places