Installed a Solar System to Power Water Treatment Building
August 1, 2025
A 3.54 Kw solar system, with battery, was installed on the Water Treatment Building. [ learn more ]
Read moreFrisbee Golf Course Disc Baskets Donated
May 15, 2025
With the frisbee golf course decommissioned in 2024, the disc baskets were donated to Calumet Township for their disc golf courses.
Read moreAs a Lodging Establishment, Focus Solely on Cabin Guests
December 15, 2024
As a dedicated year-round lodging establishment, the resort moves to focus solely on cabin guests. All additional amenities are for cabin guests, including outdoor activities, dining activities, and educational activities. [ Note: Non-cabin guests can still stargaze on property as part of the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park focus between 7pm and 7am, and specific biking trails are available for non-cabin guests ]
Read moreFrisbee Golf Course Decommissioned
October 15, 2024
The frisbee golf course at the Lodge was decommissioned.
Read moreInstalled a Level 1 Rivian Waypoint Charger at Cabin 12
July 8, 2023
Installed a level 1 Rivian Waypoint charger at Cabin 12 for guests staying in the cabin overnight to charge their electric vehicle.
Read moreInstalled a Level 2 Rivian Waypoint EV Charger
July 1, 2022
Installed a level 2 electric vehicle charger at the Lodge, a Rivian Waypoint charger. This is some guests can charge one’s electric vehicle when spending time at the top of the Keweenaw. Also installed a similar charger in Calumet, to help alleviate range anxiety when driving the Keweenaw peninsula.
Read moreDesignated as an International Dark Sky Park
June 21, 2022
The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, 560 acres, designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association. The park is named Keweenaw Dark Sky Park.
Read morePurchased Adjacent Property from the Keweenaw County
March 23, 2022
Purchase adjacent property from the Keweenaw County. ~383 acres. This ensured that 11-12 miles of trails stayed opened (donated a trails easement) and the property stayed a wilderness area (donated a conservation easement)
Read moreAnnounce the Lodge is Open Year Round
March 1, 2020
Announced that the Lodge would be open year round, starting with the 2020-2021 winter season.
Read moreOpen During the 2009-10 & 2010-11 Winter Seasons (for 2 Seasons)
December 1, 2009
The Keweenaw County opened up the Lodge for 2 winter seasons, in 2009-2010 and 2010-20211, as part of the requirements of a grant they received from the Department of Ag – Rural Development and the Economic Development Corporation.
Read moreMotel Addition
May 1, 1984
U.P. Engineers and Architects designed the motel addition. Construction began with Arend Builders Inc., and was constructed adjacent to what had been the swimming pool that was built back in the 60’s by Superior Development. During construction of that pool, the soil was not compacted properly. As a result, during frost heaving one winter, the bottom of the pool cracked and wouldn’t hold water. Efforts to repair it failed, and it was filled in with mine rock, leveled, and paved to become a parking area. The…
Read moreProject Developers, Inc begin to operate the Lodge
March 24, 1970
Project Developers, Inc. began operating the lodge under a five-year land contract. Art Pontius became manager. He and his partner, William Greig tried to run the lodge year round and did not succeed. Project Developers failed to make a required $27,000 payment on January 1, 1971 and just after that Pontius and his partner walked away from the business. Literally. Without even bothering to lock the front door, they just up and left and the lodge ended up back into ownership under Keweenaw County. Since this was a land contract, the deed and the ownership was never transferred to the buyers.
Read moreKeweenaw County Resumes Operations
May 13, 1968
On May 13, 1968 Superior Development was found in default, and Circuit Judge Stephen D. Condon ruled that they were to forfeit all rights, title, and interest in the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge premises and Keweenaw County resumed ownership. They needed a monetary advance, and had to resolve several liens before opening for the 1968 season. The lodge showed a $10, 648 loss that season.
Read moreName Changed to Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
January 1, 1966
Name changed from Keweenaw Park and Golf Course to Keweenaw Mountain Lodge when it was operated by Superior Development
Read moreSuperior Development Corporation begins operating the lodge
January 1, 1966
Superior Development began operating the lodge in 1966. Many upgrades and changes were made. A full-sized swimming pool was installed, the original handcrafted lounge and dining room furniture was replaced, the lounge was remodeled. The dining room had previously had a sort of dress code, “jacked and tie after 5” that was done away with. Unfortunately, Superior Development was under capitalized and within a year went delinquent on it’s land contract.
Read moreRock Wall Constructed
June 1, 1940
The rock wall along the US 41 perimeter of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge was built circa 1940. These walls are “piered” walls, which are stone walls constructed from cut and fitted fieldstone. They are topped with a “concrete wash”. The walls were probably constructed by Keweenaw County Road Commission employees. They are walls that are also on Brockway Mountain Drive, and similar to those that were constructed at Glacier National Park in Montana. (Source: The Brockway Mountain Drive Story, Paul LaVanaway)
Read moreAdditional Rock Walls Added on Brockway Mountain Drive
May 1, 1937
Additional rock walls were added under WPA funding in 1937.
Read moreShantytown (Employee Housing) Constructed
November 1, 1936
Start of construction of employee housing, “Shantytown”, a WPA financed project. A collection of thirteen 8’x10′ structures, located to the east of the tennis court.
Read more“Greens Shack” Built
October 1, 1936
A “Greens Shack” was built adjacent to hole 1 tee box. [ The building is now called the Outdoor Activity Center ]
Read moreSmoothing Out Brockway Mountain Drive
May 1, 1936
In 1936, the road commission deployed funded from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to finish smoothing the road (it was dirt at that time, not asphalt).
Read moreCabin (Cottage) construction begins
January 1, 1936
The initial cabins were built — called “cottages” at the time. These initial cabins are the 13 cabins on the golf-course side, adjacent of hole 1. The Cottages project was championed by Wesley “Cy” Clark.
Read moreThe Lodge Building (Clubhouse) Officially Opens
June 23, 1935
2,000 people in 427 cars traveled to what was then known as the Keweenaw Park Resort for the opening of the golf course and lodge. A quote from the speech by Keweenaw County Relief Administrator U.V. Tervo…”A monument to what could be done. To the people of Keweenaw County, it is the dawn of a new industry- the tourist industry- and provides a wonderful opportunity for the future.”
Read moreWorks Progress Administration (WPA) Program Established
May 6, 1935
FDR established the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as part of the New Deal program to help alleviate unemployment in the United States during the Great Depression.
Read moreBasic Structure of the Lodge Building Completed
October 31, 1934
By late fall 1934, the basic structure of the lodge building was complete.
Read moreObtained CWA Funding for Further Work on Brockway Mountain Drive
May 1, 1934
After construction was suspended during the winter of 1933-1934, in 1934 the road commission obtained funding from the Civil Works Administration (CWA) as part of starting construction of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and completing work on Brockway Mountain Drive. During this period, the distinctive rock walls at the Lodge and along Brockway Mountain Drive were built.
Read moreCivil Works Administration (CWA) Terminated
March 31, 1934
Most employment stopped March 31, 1934, but the program was not officially stopped until July 1934.
Read moreKeweenaw Park and Golf Course Established Under a CWA Project
January 2, 1934
Written agreement between Keweenaw Copper and the Park Trustees, dated January 2, 1934. …with a contractual agreement to construct 9 holes of the golf course by July 1, 1934, and the construct a second 9 holes by July 1, 1935.
Read moreCivil Works Administration (CWA) Created
November 9, 1933
The CWA was created on November 9, 1933 by Executive Order No. 6420B, under the power granted to President Roosevelt by Title II of the National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933 [1]
Read moreCWA Program Established
November 8, 1933
The Civil Works Administration (CWA) was established as part of the New Deal program to help alleviate unemployment in the United States during the Great Depression. It was a short-lived job creation program (manual-labor) that lasted for 5 months, ending March 31, 1934. The program helped employ 4 million people over 5 months, at a cost of $200 million dollars a month.
Read moreWork on the Keweenaw Park and Golf Course Begins
November 6, 1933
With a crew of 124, work began on clearing the grounds and constructing a gravel entrance road. An estimated 18,700 trees were cut and 16, 500 stumps were blasted. 3,000 cords of wood were saved and distributed to local families on relief to be used for fuel. Of all the clearing and work done, only one team of horses was used with the majority of the work being done by hand.
Read moreBrockway Mountain Drive Officially Opened
October 14, 1933
Brockway Mountain Drive officially opens for patrons to drive, which ultimately ended up being a 9 mile road on top of the ridge line. The idea was conceived in 1934 by the Keweenaw County Road Commission, and construction of the mountain drive began in the spring of 1933, and was drivable 4 months later, before winter. Roughly 150-200 men were employed on the project on average. The drive was named after Daniel D. Brockway, an early pioneer settler in the area. After construction was suspended during the winter…
Read moreThe Idea of the Keweenaw Park and Golf Course Conceived
September 1, 1933
Idea of a golf course and club house was conceived by Ocha Potter in autumn of 1933. The project was initially funded by the Civil Works Administration (CWA) program, which was one of the programs of the New Deal to help alleviate unemployment during the Great Depression.
Read moreView historical timeline (like Pebble Beach’s historical timeline)