Keweenaw Mountain Lodge

Yankovich/Mastrondanto Wedding
2023-10-14 | KML Lodge, 14252 US Hwy 41, Copper Harbor, MI, 49918, United States

Visit Keweenaw Board - Strategy Meeting
2023-11-09 | KML Lodge, 14252 US Hwy 41, Copper Harbor, MI, 49918, United States

Fostering the Keweenaw's Dark Skies
2023-11-10 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Detroit) | Keweenaw Area Community Foundation, 236 Quincy St, Hancock, MI, 49930, United States
[ Read: Fostering the Keweenaw’s Dark Skies Seminar Recap ]

[ A Visit Keweenaw Sustainable Tourism Series Event ]
Program Description
The Keweenaw is home to some of the darkest skies in the Midwest. This provides visitors and residents access to incredible stargazing opportunities and even the chance to experience the Northern Lights. Join Visit Keweenaw for a discussion on ways to ensure the Keweenaw’s dark skies are preserved for future generations and the science behind light pollution prevention. We’ll touch on actions taken to establish the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park in Copper Harbor and why preserving dark skies are important to the region.
Speakers
John Mueller | Keweenaw Mountain Lodge & Keweenaw Dark Sky Park: John is the chief lead at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, where he is heavily involved with the staff as it relates to culture, operations, and strategy of the resort. He purchased the WPA-era lodge at the top of the Keweenaw in 2018, and has transitioned the rustic and historic cabins to be supported by outdoor activities, rustic worldly food, and education year-round.
Previously, John was a professor at St. Edward’s University, focusing on entrepreneurship and innovation. Before his time at St. Edward’s, he was a faculty member at Fresno State and Western Michigan University. He finished his PhD in Entrepreneurship at the University of Louisville, and has an MBA from the University of Illinois and a BBA from Southern Methodist University. He is a native of Austin, Texas, and has lived in many cool places around the world which has helped shape his perspective on life.
John Barentine | Dark Sky Consulting, LLC: John is an Arizona native and comes from the “dark side” of science — professional astronomy. He grew up in Phoenix and was involved in amateur astronomy there from grade school. Later, he attended the University of Arizona, beginning research in jobs at the National Optical Astronomy Observatories and National Solar Observatory headquarters in Tucson. From 2001-06 he was on the staff of Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico, serving first as an observing specialist on the Astrophysical Research Consortium 3.5-meter telescope and then as an observer for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. John is the author of three books on the history of astronomy, The Lost Constellations, Uncharted Constellations, and Mystery of the Ashen Light of Venus. The asteroid (14505) Barentine is named in his honor. ​
He obtained a master’s degree in physics at Colorado State University and a master’s and Ph.D. in astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin. John has contributed to science in fields ranging from solar physics to galaxy evolution while helping develop hardware for ground-based and aircraft-borne astronomy. Throughout his career, he has been involved in education and outreach efforts to help increase the public understanding of science.
John formerly served as the International Dark Sky Places Program Manager, Director of Public Policy and Director of Conservation for the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) in Tucson, Arizona.

This event is organized by Visit Keweenaw as part of the Keweenaw Sustainable Tourism Series.

Fostering the Dark Skies of the Keweenaw [ KUUF ]
2024-06-09 10:30 - 12:00
[ Read: View the Slide Deck from the Presentation ]

[ From the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Web Site ]
Program Description
The Keweenaw has some of the darkest skies in the Midwest. This provides visitors and residents access to incredible stargazing and the opportunity to view the Northern Lights. Join us for a discussion on ways to ensure that the Keweenaw’s dark skies can be enjoyed now and by future generations.
John Mueller, owner of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, will describe current efforts to establish the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park in Copper Harbor. He’ll explain why protecting dark skies is important to our region.
Mueller manages the operations and strategy of Keweenaw Mountain Lodge. He purchased the WPA-era lodge located at the top of the Keweenaw in 2018. He has expanded resort offerings to include outdoor and educational activities year-round and a rustic, global food menu.
Mueller has been a professor at St. Edward’s University and a faculty member at Fresno State and Western Michigan Universities. He has a PhD in Entrepreneurship from the University of Louisville, an MBA from the University of Illinois and a BBA from Southern Methodist University. He is a native of Austin, Texas, and has lived in many places around the world, which has helped to shape his perspective on life.
The forum will be on Zoom only:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83975762265?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 839 7576 2265
Passcode: [REDACTED]
[ View KUUF Event Page ]
Slide Deck

[ Click the Image above to View the Slide Deck ]

Front 9 Endurance Golf
2026-06-21 06:00 - 22:00 | KML Golf Course, 14252 US Hwy 41, Copper Harbor, MI, 49918, United States
Front 9 Endurance Golf
Join us for the Longest Day of Golf in the Keweenaw!
Limit: 24 tickets
Last day to purchase tickets: June 19th

The Front 9 Endurance Golf is a one day event held on the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge golf course. It is connected to the celestial event of the summer solstice, which marks the official start of astronomical summer and the longest day of the year. This event also celebrates the anniversary of when the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge was designated an International Dark Sky Park.
This is a walking only event. No golf carts will be allowed on the course all day.

Rules/Guidelines:

The golf course is open from 6:00am to 10:00pm.
Maximum of 24 golfers allowed.
Golfers must make their first tee time. Tee times are 20 minutes apart. The KML team has the right to group golfers together.
Golfers can play unlimited rounds.
Golfers must walk the course.
Golfers are allowed to take breaks then continue play.
Only complete 9 hole rounds of golf will count.
Only participants of the event are allowed to play golf that day.
There are three categories – hickory golf, modern golf, and fling golf
Recognition for the golfer who plays the most rounds – medal.

Rules during play:

USGA rules apply
Players can tee off from any tee box
All Holes must be putted out – no gimmes
Players are allowed to pick-clean-and-place, within one scorecard length
Let faster players play through

Price
Tickets for the festival are $65 / person + tax. A maximum of 24 tickets will be sold. The last day to purchase tickets is June 19, 2026. No refunds.

[ Purchase Tickets ]
To request to purchase a ticket, send us an email to John Mueller.
