Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex facts for kids
The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex is a cool resort found close to Copper Harbor, Michigan. It's a special place because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970. It was also named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1976. Today, everyone can visit and enjoy it!
|
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex
|
|
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
|
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Grant Township, Keweenaw County, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Copper Harbor, Michigan |
| 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 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | June 18, 1980 |
Contents
What is the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge?
The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Complex covers about 167 acres (68 hectares). It has many buildings, including a main lodge and 23 cabins. A golf course was built at the same time as the lodge and cabins. It covers a large part of the land.
In recent years, mountain bike trails and a disc golf course have been added. All the buildings here look similar. They have a rustic style. This means they have low, sloped roofs. They are made with rough stone and dark wooden logs.
History of the Lodge Complex
Building During the Great Depression
In the early 1930s, Keweenaw County faced tough times. This was during the Great Depression, a period when many people lost their jobs. Over 70% of people in the county were out of work. The mining industry, which was very important, was struggling.
Ocha Potter, who led the Keweenaw County Road Commission, had an idea. He wanted to build a resort complex in the county. He hoped it would create jobs and help the local economy.
Getting Federal Help
In 1933, Ocha Potter asked the United States government for money. He applied for funding from a new program called the Civil Works Administration. Before this, the county had bought 167 acres (68 hectares) of land. This land was about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Copper Harbor.
Work began in the winter of 1933-1934. Workers cleared the forest and removed tree stumps. They used the logs from the property to build the main lodge. By the end of 1934, the lodge was almost finished. The first nine holes of the golf course were also cleared and planted. A second nine holes was planned but never built.
Adding Cabins and More
In 1935, another project was approved by the Works Progress Administration. This project was to build 20 cabins. These cabins were completed over the next few years. Later, in 1947 and 1948, four more cottages were built. These were paid for using money earned from the lodge's operations.
In July 2018, Keweenaw County decided to sell the lodge at an auction.
Why the Lodge is Important
The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge was designed and built in 1934 and 1935. This was during the hardest years of the Great Depression. Local workers built it with money from the federal government. The county oversaw the whole project.
This lodge is a great example of how government projects helped local areas. These projects created jobs when people needed them most. The lodge also shows how people worked to protect nature while offering fun activities.
