Michigan Blue | Winter 2026

MICHIGAN

Meet Danielle and Mark

Danielle and Mark moved to West Michigan from Chicago in search of more space. Thanks to the Eastbrook Homes process, they felt confident in designing their new home from afar.

Danielle and Mark’s experience is a reflection of the trust our customers place in us. With 58 years of experience, we have grown to understand what makes our customers feel at home. That’s why we’ve developed numerous buyer safeguards to protect our customers from market uncertainty.

Customers who purchase now are protected by the Eastbrook Guarantee, where they’ll benefit from having a locked-in price, realistic timeline, and access to exclusive financing programs. We also cover the cost of construction, eliminating the need for you to secure a construction loan.

Want to learn more about the Eastbrook Guarantee?

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We were living in the Chicago area during all the initial planning and building, and Eastbrook made it easy to work through the details until we moved to Michigan.”

- Danielle and Mark

How did you incorporate your family’s lifestyle into your home?

After 15 years between New York City and Chicago, we were craving space—a big yard, room to spread out, and lots of natural light. The Sebastian’s open layout, with so many windows, fit our day-to-day perfectly. We both work from home, so we also planned for two separate offices to keep work and family life running smoothly.

What is your decorating inspiration?

We’re still in progress, but we’re drawn to neutral, earthy tones and plan to layer in bold artwork to bring each room to life.

What do you love about your Eastbrook community?

Our neighbors are wonderful—lots of families with kids around the same ages—yet the neighborhood stays quiet and peaceful. We love being near bike trails and the beach, and just a short drive from Holland and Grand Rapids.

Do you have any tips or tricks for new homeowners?

Trust the process—it can feel long when you’re so excited to the end, but it’s worth it. Tour as many homes as you can to learn what you love and what you might want to customize for your own. And ask a lot of questions - everyone is here to help you.

“We’re grateful for how seamlessly everything came together and excited to keep personalizing our space as our family grows. Eastbrook helped us create a home that fits our life— now we get to fill it with moments.”

If you’re interested in learning more about building or buying new with Eastbrook Homes, our team is here to help. Reach out today with your questions and dreams, and we’ll help turn them into a reality.

View more photos of this home!

The only crunch time is underneath your feet.

MAKE TRACKS FOR A WINTER GETAWAY TO NORTHEAST MICHIGAN

Bundle up. Breathe deep. Head North and leave deadlines and stress behind. Here, crunch time means snow under your boots, not pressure on your schedule. Northeast Michigan’s Alpena region offers wooded trails perfect for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling.

Beyond the trails, enjoy the solitude of Lake Huron’s shoreline, visit historic lighthouses dusted in snow, or enjoy cozy local spots for warm drinks and hearty meals. Whether you’re ice fishing, winter hiking, or simply taking in the peaceful landscape and dark skies, Alpena is your winter escape to recharge.

You have the vision - a place to relax, recharge, and reconnect with the people who matter most. At Cottage Home, we help you turn that vision into reality. You set the dream in motion; we take care of the details. From securing the ideal lakeshore property to designing and building your custom retreat, and providing ongoing support long after the keys are in your hand. With over 25 years of experience, we make the process smooth, efficient, and enjoyable so you can focus on creating lasting lakeshore memories.

Start your journey to the perfect lakeshore retreat at

FEATURES

41 And the Winners Are …

Blue’s second annual Design Awards competition puts several winning projects — from kitchens and baths to landscapes — in the spotlight. This section also reveals who served as our design judges and what home was voted the overall favorite by our readers.

from

BY

On the Cover: This moody bar (inspired by a luxurious hotel lounge), in a home on Lake Angelus in Oakland County, exudes sophistication and style. It took first place in the Michigan Blue Design Awards’ Specialty Room and Finished Lower Level categories. Photo by Martin Vecchio.

Cottage Company Interiors of Harbor Springs received rave reviews

the Design Awards judges for this guest house.

PHOTO

JOSEPH TIANO

FIND YOUR WINTER HERE.

Winter is the perfect time to sneak away for a rejuvenating getaway to Pure Ludington. Whether you are a winter enthusiast looking for outdoor activities that will enliven you like taking on snow-covered trails on a fat-tire bike, or just looking for a recharging getaway to reconnect and enjoy good food and craft beer, there is a place for you here. Don't hide from winter. Make plans to embrace all that a Pure Ludington winter has to offer!

WATERWAYS

18 Sky, Sand & Surf

Three annual festivals celebrate the state’s winter wonderland charms and their participants’ creativity. By Mark Spezia

21 Field Guide

The 14th Annual Thunder Bay International Film Festival, held in the Alpena region, showcases more than 50 productions that explore ocean and Great Lakes topics; the first official stretch of the Iron Belle Trail from its southern terminus has opened on Belle Isle; and the Michigan DNR is expanding the number of special scenic viewfinders at state parks for visitors with colorblindness. By Ron Garbinski

22 Get Outdoors

If you’re looking for a hot new experience this winter, try a traditional Finnish experience in Michigan’s U.P., and join pro angler Mark Martin and his team to learn the secrets of successful ice fishing. By Dianna Stampfler and Bill Semion

26 Headwaters

Bob and Lynne Frye turned an idea into one of the country’s top cross-country skiing destinations. By Bill Semion

DESIGN CURRENTS

32 Studio Visit

From his cabin in Curran, artist Joe Borri observes wildlife for his painting subjects. By Megan Swoyer

35 Designer’s Notebook Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park gets a new sculpture by a former Cranbrook student, an old flour mill in Frankenmuth becomes a boutique hotel, and the Pink Pony shop at the Chippewa Hotel expands. By Megan Swoyer

36 The Elements

From pillows to bunk beds to tables and chairs, these kids’ accessories guarantee that going to the cottage is nothing but fun. By Jamie Fabbri

ANCHORS AWEIGH

80 Tasting Room

Chill out and warm up at downtown Frankfort’s Stormcloud Brewing Co. By Dianna Stampfler

82 Book It Marina Grand Resort’s Lake Michigan location positions it as a peaceful winter getaway. By Mark Spezia

84 Discoveries

The sport of curling is gaining popularity across the state. By Amy S. Eckert

IN

EVERY ISSUE

12 Reflections Lasting memories. By Megan Swoyer

88 Postcard

Come winter, get to the point — Frankfort’s Point Betsie Lighthouse, that is.

Text and photo by Sarah Goodwin

giraffedesignbuild.com

Lasting Memories

With the first flurries of the season in the forecast as I write this, I think of winter weekends at our northern Michigan cottage. I can’t wait to hear “the quiet” there, when you can listen to pine needles fall, hear the ghostly cracking of lake ice, and discern the tap-tap of the nuthatch as it wedges nuts and seeds into tree bark crevices. After an afternoon stroll, we’ll sink into a comfy sofa with a cup of hot chocolate and look out to the soaring evergreens and the crisp-white birch that provide protection for northern cardinals and black-capped chickadees.

Trees, lakes, the shoreline, animals — these are some of the elements the winning designers of this issue’s second annual Michigan Blue Design Awards competition think about when building waterfront cottages.

Rooted in the environment. The land/water relationship. Contextual details. I love the concepts and phrases our judges used when reviewing the numerous entries.

Judge McKenzie Wilhelm, a partner at Minnesota-based Coen + Partners, shares that the winning waterfront projects reveal both the legacy and the ambition of the region. “(The) top applicants showcase a thoughtful integration of land and water that honors place, restores community access, and elevates the everyday experience,” she says.

winner by using words like cohesiveness and “harmonious with the natural surroundings.” Bravo!

Meanwhile, judge and designer Mary Oneglia, a lifelong East-Coaster and owner of Seven Lakes Studio, was likewise truly impressed by the entries she reviewed. She says she appreciated how “The integration of organic materials, site-responsive architecture, and curated, contextual details created spaces that feel deeply rooted in their environment.” She and Wilhelm shared the responsiblity with New York-based architect Keith Burns and Chicago-area designer Holly Bell.

Waterfront homes and landscapes evoke not only a sense of specific place — in Michigan, we embrace the blues and greens of our Great Lakes; the taupe sands of their shorelines; the flora and fauna that share space with us — but they’re also projects that feel profoundly embedded.

The winners have worked hard to integrate a sense of community — and, most importantly, family — as well as the social aspects of their projects. The winning entries immediately inspire relaxation, encourage family and friends to share a fireside meal, and celebrate opportunities to run around on the beach. Reviewing these properties, you can almost hear kids (and adults) calling out, “Race you down to the water!” or “Grab the marshmallows!” (And, as I’ve yelled to my kids at the cottage over the years, be sure to leave your cell phones behind; who needs reels when these are the reals?)

And I have to admit that it’s good to hear that a fresh set of eyes has picked up on the winners’ goal of ensuring a legacy for both the land and its residents. Take a look at St. Joseph-based Allegretti Architects’ projects in the Homes section and you’ll see what I mean. One design speaks to Allegretti’s response to the nearby sand dunes, “seamlessly integrating its outdoor amenities to reflect the rhythm of the land.”

The rhythm of the land. I can’t think of a better way to describe the observations needed to create top-notch living environments. Then there’s Allegretti’s Addition project, also in the Homes section. Notice how the project’s simplicity was a result of the firm’s mission to build sustainably and in an environmentally conscious manner.

In the Deck/Patio/Porch category, under Exteriors, Harbor Springs-based Cottage Company Interiors speaks of its

Indeed, observes Wilhelm, “Each project feels like an invitation to connect.”

Oneglia agrees. “It’s easy to envision beautiful, lasting memories being made in each and every one of these homes,” she says.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you for showing us your winning projects.

That being said, there are times, of course, when we want to leave our homes to explore the state’s many seasonal diversions, including curling, ice-fishing, saunaindulging, cross-country skiing, or wintertime festivals. I hope you get a chance to explore Michigan’s coolest winter offerings, showcased in this issue, and experience at least one adventurous pastime. And remember that a simple, snowy stroll amid nonmigrating songbirds and falling, aging pine needles is nice, too.

Publisher: Jason Hosko

EDITORIAL

Editor: Megan Swoyer

Travel Editor: Ron Garbinski

Copy Editor: Anne Berry Daugherty

Contributors: Amy S. Eckert, Jamie Fabbri, Sarah Goodwin, Giuseppa Nadrowski, Bill Semion, Mark Spezia, Dianna Stampfler

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

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Michigan Blue magazine is published quarterly by Hour Media. Publishing office: 5750 New King Dr., Suite 100 Troy, MI 48098. Telephone 616-459-4545; fax 616-459-4800. General email: info@hour-media.com

Copyright ©2026 by Hour Media. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Michigan Blue magazine,1965 E. Avis Dr., Madison Heights, MI 48071. Subscription rates: one year $14.95, two years $24.95, three years $34.95, U.S. only. Single issue and newsstand $5.95 (by mail $8.95). To subscribe or to order back issues, please contact Circulation at 866-660-6247. Advertising rates and specifications at mibluemag.com or by request. Michigan Blue magazine is not responsible for unsolicited contributions.

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Gaylord Area Convention & Tourism Bureau

GGaylord doesn’t just embrace winter — the town makes it unforgettable. Nestled in the heart of Michigan’s snowbelt, this Alpine-inspired community sees an average of 148 inches of annual snowfall, turning the landscape into a sparkling playground for those who crave a season of adventure and outdoor indulgence.

When the flakes start to fly, Gaylord’s landscape transforms into pure snowy bliss. Two premier resorts, Treetops Resort and Otsego Resort, invite skiers and snowboarders to carve through perfectly groomed runs surrounded by northern Michigan’s breathtaking scenery. Not quite ready to click into skis? Snow tubing hills at both resorts deliver the same thrill with a little less technique and a lot of laughter.

The resort experience isn’t all Gaylord has to offer this winter. Rev up

your sense of adventure by exploring hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails that weave through forests, fields, and charming northern towns, all easily accessible from Gaylord’s central location. If you prefer a little less horsepower, a horse-drawn sleigh ride through whispering pines captures the romance and nostalgia of winter’s magic. Looking for something in between? Cross-country ski and snowshoe trails offer opportunities to tour the lovely landscape laden with snow at your own pace.

For those seeking an experience that’s truly unforgettable, embark on a guided winter rafting trip down the Sturgeon River. This scenic float winds through snow-covered forests where the only sounds are the bustle of wildlife and the steady rush of water along the

frozen banks. It’s serene, surreal, and absolutely spectacular (and, no, you won’t get wet!).

Whether you’re chasing thrills or quiet moments, Gaylord is where winter comes alive in every possible way. So bundle up, breathe in that fresh northern air, and discover why Michigan’s Alpine Village isn’t just a destination; it’s winter, perfected.

Gaylord Area Convention & Tourism Bureau

319 W. Main St.

Gaylord, MI 49735

989-732-4000

gaylordmichigan.net

WATERWAYS

Pro staff member Larry Smith hefts a Saginaw Bay walleye during Mark Martin’s Ice Fishing Vacation School. Have you ever wanted to learn how to ice-fish? Discover more about a special fishing school inside this section. MICHIGAN

Epic Times

BY Mark Spezia

From wacky events such as human sled dog races, frozen fish throwing, ice bowling, and Human Hungry Hippo games to dazzling objects like creative snow and ice sculptures of all sizes and large-scale art installations illuminating a downtown, Michigan’s winter festivals offer endless cold-weather fun.

Here’s an inside look at three events that are bound to entertain the entire family this chilly season.

World of Winter Festival

Grand Rapids

Jan. 9-March 1

One of the largest and longest winter festivals in the country, World of Winter checks in at No. 8 on The Travel website’s list of the 10 Most Epic U.S. Winter Festivals Worth Braving the Cold For.

Nearly 30 large-scale art installations are the main attraction, and they’re best viewed after dark. Most are located along downtown

Three annual festivals celebrate the state’s winter wonderland charms and their participants’ creativity

Grand Rapids’ pedestrian bridges, and in Lyon Square and nearby parks. Some of last year’s top draws were Soloveiko Songbirds (inflatable songbirds from different regions of Ukraine), the Snail Trail (three snails strolling in a line on the Blue Bridge), and The Hive (a towering honeycomb made of custom high-density LEDs pulsing with color and movement).

Grand Rapids Entertainment Group provides regular entertainment throughout

the festival, including a Fire & Ice Show and aerial acts. The group is also part of Circus Wonderland, which features performances from the likes of the Grand Rapids Trampoline Academy and a variety show with a mix of talents including acrobats and contortionists.

The festival’s most unique competition is a Human Hungry Hippo Tournament during which teams of six, including a designated “hippo” being pulled on a sled, race across the downtown’s ice park scooping up balls with baskets. A silent disco, meanwhile, encourages people to dance to their favorite music while wearing wireless headphones.

There are also ice sculptures, giant interactive games such as Connect 4 and Lite-Brite, ice skating, a sauna truck, walking tours, deejays, and a scavenger hunt. Paint the Park is a family-friendly event in which participants can paint the ice rink at Rosa Parks Circle and enjoy a lively street party.

The festival, in its seventh year, concludes with a Noodle Fest during the final weekend. Attendees can sample and vote for their favorite noodle dishes, partake in a spicy noodle challenge, and enjoy live entertainment.

“World of Winter is an invitation to bundle up and discover the vibrant energy of Grand Rapids,” says Kate Lieto, vice president of marketing for Experience Grand Rapids. “Downtown Grand Rapids truly comes alive and the riverfront is transformed with illuminated art and lively events. The city and art sparkle after sunset, offering an unforgettable experience for everyone.”

Ice Breaker Festival

South Haven

Jan. 30-Feb. 1

Impressive ice sculptures and quirky competitions will highlight the 32nd edition of this southwest Michigan staple.

Stroll through downtown and witness the sculpting of more than 40 blocks of ice weighing between 300 and 600 pounds. Last year’s creations included an ice toilet, a Detroit Lions logo, a piggy bank, and a harp.

The Frozen Fish Fling is always a big draw as participants, often comically, compete to see who can throw frozen flounder the farthest. Spectators should remain vigilant, as the fish can fly in any direction.

Cardboard Sled Races feature sleds constructed with cardboard, duct tape, and ingenuity. Some of last year’s best designs included a Volkswagen van, a World War II-style fighter jet, and the Mystery Machine van from the Scooby-Doo cartoons.

Don’t miss the snowsuit fashion competition, where winners will be declared in several categories including Don’t Laugh, It’s Warm: Sub-Zero Glamour, and Furbulously Warm.

A kids-only and an adults-only silent disco will be held later the same day. What’s a silent disco? Picture a crowd dancing on a closed-off street wearing headphones that offer multiple music channels — but when you’re watching, you have no idea what anyone is listening to. It can be a comical picture.

“The energy of Ice Breaker is hard to match, and the activities are fun and have a great mix of the traditional and the delightfully absurd,” says Trenton Bulat, Visit South Haven’s digital media manager. “With the streets open to pedestrians, it

encourages a lot of exploration downtown. I love watching the intensity of artists as they work on their ice sculptures with chainsaws, chisels, and hair dryers, (but) my favorite event is the Snowsuit Fashion Show.”

More traditional events include a chili cook-off with more than 20 people competing for the coveted Con Carne Trophy, ice skating at a covered outdoor rink, and horse-drawn carriage rides. If you’re not into chili, the Pub Slide is a bar crawl where you’ll find plenty of food and drink specials, along with live entertainment including The Idler Riverboat — a floating bar and grill docked on the Black River.

Warm up by roasting s’mores at one of three fire pits, then sneak away from downtown for a short walk to the South Haven lighthouse, where the icy Lake

This page: Carvers at a past Ice Breaker Festival in South Haven put on quite a show. They’re carving one of 40 blocks of ice weighing between 300 and 600 pounds. This year’s event takes place Jan. 30-Feb. 1.

Opposite page: An interactive art installation called Bon(d) fire resembles a roaring bonfire. You’ll find this type of art, indoor and outdoor activities, aerial acts, and much more at the World of Winter Festival in Grand Rapids Jan. 9-March 1.

Michigan shoreline and frozen waves create an enticing winter scene.

“The Ice Breaker Festival is like stepping right into a Hallmark movie with horsedrawn wagon rides, cozy shops, hot cocoa, and plenty of that cozy, small-town feel,” says Olivia Thompson, assistant director of the South Haven Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s South Haven’s winter wonderland, as every street sparkles with hand-carved ice sculptures.”

Michigan Tech Winter Carnival

Houghton Feb. 4-7

More than 70 snow sculptures take center stage during this lively celebration of winter on the campus of Michigan Tech University. The structures are carved by students with the festival’s theme in mind; in 2026, it’s “Through Ice and Snow, to Space We Go.”

The 104th Winter Carnival will begin at 4 p.m. Feb. 4 with an event known as The All-Nighter, which continues through the night until 9 a.m. the next day. Teams work through the night to put the finishing touches on their snow sculptures — or, if they haven’t yet begun, they start building their pieces from scratch.

Walk around campus to observe the sometimes-frantic construction while savoring food and hot beverages from

student organizations, while music blares from a deejay’s booth made of snow and ice. Return the next morning to view the finished works of art.

“Michigan Tech’s Winter Carnival is a century-long Midwest tradition that showcases the creativity of massive snow sculptures alongside the excitement of outdoor sports and music,” says Visit Keweenaw Executive Director Brad Barnett. “It’s a celebration that brings people together to embrace the magic and adventure of a true Keweenaw winter.”

You can also watch Michigan Tech student organizations face off in non-traditional and traditional winter sports, including broomball — a form of hockey played with modified household brooms and a bouncing rubber ball. Student-versus-student and alumniversus-student matches are scheduled.

Human sled dog races feature six people pulling a sled with four people sitting in it and a musher riding on the back. Another activity involves students flinging fellow students on sleds down the ice, in an effort to knock down pins during the human bowling competition at Michigan Tech’s MacInnes Ice Arena. Students also square off in a 6-on6 Tug-of-War Tournament, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, and curling. All Winter Carnival attendees are welcome to participate in Snow-Snake, a

traditional winter sport played by various Indigenous cultures. The game’s object is to throw a wooden snake the farthest down a snow track. Visitors can also enjoy free sled dog rides, which will be provided by the Michigan Tech Mushing Club and the Otter River Sled Dog Training Center.

Other activities for all Winter Carnival goers include indoor mini-golf, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and two chances to check out Division 1 college hockey as Michigan Tech hosts Augustana Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. If hockey’s not your thing, the Winter Carnival Stage Revue Show features student groups that take the stage at the Rozsa Center to entertain the crowd with hilarious skits and hijinks set to this year’s theme.

A Torchlight Parade and Fireworks Show at Mont Ripley Ski Area literally conclude the festival with a bang as torch-bearing skiers weave their way down the darkened slopes and create intricate patterns of light. Once everyone has reached the bottom, a fireworks show lights up the sky.

Plan It!

World of Winter Festival worldofwintergr.com Ice Breaker Festival southavenmi.com/icebreaker Michigan Tech Winter Carnival mtu.edu/winter-carnival

At the Michigan Tech Winter Carnival, you’ll likely see more than 70 snow sculptures take center stage on the university’s campus in Houghton. This year, the festival runs Feb. 4-7 and will showcase the theme “Through Ice and Snow, to Space We Go.”

Right:

Field Guide

DIVE IN: The 14th Annual Thunder Bay International Film Festival will showcase an extraordinary collection of more than 50 productions by filmmakers from around the world, all exploring ocean and Great Lakes topics. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, in partnership with the International Ocean Film Festival and the sanctuary’s Friends group, will present the films at three locations from Jan. 21-25. Shows will be held at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena (above photo), the Rogers Theater in Rogers City, and the Alcona County Library in Harrisville. A highlight is the Great Lakes Gala Reception in Alpena, which takes place from 6-9 p.m. on Jan. 23. There also are educational events and a student shorts competition. I enjoyed seven excellent films at last year’s festival, and learned a lot about worldwide waterthemed issues, solutions, and offerings. thunderbayfriends.org

COLORBLIND HELP: With the help of donors and dedicated friends groups, the Michigan DNR is expanding the number of special scenic viewfinders at state parks for visitors with colorblindness. The viewers utilize filters produced by EnChroma, which also makes eyewear for colorblindness. The filters help improve color vibrancy, depth, and perception for those who are colorblind (13 million in the U.S.) because, for them, various colors are indistinguishable without aids. For some people, red looks brown, green looks brownish or gray, and purple and blue appear the same. The viewers are accessible at Ludington, Maybury (Northville), Muskegon, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness (Ontonagon), and William G. Milliken (Detroit) state parks, plus the Highland (White Lake), Rifle River (Lupton), and Waterloo (Chelsea) recreation areas. To make a donation to help purchase more viewers, visit michigan.gov/dnr/about/accessibility/ color-blind-scenic-viewers

TRAIL UPDATES: What a thrill it was to ride my bike on Detroit’s Belle Isle in September, this time along the 5.8-mile Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Trail loop. It was dedication day for the first official stretch of the Iron Belle Trail from its southern terminus, known as the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Gateway. The trailhead and markers are located near the island’s Coast Guard station. The 2,000-plus-mile Iron Belle Trail, traversing Michigan from Belle Isle to the western Upper Peninsula, with one route for hiking and another for biking, is now more than 70 percent complete. The new Wilson Gateway and its two-way cycle path cost $10.5 million and connects to 7 miles of the Detroit Riverfront Greenway, which heads west to the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Centennial Park that opened in October. michigan.gov/recsearch/trails/ iron-belle-trail — Compiled by Ron Garbinski

Have news that pertains to Michigan’s natural resources, travel, or exploration? Send a note to MSwoyer@Hour-Media.com.

Saunas in the Snow

Looking for a hot new winter experience? Try a traditional Finnish treat in the Upper Peninsula

When Finns first arrived in the mid-1860s to work in the Keweenaw Copper Country mines of the Upper Peninsula, they brought deeply rooted traditions with them. Foremost among these was the sauna (pronounced sow-nuh, the only Finnish word in the English dictionary, meaning “bathhouse”).

Considered a sacred space, early saunas welcomed the births of new generations and were utilized to bathe bodies before burial. Today, they remain communal places for

BY Dianna Stampfler

year-round rest, relaxation, and restoring balance — physical, mental, and emotional. The sauna is also the ideal setting for deep conversations, followed by coffee and nisu (a Finnish bread prepared with cardamom and wheat).

Jim Kurtti, retired director of the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock and honorary consulate of Finland in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is dedicated to preserving the customs of his Finnish ancestors, one sauna at a time.

A few years ago, he acquired an aging two-room sauna from his hometown of

Bruce Crossing in Ontonagon County and moved it to his property in neighboring Paynesville. The 1930s-era log structure features traditional Finnish double-dovetail corners, four windows, a custom Mason jar light fixture, and a one-of-a-kind door handle crafted from a garden pick believed to have been used by Kurtti’s grandfather in the Calumet copper mines.

The steam room boasts the family’s original Nippa wood-burning sauna stove made in Bruce Crossing nearly a century ago by Finnish immigrant Leo Nippa, who repurposed old smokestacks from the mines in his designs. Today, NIPPA® Sauna Stoves are made in Beulah, Mich. Kurtti also owns his grandfather’s 1911 smoke sauna, which has yet to be reassembled and restored.

U.P. Sauna Time

There’s no set season for taking sauna, although winter provides more intense opportunities. The Keweenaw’s third annual

Sauna Week runs Jan. 17-24 as part of the annual Heikinpäivä midwinter festival in downtown Hancock. Sauna-specific activities include in-person and online informational forums, self-guided tours of several Copper Country saunas, displays of students’ projects on sauna culture, and a silent auction for a custom sauna built by students from the Copper Country Intermediate School District’s Career and Technical Education program.

How to Sauna

When reserving a public sauna, the steam room will be ready and waiting for you upon arrival. In the adjoining changing room, you can don the appropriate swim or athletic wear to accommodate the 170- to 200-degree temperatures. A beach towel, sandals, and even a hat or beanie (which helps regulate temperature) are also recommended.

Once inside a sauna, choose your seat along the wooden bench, keeping in mind that heat rises and that lower areas will be slightly cooler. To increase the sauna’s humidity level, add water to the rocks to make löyly (steam), which also creates a unique ambience. (Not all saunas have steam, so it’s important to check ahead of time.) After 15 minutes or so, take a break from the heat by dipping into the icy waters of a nearby lake, rolling around in the snow, or taking a cool shower. Then, return to the sauna and repeat the Nordic cycle for the duration of your allotted time.

Many Finns add vihta (or vasta) to their sauna experience. This involves gently brushing a bundle of fresh birch or cedar branches soaked in water across the skin to

stimulate circulation and release therapeutic aromatics. While in the sauna, it’s important to keep hydrated with water or electrolyte beverages (but not alcohol), to replenish the sweat your body is releasing. Finally, remember that the sauna is sanctified place that should be respected and revered.

Where to Sauna

The Nordic Spa at Mount Bohemia in Lac La Belle, on the east side of the Keweenaw, offers several options for après-ski, including the traditional Finnish sauna with its ground-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views; a Himalayan salt-infused sauna; and a therapeutic herbal sauna. Afterward, stroll through the 45-degree Cool Mist Rain Cave or take a dip in the cool plunge pool and enjoy its refreshing 60-degree temperatures. Other offerings include the eucalyptus steam cabin, a Dead Sea mineral mud treatment, a crystal relaxation room, and an outdoor pool. The resort, which offers two steam rooms, recently added a larger second hot tub called the Mineral Pool. All Nordic Spa services are available at no charge for lodging guests. The public can buy daily or seasonal passes. Established in 2023 by Lynn and Jason Makela, Takka Saunas provides public and private wood-fired sauna sessions at two locations in the Keweenaw (takka means fireplace in Finnish). The original sanctuary in Eagle Harbor, Takka Superior, is nestled within the 27-acre Fresh Coast Cabins property and offers 75-minute private sauna experiences as well as 90-minute sunset saunas. Located steps from the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior, sauna-goers can take a natural cold plunge

between steam sittings if they choose.

The three- to five-person saunas found next to the Portage Lake Lift Bridge in Hancock, collectively known as Takka Portage, are well-suited for small-group socialization. Embracing the Finnish fondness for togetherness and connection, the “Social Sauna” provides the complete hot-and-cold cycle with people you may or may not know. These saunas also can be reserved for private groups.

Why Sauna?

The heat from the sauna helps your body sweat out toxins, relaxes your muscles, clears airways, increases circulation, reduces stress, and burns calories. Mentally, the downtime clears the mind and helps worries slip away. Are you ready to give it a try?

PLAN IT!

Keweenaw Convention and Visitors Bureau visitkeweenaw.com

U.P. Finnish Facts

NEARLY ONE IN THREE of the Keweenaw Peninsula’s population is of Finnish heritage. That’s the highest concentration of Finns outside of Europe. Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga, Ontonagon, and Gogebic counties are the only counties in the United States where residents claiming Finnish ancestry are the largest single ethnic group.

In 2025, Hancock was named the first U.S. Finno-Ugric “Capital of Culture,” an international designation presented by the Estonia-based URALIC Centre representing the heritage, culture, and language of Finns, Estonians, Hungarians, and Sami, among various others.

Both pages, clockwise from left: Friends at the Nordic Spa at Mount Bohemia in Lac La Belle, on the east side of the Keweenaw, enjoy a hot dip on a chilly day. Cheers to fun at the Nordic Spa. Visitors stoke the steam at Takka Portage, located next to the Portage Lake Lift Bridge in Hancock.

School with the Fish

BY Bill Semion

Join pro angler Mark Martin and his team to learn the secrets of successful ice fishing

Shortly after Mark Martin reached the pinnacle of professional fishing by winning the first-ever walleye fishing world championship, the west Michigan-based angler launched a plan that would become the nation’s longest-running and most successful fishing school.

And whether you don’t know a treble

hook from a jigging rap, or you consider yourself a hard-water season veteran, Martin and his team of fishing pros are ready to teach the basics — and the subtle tricks they’ve learned over the years — that can mean the difference between coming home with either dinner or an empty bucket.

They’ve been doing it now for more than three decades, most recently on

Mullett Lake near Cheboygan, Houghton Lake near Prudenville, and Saginaw Bay near Bay City.

The goal, Martin says, is to let students learn another way of enjoying Michigan’s three months of snow and cold comfortably and safely. In three days, his team will set most participants on the path from never being on a frozen lake to

becoming an accomplished angler.

It all began 36 years ago with Martin’s Minnesota fishing legend friends, Gary Roach and Al Lindner. Roach, who earned the nickname Mr. Walleye, holds several major fishing titles and also is an inductee in the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.

“Gary asked me to be a part of the promotion for his Mr. Walleye products, and he was always doing schools and promoting ice fishing products on Lake Winnibigosh in Minnesota to get people hooked on the sport,” Martin recalls.

Eventually, Roach and Lindner became too involved in other activities, and asked Martin to take over. He brought their ice fishing promotion to the Upper Peninsula at Escanaba’s Little Bay de Noc 36 years ago, and added his professional fishing friends as staff. The event took place on the U.P.’s biggest inland lake, Gogebic, and was a huge success.

“I did it there another time or two in the winter and (then) started bringing it down on the opposite side of the (Mackinac) bridge,” Martin says. He started with Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell in Cadillac, and Saginaw Bay. Then one of the attendees gave him an idea: Why not offer his years of knowledge and experience to the everyday angler?

Martin, a “why not?” kind of guy, latched onto the idea like a walleye hitting one of his favorite lures and ran with it. The result is his Ice Fishing Vacation School.

The classes run Sunday through midday Wednesday and include classroom time, followed by two days of on-the-ice instruction from Martin and his professional staff. If you don’t have the gear, he’ll help you buy it on a visit to a local tackle shop. Need the right clothing for the cold? He’ll tell you what you should buy. Want to include a heated shanty for a little extra rental cost? There’s that option, too.

With all of that taken care of, Martin just needed consistently safe ice that was easily accessible and close to local accommodations for student anglers. That led him to his present locations at northern Michigan’s Mullett and Houghton lakes, and what many say is the country’s best walleye water, Saginaw Bay. Classes take place during the coldest time of the year, mid-January to early February.

What will you learn? If you’re already an ice angler, it depends on you. “They may start out wanting to teach us and keep doing what they’ve always done, instead of what we ask them to try. But by about one day in,

they realize that because the people doing really well in our school absorbed everything we said and set up their fishing rods the same way we had ours, they were having a better time and were more successful,” Martin says.

Each day on the ice, which begins with safe light and ends when the sun sets, all students spend time fishing with a staff member, including Martin. The instructors hop from one portable ice shanty — an insulated tent on a sled — to another.

One of the main teaching tools is Martin’s after-dinner fishing roundtables. Students and staff explain how their day went, talk about the techniques they used — what went right, what they learned, including where the fish were and weren’t — and what lures worked best.

“That becomes a favorite part of the day for them,” Martin says. “Students want to brag to the rest, or they want to hear what the others have had success with. By the time each meal is over and the roundtable is done, we all know where and how we’d

better fish tomorrow. Everyone learns faster than if you were by yourself and went to only one spot every time.”

School Tips: Ice fishing takes patience. Fish are cold-blooded, which means that in winter, they’re less active than in summer. “Bite windows,” or the times that fish go after food, are usually narrower and more infrequent. Always set up your ice fishing spot on discolored or snow-covered ice, not clear ice. Otherwise, the fish can see you.

“Not only has the school taught students a lot more confidence, it’s also taught all of us. That’s where the school shines. You’re not just getting my ideas, you’re getting them from a whole lot of other pro anglers. There’s 700 years of fishing knowledge out there on the ice with you. You learn from all the mistakes that the staff and I have made to get to the top.”

PLAN IT!

Dates in 2026 are Jan. 8-14 on Houghton Lake, Jan. 25-28 on Saginaw Bay, and Feb. 8-11 on Mullett Lake.

fishingvacationschool.com

Both pages, clockwise from left: If the weather permits, student anglers agree that there’s nothing like lunch outdoors on the ice during their fishing lessons.

A student lands a Saginaw Bay walleye with the help of pro Mark Martin (right). Students at one of last year’s Mark Martin’s fishing school sessions take time for a group photo.

HEADWATERS

Meet The Legends

BY Bill Semion

Bob and Lynne Frye pioneered an idea into one of the country’s top crosscountry skiing destinations

You never know where an idea can take you.

Bob Frye’s idea came on a frigid ski trip to Wyoming in a 1973 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser station wagon. That spark began a 52-year journey that has led to today, when Bob and his wife, Lynne, can rightly claim to have started an internationally known

destination for thousands of people who come to northern Michigan each winter to enjoy the shop and trail system that’s known as Cross Country Ski Headquarters, located east of Higgins Lake about 5 miles west of Roscommon.

From November to early April, you still might see Bob, regarded as the godfather of cross-country skiing in Michigan, and Lynne

helping fit skis and boots for customers in the shop they built into one of the sport’s top retailers. They’re more absent from the store nowadays, however, as their time is spent watching their grandkids while their daughter, Mariah, her husband, Stu Collie, and their son, George, run the operations.

But the couple’s years dedicated to signing kids and their parents up for lessons

and offering the sage advice Team Frye has been known for since 1974 still echoes off the original wood-burning stove in the center of their shop, and around the huge stone fireplace in the dining area. Although some of the faces have changed, the tone the couple set when they opened their business continues.

When you walk into XCSKIHQ, as frequent visitors and users of its 19 kilometers of trails call it, and whether you’re a newbie or a veteran to skiing uphill, down, or on flat land, prepare to be pampered, educated, and wowed with the totality of what you’re about to experience. If you’ve never stepped into a pair of crosscountry skis, this is the place to do it.

It’s always been that way under the Fryes and continues with the newest generation. But this story is about Frye 1.0 and how the ride began, helped by a bit of serendipity.

“It pretty much started with a friend whose dad was a car dealer. We were taking a trip to go downhill skiing in Jackson Hole, Wyo. My uncle had a little house in Aspen, but we thought this time we’d try Jackson Hole because we heard it had a lot of powder,” Bob Frye recalls. He and his friend drove together, nonstop, in that 1973

station wagon. They planned to sleep in the back of the vehicle when they arrived at their skiing destination, rather than paying for a motel room.

“Just before we got into town, we hit a deer, which didn’t hurt the station wagon. We put the deer on top of the car, not wanting it to go to waste even though it was January, way past deer season, and we went to dinner,” he says. They were soon visited by a state game officer with questions. He took the deer and the two were allowed to press on. That evening they found a spot to settle into their sleeping bags. The trouble was, the temperature dropped to -40F.

“We pretty much nearly froze. We went

to the ski resort in the morning to get lift tickets and were told the lifts wouldn’t work because the hydraulic fluid was frozen. That day we wandered around, found a shop, and rented cross-country skis.

“Although it was below zero, we had a great time and it inspired the thought that this would be great in Michigan. You get the thrill of going downhill, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to stay warm and have some fun,” Frye explains. So, if it wasn’t for that chairlift not working, he says, XCSKIHQ might never have been a thing.

Back in Michigan, Frye says, “I was making boundary markers for surveyors. I never had anything to do in winter. A neighbor at Higgins Lake was part-owner of a sporting goods store in Midland, and I asked him where I could get some (crosscountry) skis,” he recalls. That led to a conversation with an importer of Norwegian Kongsberg wooden skis, which you can still find on the internet.

“He also had a line on a boot called Alfa, made from the bellies of the finest Norwegian cows,” he jokes. “The skis were compressed beechwood-edged, and you had to pine-tar them to season the wood.”

Frye bought 20 pairs of skis and 30 pairs

Both pages, clockwise from above:

The author, Bill Semion, gets fitted for a pair of boots by Cross Country Ski Headquarters founder Bob Frye. Frye enjoys a moment of peace in front of the gorgeous stone fireplace at the Stone Turtle Day Lodge at Cross Country Ski Headquarters. Frye and his wife, Lynne, and a grandchild, Gatlin, take to the trails.

of boots. He rented a corner in a gasoline and oil fume-filled snowmobile shop that would eventually become the neighbor of the current store.

“I hung out a sign that said, ‘Cross Country Ski Headquarters.’ Nobody here knew what cross-country skiing was at the time, although Yoopers have been crosscountry skiing for years. We put some ads in the papers and offered free lessons,” he says. And thus, the seed was planted.

“The snowmobile shop got so stinky with exhaust, we built our own little store in 1978,” he says. It was a 30- by 44-foot, halflog cabin that’s been added onto at least four times since the start.

“In 1977, I married Lynne and she not only learned about selling and fitting skis, but she also became the hero of the second floor” — the loft that still houses ski clothing, that is. She also claimed the title of Michigan’s cross-country godmother, to match her husband’s godfather identity.

Then came the ski revolution.

“This guy, Bill Danner, did a master’s degree project. He didn’t like waxing skis, so he figured out how to make a fish scale pattern into a plastic ski base. That pretty much revolutionized the cross-country business, and we were on the ground floor of that. That’s what gave us a big start. We also found out that après ski is just as much fun as skiing, so that worked out well,” Frye adds.

A small upstairs lunch nook morphed into the Stone Turtle Day Lodge in the late 1980s, and the Fryes secured crosscountryski.com for their business’s Internet presence in the 1990s.

“Around the year 2000, we thought we’d try snowmaking, for those times when nature doesn’t provide, and that involved another building. We also made another decision on (putting up a) building for shipping,” he says.

Then came the question of how to move snow around to cover 2 kilometers of XCSKIHQ’s 19 kilometers of trails. The Fryes decided to take snow from a 30-foothigh mound using a farm manure spreader — a simple solution they learned from the Huron Meadows cross-country area, near Brighton. “We’ve made advances in how to make better snow and move it and not go broke, because it’s very expensive to do.”

New additions to the operation have included having a trained chef in the kitchen, who offers lunches and occasional winter specialty dinners, along with hosting annual weekend cookouts and entertainment. There’s also a Sunday afternoon guitar

A younger Bob and Lynne Frye adding on to their shop. With them at left is Bill Woods, the contractor who built the original store. He used that axe, seen in the photo, to notch and trim the cedar logs.

player, a Ribs and Blues fest, a Bavarian Festival, and the Paella Weekend — the meal is cooked outside — that always sells out. They also added a liquor license. Saturday mornings feature free beginner lessons, a XCSKIHQ trademark; all you have to do is walk in and sign up.

In 2017, USA Today named the Frye family’s location the No. 2 best cross-country ski area in the country. Nowadays, even AI rates XCSKIHQ as the best in the Midwest.

In 2016, daughter Mariah and her husband, Stu Collie, purchased the business, ensuring it would continue in the family. Last summer, Bob’s son, George, bought the company after working five years as an apprentice.

Bob Frye continues his involvement as president of the Great Lakes Winter Trails Council, which he co-founded in 1988. In 2016, he was inducted into the Michigan Ski Hall of Fame.

“Cross-country skiing has been around

for 3,000 years, and any time is a good time to get into the sport. If you’ve got old skis, we have a great try-before-you-buy demo program for new skis. We’ve had people who have come from Alaska and Colorado just to try out new stuff,” he says.

“I think sometimes you just get lucky, but sometimes, if you believe in something, that’s part of it, too. The bottom line is we never started (the business) to make a lot of money. It was so much fun and a wonderful way for people to get outside. It has made the world a little better place. We have a great kids’ trade-in program and we’re now selling skis to the great-grandchildren of the people we sold skis to originally. I see my old customers and see how much love there is. It’s great.”

Plan It!

Cross Country Ski Headquarters crosscountryski.com

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DESIGN CURRENTS

Find out how

The great blue heron, found in Michigan near lakes, marshes, and rivers, is the subject of a special Joe Borri painting.

our Studio Visit artist is inspired by the state’s wildlife, beginning on the next page.

MICHIGAN

BY Megan Swoyer

Drawing was one thing I could do as a kid,” says artist and Detroit native Joe Borri. “I wasn’t great at math, but the nuns at school would send home notes (saying) I had artistic ability.” Borri, of Farmington Hills, ended up receiving a BFA in illustration from Northern Michigan University.

After college, he was a freelance editorial illustrator for seven years, but a turning point occurred, he says, when he was commissioned to create an illustration for The Detroit News’ Sunday magazine. “I got the assignment on a Wednesday and had to get it to them by Friday for the Sunday paper. I got paid $400. But a light bulb went on; I knew I couldn’t make a living doing this, as I’d have to get a ton of these types of commissions.”

He then became an artist representative, writer, and creative director for 40 years, working at a variety of studios and accepting private commissions on the side.

Animal Instinct

From his cabin in Curran, artist Joe Borri observes wildlife for his painting subjects

With four grown artistic children and a wife who’s an RNat Corewell, Borri now creates everything from wilderness paintings to cabin signs, pet and people portraits, and more. Lately, he’s been inspired to paint loons and herons, and says a young bear he spotted near his cabin in Curran, which is in northeast Michigan’s Alcona County (see his essay on his beloved lake in the accompanying story), may be the next thing he puts on canvas. The area is known as the “Black Bear Capital of Michigan,” yet Borri has only seen one in the 30-plus years he’s had a cabin on Crooked Lake. “I was driving down the road not long ago, a half mile from my cabin, and I sensed that I’d see one. It was so weird be-

Above, both photos: For this loon painting, artist Joe Borri says he was focused on “creating that feeling of flapping and mist rising from the water.”

cause I could feel it — and before I knew it, there he was, climbing up a tree.”

Inspired by the views and wildlife sightings he takes in from his knotty pine cabin, which is surrounded by a rock wall that he built, it’s easy for the mixed-media artist to come up with subject matter. “Every time we go up to the cabin, there’s an anticipation of being there,” he says. “During the drive, you can feel your tension and worries leave you.”

Every year, two loon families paddle Crooked Lake, providing Borri with ideas for paintings. The artist says he never knows what he might see just hanging out at the end of his dock. He smiles as one memorable scene that could be right out of a wildlife documentary comes to mind: “I was standing there, and I saw an eagle come down and grab a baby loon. Mother loon flapped like crazy at the eagle and the baby was dropped,” he says.

Other moments he treasures include sightings of pileated woodpeckers, fox, and owls.

Above: Buffleheads are captured in all their glory, thanks to artist Joe Borri, who painted them with special greens and deep blacks, with soft shades in the background.

Left: These Traverse City-area homeowners received a king salmon painting by Borri as a housewarming gift.

Borri says some of the cabin/cottage signs that he creates feature an address number, the homeowners’ names, a catchy title, and an image, while other signs are for hanging indoors — like a brown trout sign he created for a fly fisherman whose cottage is on Higgins Lake.

“Cabin signs are fun; they can be campy,” Borri says.

A recent sign with a powerful-looking eagle against a verdant green pine tree backdrop was presented to a family for their inland-lake cottage. The family spots eagles regularly and they love to watch the swooping birds of prey, so Borri suggested an eagle address sign. He also created a sign for a woman who loves owls. Depicting a great horned wwl, it reminds her of what she calls her spirit animal.

His wildlife projects showcase Borri’s attention to negative space (the background and space around the main subject), which he says brings more interest to what he’s focusing on. He also tries to capture a sense of movement with paint and brush strokes. “When you see an animal in the wild, they enter our field of vision and then they leave, so my goal is to try to paint that sense of a fleeting moment.”

He’s especially fond of animals’ eyes. In fact, when it comes to painting the windows of the soul, Borri says he tries

to bring the focus to them. “I tend to add maybe more highlights there, more light and color,” he says.

Many of his signs are created on dried cherry wood. “I’m more than happy to paint on things that clients provide, too,” he says. He also fashions designs for signs that he turns over to other artists, such as metalworkers. His own cottage driveway features a metalwork piece with two deer by Moose Creek Metals’ Jim LaLonde, one of Borri’s favorite metal artists.

When not painting, you might find Borri fishing for salmon in the Betsie River. For bass, he’ll head to Fletchers Pond (aka Fletchers Floodwaters), south of Hillman, where there’s “a tremendous amount of bass.”

Or he can be found behind the grill at his cabin, whipping up a delectable dinner using his own sauce or rub. “I really enjoy cooking,” the artist shares.

When asked about the recipes he uses in his artwork, he’s quick to note that while it’s realistic, it’s also expressionistic. Several dashes of texture often come into play, via either modeling paste or a medium for building impasto texture in oils. “And I’ll use color that you don’t necessarily see in a photograph or real life,” he adds.

When asked if he has a favorite piece, he says a wolf painting he created a few years back is one of his best-loved works. “I think I captured something there,” he says.

like the drake mallard pictured below. Meanwhile, the wolf is one of his bestloved works.

My Cabin

BY Joe Borri

MY CABIN SITS on Crooked Lake (pictured above), a no-wake fishing lake in the northeastern Lower Peninsula in Alcona County. The lake is quiet, as there are no jet skis. In fact, there’s not much noise aside from chainsaws and pontoons.

More Information

Joe Borri’s wildlife/animal works can be seen at motorcityjoe.com. If you’d like to commission a cabin/cottage sign or a specific painting or portrait, email Borri at jjborri@att.net. You can also follow him on various social platforms at @ motorcityjoe.

The shoreline is bordered by oak and birch trees, many of which are wind-bent toward the water, and pointed stumps from long-gone beavers. Returning loon families have fought off bald eagles for the 30-plus years I’ve been here, and surely were sparring long before my family’s arrival.

There’s a massive 75-foot rock wall that I made when I was a younger man, set from local fieldstones. Our place was built in 1992 by a legendary Mennonite named Dwight Handrich. It features knotty pine with custom woodwork and is filled with pieces from my great friend, Upper Peninsula metalsmith Dale Wedig.

In years past, my wife, Maria, and I brought our four kids up here as often as we could between school, swimming, and football.

The lake level fluctuates on a 20-year cycle and it’s currently on a slight decline. I get somber at the too-obvious metaphor, knowing if I live long enough to see it at its next peak, I’ll be 80. When I’m up there, my mind wanders, imagining the lake 100, 200 years ago. In the early 1960s, during one of the lake’s low cycles, my next-door neighbor’s mother says she saw something sticking up from shore. It was a birchbark Indian canoe whose tribe’s origin is unknown. That always fuels my imagination, conjuring images of trapping and shoreline encampments where our kayaks now sit.

Despite the disappointing sight of solar lights on the lake, it still gets inky black at the dock, and the Milky Way is sometimes so bright it appears as a cloud until your eyes finally adjust to the infinite stars. When the loons cry out at night it’s truly a spiritual feeling. I always feel grateful when I’m at the cabin.

Joe Borri is an artist (see accompanying story) and a novelist (“Eight Dogs Named Jack,” Momentum) who tells stories based on the streets of Detroit and the wilderness of northern Michigan. His cabin is on 89-acre Crooked Lake, near Curran. The lake has a maximum depth of 68 feet and a variety of fish species, like walleye and Northern pike.

Above and below: Artist Joe Borri spots many ducks when sitting outdoors at his cottage. They inspire paintings

 Milling about Frankenmuth In 1848, just a few years after Frankenmuth was founded, the Hubinger brothers built a flour mill on the banks of the Cass River, an energetic waterway. The mill was torn down in the 1950s and, 30 years later, a replica

was built in its spot. Once that closed, after several ownership changes and concepts, the facility sat empty for years — until the Zehnder family purchased it in 2022.

The site wasn’t destined to become another haven for chicken-dinner lovers;

 New Artwork Makes its Debut Cranbrook Academy of Art alum Nick Cave, inset, chose Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids as the permanent home of his first public outdoor sculpture, the 26-foot Amalgam (Origin). The piece was installed in October. Based in Chicago, Cave is not only an artist; he’s also a professor at the School of The Art Institute of Chicago. After receiving his MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1989, he returned in 2015 for “Nick Cave: Here Hear,” in which he staged seven months of events throughout Detroit, anchored by his first solo exhibition at Cranbrook. meijergardens.org

 Think Pink!

The iconic Pink Pony boutique in the legendary Chippewa Hotel on Mackinac Island is expanding. Named after the Pink Pony bar and restaurant at the hotel, the boutique will be twice its current size when it opens in the spring. “A roomier shopping experience is in the works for customers,” says company co-owner Leslie Luciani. Look for new products featuring the endearing Pink Pony logo, as well as all the shop’s most popular wares including candles, trays, kitchen towels, barware, glassware, coffee cups, and more to brighten your cottage and evoke the feeling that you’re on Pink Pony time! chippewahotel.com

rather, it has been transformed into upscale lodging — something the town could certainly use. The Mill at Zehnder Park, a 13,700-squarefoot boutique hotel with four individually curated large suites overlooking the picturesque Cass River, is slated to open

for bookings in early 2026.

The inn is adorned with restored mill equipment and has a water wheel on the back deck. The overall vibe is rustic, and that ambience flows from the welcoming lobby straight to the Landmark Lounge, a 1,680-square-foot bar

Tips, trends, and tidbits for home and away

by Megan Swoyer

in the lower level that will serve small bites and craft cocktails using premium spirits from partner Ironfish Distillery Whiskey.

The Ironfish Distillery uses grain grown on its Thompsonville property and nearby farms in all of its products.

While the

renovation team and the Zehnder family are preserving the mill’s heritage, they’re also bringing a fresh perspective to the iconic property, which is anticipated to attract guests celebrating family weddings and reunions, or smaller groups that just want to stay where they can enjoy Frankenmuth’s fascinating history.

The property was taken down to the studs, and then expanded. “There are 18 types of stone, 24 types of tile, and 22 wallpapers in the facility,” says Ron Ross, Zehnder’s director of engineering and general contractor for the project. Four different types of custom-made paneling will also enhance the facility. themillatzehnderpark. com

Have news about design or décor? Send a note to MSwoyer@Hour-Media. com.

DESIGN CURRENTS

Their Happy Place

From pillows to bunk beds to tables and chairs, these kids’ accessories make going to the cottage nothing but fun

1. With many configuration options, the Perch Twin Bunk Bed by URBAN NATURAL provides the perfect centerpiece for a children’s room. $2,200, urbannatural.com 2. Add patriotic flair with this pillow from MY HAPPY PLACE . The pillows are hand-made in Ludington using recycled fabric and detailed with di erent ribbons for each stripe. $48, My Happy Place, Ludington, @myhappyplace on Instagram. 3. Hand-carved and painted art pieces by Shelly Drews for PIER JOY ART GALLERY & GIFTS are perfect for adding warmth, charm, and a touch of northern Michigan spirit to your cottage or home. $58 for “Sunset Bear” (other similar items available, with prices varying by size), Pier Joy Art Gallery & Gifts, Ludington, pierjoy.com 4. SERENA & LILY’s Kids Riviera Play Table and Chairs makes your crafts and games spot fun and chic. $368 (table) and $198 (per chair), Serena & Lily, Birmingham, serenaandlily.com. 5. Get cozy in the Newport Lounger by SERENA & LILY. What could be more ideal for reading or daydreaming? $498, Serena & Lily, Birmingham, serenaandlily.com 6. Add some Lake Michigan pride to your cottage with “The Third Coast” print from MY HAPPY PLACE . $32-$42, My Happy Place, Ludington, @myhappyplace on Instagram. 7. Dreams come true in this whimsical Treehouse Bunk by POTTERY BARN KIDS. $2,199, Pottery Barn Kids, Troy, potterybarnkids.com 8. The Stonewashed Basket Weave Throw, available through RUTH CASPER DESIGN STUDIO, adds lightweight texture in the color of your choice. $60-$200 (plus $20 to personalize). Ruth Casper Design Studio, Michigan Design Center, Troy, michigandesign.com, ruthcasperdesign.com

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DESIGN AWARDS

beautiful projects, ranging from swimming pools and lighting to kitchens and primary suites, caught the eye of the judges in Michigan Blue magazine’s second Design Awards competition

McKenzie Wilhelm Partner

Coen + Partners, Minneapolis, Minn. coenpartners.com

McKenzie Wilhelm is redefining what’s possible in landscape architecture. She blends ecology, culture, and conscious community into powerful design narratives at a range of scales. Her work lives at the intersection of bold vision and grounded execution, where land regeneration meets economic vitality, human wellness, and transformation.

Wilhelm’s passion lies in listening deeply — to the land, to the people, and to the untold stories woven through place. She leads with intuition and rigor, guiding international teams through projects that range from UNESCO World Heritage sites and large-scale urban infrastructure transformations to intimate, wellness-centered retreats.

A National Olmsted Scholar (2013), Wilhelm says advocacy has always been at the heart of her call to harmonize between earth and human desire. She’s a past board member of the Landscape Architecture Foundation, and current Advisory Council member of the ASLA Fund. The designer also speaks on the national stage, championing the profession’s role in climate adaptation, cultural resilience, and holistic systems design.

“It’s easy to envision beautiful, lasting memories being made in each and every one of these homes.”

— Mary Oneglia, Judge

THE JUDGES

Arbiters of Taste

Mary Oneglia Owner and Principal Designer

Seven Lakes Studio, Avon, Conn.

sevenlakesstudio.com

Keith Burns

Owner, Architect, and Designer

Keith Burns Architect (KBA), Brooklyn, N.Y. keithburns.info

Keith Burns is a registered architect and designer, and heads up his eponymous architecture and design studio (KBA). Focusing on residential and commercial projects throughout New York City and beyond, KBA approaches all projects — regardless of type or scale — with the same level of intensity and the expectation that good design is a public benefit. Burns is nearing the completion of his largest residential project to date, “The Long House” in Ontario.

Prior to founding KBA, his previous experience includes REX Architecture and ODA Architecture. He’s currently an adjunct faculty member at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and was previously a visiting faculty member at the Pratt Institute and the New York Institute of Technology. Burns received his master’s degree in architecture from the University of Cincinnati while working as a graduate teaching fellow.

Originally from Maine, Mary Oneglia now resides in Connecticut with her husband, three children, and two dogs. Her design inspiration comes from the simple beauty of the ocean and lakes, and the rich colors and textures found in nature. With a background as a trial lawyer, Oneglia’s business has benefited from her skills in organization, her quick thinking, and her ability to work well under pressure.

Passionate about creating beautiful, functional spaces, the designer strives to improve her clients’ lives and believes in making the design process easy and enjoyable. She cherishes when clients become friends, and loves continuing to design as their family needs evolve.

Holly Bell Owner

Bell Design Group, Chicago, Ill. hollybelldesign.com

Holly Bell is an architectural interior designer based in Chicago’s North Shore, and she brings more than 14 years of residential design and construction experience to her role as owner of Holly Bell Design. With a corporate background in marketing, a deep passion for architectural design that was ignited in high school, and a love for European travel, she has successfully converted her passion for all things classic into designs for clients in Australia and Chile, as well as stateside projects in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, Hawaii, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky.

HOMES // HISTORIC REMODEL (50 YEARS OR OLDER)

FIRST PLACE

Oak Street Design

Once a humble, early-20th-century summer cottage, this home was nearly untouched after 100 years. An extensive remodel and addition project was undertaken to restore the essence of its original character and merge historic charm with modern functionality. Architectural cues from the original cottage inform detailing on the two-story addition. These design cues continue inside. Vintage furniture and decorative accents, coupled with stunning lake views from nearly every room, add to the home’s romantic narrative.

SECOND PLACE Forest Inn (a former home)

JONATHAN THRASHER

JONATHAN THRASHER

ERIC LANNING

ND 3 RD 1 ST

FIRST PLACE

Allegretti Architects

This pool house was born out of a necessity for privacy after one of the neighbors removed a significant number of white pine trees south of their property — leaving the client with a severely exposed in-ground pool. The architectural team proposed this pool house along the unprotected fence line, to re-establish the client’s privacy. The project’s simplicity was a result of the mission to build sustainably and in an environmentally conscious manner, while meeting the client’s requests.

SECOND PLACE

THIRD PLACE Oak Street Design M.J. Whelan Construction

James Haefner

JONATHAN THRASHER

JEFF GARLAND

HOMES // GUEST HOUSE

Allegretti Architects

An intentionally articulated footprint draws residents into this guest house to indulge in modern luxury. The design responds to the nearby sand dunes, seamlessly integrating its outdoor amenities to reflect the rhythm of the land. The pool, fire pit, pickleball court, play area, and garden take center stage, inviting residents to embrace outdoor living. Although it’s set slightly away from a direct lake view, the home celebrates the quiet natural setting with landscaped terraces that respect the existing dune formation.

James Haefner

JOSEPH TIANO

ERIN ATTWOOD

1 ST

2 ND

3 RD

FIRST PLACE

Searl Lamaster Howe Architects

Corrugated metal hip roofs, cut at offset angles with crisp, minimal eaves, give this home a dynamic, contemporary aesthetic. The central volume features its public spaces, while the east and west wings offer private suites and guest accommodations. The design incorporates natural materials and textures, maintaining a harmonious connection to nature. Large windows and sliding doors maximize natural light and create a sense of transparency, both inside and out.

SECOND PLACE

Mathison | Mathison Architects

THIRD PLACE

Jonathan Lee Architects

TONY SOLURI

GEOFF SHIRLEY

JAMES HAEFNER

Cottage Home

This custom home showcases exceptional millwork that blends craftsmanship with refined elegance. The kitchen features inset cabinetry with clean Shaker profiles, while a custom range hood with integrated trim detailing pairs beautifully with the herringbone tile backsplash. The island is framed with detailed paneling, a built-in banquette offers a cozy dining nook framed by lake views, and custom moldings tie the space together In the living and dining areas, the millwork shines through in the intricate coffered and circular ceiling designs.

ERIN ATTWOOD

JEFF GARLAND

DETAILS // STAIR & RAILING

FIRST PLACE

CBI Design Professionals

The homeowner often described and referred to this property as an “oasis,” and that concept was used as inspiration for this staircase. Bent spindles form the shape of an eye, while the circular iris represents the “oasis” inspiration in this custom fabricated iron balustrade. The unique motif was also repeated in custom window detailing throughout the home. The overall shape of the stairs, when looked down upon from the uppermost level, echoes the motif.

SECOND PLACE

CBI Design Professionals

THIRD PLACE

Sidock Group Inc.

BETH SINGER

BETH SINGER

HOWARD DOUGHTY

Ellwood Interiors Inc. With Luxe Homes Design and Build

In a dark and moody lower level, a beautiful rug becomes a vital centerpiece. The rug anchors the room, creating a contrast that allows the spaces between the furniture and architectural elements to stand alone yet feel connected. Creamy white jagged shapes offer relief amidst the darker tones, and a delicate gray balances the espresso and onyx. By blending textures and colors thoughtfully, the rug plays an essential role in achieving a space that’s warm, sophisticated, and balanced.

MARTIN VECCHIO

DETAILS // INTERIOR USE OF STONE OR TILE

FIRST PLACE

Ellwood Interiors Inc. With Luxe Homes Design and Build

Crafted from exquisite jadestone marble, an impressive vanity appears to effortlessly hover, adding a sense of modern elegance to the contemporary powder room. The jadestone’s surface is a masterpiece of nature: chartreuse ribbons mingle among a swirling mix of icy whites, silvery ripples, and deep blacks. Marble, a timeless symbol of tradition and refined taste, subtly reacts to its surroundings, adding depth to its beauty. The understated glow from the onyx and alabaster lighting accentuates the marble’s intricate patterns.

SECOND PLACE

Ellwood Interiors Inc. With Luxe Homes Design and Build

THIRD PLACE

Ellwood Interiors Inc. With Luxe Homes Design and Build

MARTIN VECCHIO

MARTIN VECCHIO

MARTIN VECCHIO

Cottage Home

Adramatic lighting installation cascades through all three levels of an open stairwell, and each illuminated glass orb seems to float effortlessly in midair, creating a sense of elegance and movement. In the main living area, a striking onyx feature, backlit to perfection, frames the TV, casting an ambient radiance that enhances the clean, contemporary fireplace design. Statement chandeliers in the living and kitchen spaces serve as sculptural focal points, and are bold yet refined.

NEXT DOOR PHOTOS

JOSEPH TIANO

CBI Design Professionals

The owner wanted to update the fireplace to keep the diverse feel of the rest of the home. Exposed brick was plastered over, and the firebox opening was softened into a circular shape. An internationally known pewabic tile company was commissioned to provide the ceramic tile insets on each side of the fireplace opening, as well as the tiles for the hearth. Finally, the upper sections of the fireplace were resculpted into a more gracious curve.

FIRST PLACE

JAMES HAEFNER

JAMES HAEFNER

DETAILS // CUSTOM CABINETRY OR FURNITURE

FIRST PLACE

M.J. Whelan Construction

At first glance, the study appears to be a traditionally elegant room, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling custom built-ins that frame the space and provide generous shelving for the homeowners’ extensive book collection. But one section of cabinetry is more than it seems: Within the shelving lies a fully integrated secret door that reveals a custom-crafted circular staircase leading to a private lower-level corridor and wine cellar. This study is more than a room; it’s an experience.

SECOND PLACE

Authentic Kitchen & Design

With M.J. Whelan Construction

THIRD PLACE

JEFF GARLAND

JEFF GARLAND

BRIAN MCDONALD

EXTERIORS // GATE/FENCE/WALL

Ellwood Interiors Inc. With Luxe

Homes Design and Build

An expansive exterior wall of Brookfield gray limestone ledgestone elegantly follows the natural grade of the back patio, seamlessly integrating with the surrounding landscape. The timeless beauty of the gray limestone, with its subtle variations in tone and texture, creates an organic and quiet fence line. As the stone wall rises, it wraps gracefully around the columns of the exterior porches. Whether bathed in sunlight or shadowed by the evening light, the Brookfield gray limestone unifies the exterior.

FIRST PLACE

MARTIN VECCHIO

MARTIN VECCHIO

Ellwood Interiors Inc.

With Luxe Homes Design and Build

An expansive exterior wall of Brookfield gray limestone ledgestone elegantly follows the natural grade of the back patio, seamlessly integrating with the surrounding landscape. The timeless beauty of the gray limestone, with its subtle variations in tone and texture, creates an organic and quiet fence line. Throughout the space, the stone’s ability to blend with the landscape while adding architectural interest makes it an integral part of the design and enhances the outdoor living experience.

MARTIN VECCHIO

JAMES HAEFNER

FIRST PLACE

Ellwood Interiors Inc. With Luxe

Homes Design and Build

Nestled within a 2,500-square-foot outdoor oasis, this residential luxury pool is the pinnacle of relaxation and entertainment. The centerpiece is a stunning infinity-edge pool filled with crystal-clear water that seamlessly merges with the horizon and lake beyond, creating a breathtaking visual effect. Limestone coping elegantly frames the pool, enhanced by hidden motorized features that maintain a sleek and uncluttered aesthetic. This exquisite space isn’t just a pool area, but a comprehensive sanctuary that elevates the concept of residential leisure.

SECOND PLACE

THIRD PLACE Cottage Home CBI Design Professionals

MARTIN VECCHIO

FIRST PLACE

Cottage Company Interiors

The lines between interior and exterior spaces were blurred, and the natural beauty of this space was embraced with this project. One of the design challenges was ensuring a seamless material and functional flow from the interiors to the exterior, while giving each outdoor area a distinct purpose. Every level, material choice, and furnishing was selected to enhance usability while remaining harmonious with the natural surroundings. The result is a cohesive, highly functional, and elegant outdoor environment.

SECOND PLACE

Ellwood Interiors Inc.

THIRD PLACE

With Luxe Homes Design and Build Creekside Companies

JOSEPH TIANO

MARTIN VECCHIO

BRIAN MCDONALD

Dul Landscape Architecture

Built for entertainment, the exterior spaces of this contemporary and sophisticated lakeside home welcome guests with a variety of amenities. A swimming pool, spa, fire pit, kitchen, dining, and lounge areas all complement the beauty of the open-air setting. The simplicity of the rectangular swimming pool, on axis with an expansive glass window, makes a stunning foreground to the lake. Highlighted by fire bowls, a subtle infinity edge visually ties the pool surface in with the lake.

FIRST PLACE

JAMES HAEFNER

JAMES HAEFNER

JAMES HAEFNER

EXTERIORS // LANDSCAPE DESIGN (FLORAL, HARDSCAPE, BEACH, LAKE ACCESS, ETC.)

FIRST PLACE

Dul Landscape Architecture

Aprimary focus of this project was to preserve and integrate a gingko and a copper beech tree into the design. In the front yard, the majestic gingko gently frames the home, creating a storybook view. Multi-stem birch trees soften and enhance the crisp, clean lines of the architecture, while adding texture. A magnificent copper beech tree provides a canopy in the rear yard, and the patio is punctuated by cobblestone that acts as ground cover.

SECOND PLACE

Dul Landscape Architecture

THIRD PLACE

M.J. Whelan Construction With AAK Design Custom Landscaping

JUSTIN MACONOCHIE

JAMES HAEFNER

JEFF GARLAND

FIRST PLACE

CBI Design Professionals

Nestled among locally sourced stone and wood, and conveniently located just off the interior kitchen, this outdoor kitchen is thoughtfully designed for both everyday use and effortless entertaining. It features handcrafted stainless-steel cabinetry with ample storage; the built-in stainless-steel appliances blend seamlessly into the cabinetry and provide an accent to the natural stone. A large grill, built-in griddle, warming drawer, and a small stainless sink create an outdoor cooking space that’s sure to delight any cooking enthusiast!

SECOND PLACE

M.J. Whelan Construction With Authentic Kitchen

ERIN ATTWOOD

ERIN ATTWOOD

JEFF GARLAND

INTERIORS // UTILITY ROOM (LAUNDRY ROOM, MUDROOM, DEDICATED PET SPACE)

FIRST PLACE

Interior Blooms Design

The homeowners wanted plenty of closed storage, along with a convenient spot to hang coats and put shoes on and take them off. This mudroom/hall includes a side door entrance, closet storage, a bench seat, a vintage-inspired rug, and a custom dog crate space. Custom millwork on the walls creates architectural interest. The adjacent laundry room features green cabinetry, a black-and-white patterned tile floor, and fun pendant lighting, and can easily double as a potting or floral-arranging area.

SECOND PLACE

M.J. Whelan Construction

LARA PARENT

JEFF GARLAND

INTERIORS // SPECIALTY ROOM (BAR, GYM, WINE, ART COLLECTION, BILLIARDS, ETC.)

1 ST 2 ND 3 RD

FIRST PLACE

Ellwood Interiors Inc. With Luxe Homes Design and Build

This moody lower-level bar, inspired by a luxurious hotel lounge, exudes sophistication and style. The black cabinetry provides a dramatic foundation, allowing the true star of the space — a breathtaking Fusion leathered granite — to shine. With its swirling onyx tones and glittering gold ribbons, the granite flows seamlessly from behind the upper glass cabinetry, then cascades down the backsplash and onto the countertop, making the entire bar a striking piece of art.

SECOND PLACE

Brian Neeper Architecture With J.P. Craig Custom Homes

THIRD PLACE

CBI Design Professionals With Colleen Farrell Design

MARTIN VECCHIO

JAMES HAEFNER

BETH SINGER

FIRST PLACE

Cottage Company Interiors

Part of a summer residence, this sunroom was envisioned as a seamless extension of the outdoors: a place to savor morning coffee, enjoy a lakeside breeze, or settle into a good book, all while feeling immersed in nature. To reinforce this connection to the landscape, the design incorporates natural, tactile materials. Flagstone flooring brings the feel of an outdoor terrace indoors, while a river rock fireplace surround adds rustic texture and warmth.

SECOND PLACE

M.J. Whelan Construction

BETH SINGER

JEFF GARLAND

Brian Neeper Architecture With J.P. Craig Custom Homes

Cottage-style details in moldings and wall coverings are found throughout the home, but aren’t overwrought with frivolous detailing. Two adjacent bunk rooms are custom-designed to provide a fun sleeping space for the family’s children, young and old alike. The bunks are built into the sloping roof structure and feature built-in bookshelves and drawers for storage. The traditional cottage-style interiors are reinforced through the millwork, which provides a casual and comfortable feel, with the familiarity of the past.

FIRST PLACE

JAMES HAEFNER

JAMES HAEFNER

INTERIORS // BATH (POWDER ROOM, PRIMARY, ETC.)

2 ND

FIRST PLACE

mPn Fine Home Builders

The master spa in this home is a focal point. A large spa bathroom overlooks the lake, and boasts a steam shower and a stone tub deck with a fireplace. Everything about this space is grand. Featuring a massive custom vanity overlooking the water, it also houses a built-in makeup station that every woman dreams of. His-and-hers closets with custom white oak cabinetry are featured on either side of the walk-in shower.

SECOND PLACE

Ellwood Interiors Inc.

With Luxe Homes Design and Build

THIRD PLACE

Yancy Kitchen & Bath Design

JACQUELINE SOUTHBY

MARTIN VECCHIO

LEO BROWN | LJB MEDIA

INTERIORS // KITCHEN

FIRST PLACE

Oak Street Design

The client, a former professional chef, sought an elegant yet understated kitchen that was equally beautiful and hard-working. Classic symmetry, an expansive central island, and placement between the butler’s pantry and sitting room make the space inviting and functional. The kitchen serves as a place to cook, dine, and gather, creating a richness meant to be savored amidst the daily rituals of life in this cottage.

SECOND PLACE

THIRD PLACE Kitchen West Design Studio Interior Blooms Design

JONATHAN THRASHER

LINEA PHOTO

LARA PARENT

Interior Blooms Design

Atraditional four-poster bed accentuates the ceiling height, along with a custom Italian glass light fixture. In the primary bathroom, the green painted vanity and linen cabinet, along with floral art, adds color. Instead of solid doors on the linen cabinet in the bathroom, a perforated metal panel was custom-painted to match the cabinetry. Heated porcelain tile floors and towel bars add luxury, while a combination of brass and polished nickel are the finishing touches in this primary suite.

JEFF GARLAND

NEXT DOOR PHOTOS

INTERIORS // GREAT ROOM

1 ST 2 ND

3 RD

FIRST PLACE

Jonathan Lee Architects

The central feature of this great room is a load-bearing heavy timber frame, which maximizes the openness of the plan and provides stunning views. The NanaWall bathes the room in light and opens wide to outdoor living space and the water, creating a pavilion-like area that blurs the lines between interior and exterior. The barn-like balloon framing is a nod to the Alexander McColl-designed house that originally stood on the property; McColl was a prominent Michigan architect.

SECOND PLACE

Oak Street Design

THIRD PLACE

Ellwood Interiors Inc.

With Luxe Homes Design and Build

JAMES HAEFNER

JONATHAN THRASHER

MARTIN VECCHIO

mPn Fine Home Builders

This thoughtfully designed office bridges luxury living space and luxury work space. With the only interior access to the custom man-cave and bunk house, a trip down the stairs after a long day at work transports the client back into the luxury living the home was designed for. Surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, no natural light is lost. As the sun sets, he can still work and enjoy being in this office — which exudes a moody vibe as evening falls, thanks to the perfect light fixtures.

JACQUELINE SOUTHBY

JACQUELINE SOUTHBY

INTERIORS // FINISHED LOWER LEVEL

FIRST PLACE

Ellwood Interiors Inc. With Luxe Home Design and Build

Deep, velvety espresso-colored walls provide warmth and contrast beautifully with tropical storm-leathered granite surfaces, whose black tones and sparkling gold veins reflect the adjacent rug. This lower level is equipped with a fully stocked bar, a dedicated wine room, a full bath, and a 500-squarefoot exercise room that’s a fitness retreat. Lighting plays a transformative role, enhancing the atmosphere at night with dim, ambient light, while floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room with natural light during the day.

SECOND PLACE

M.J. Whelan Construction

THIRD PLACE

Amber Lisowicz Design

MARTIN VECCHIO

COMMERCIAL DESIGN // RESTAURANT/BAR

M.J. Whelan Construction

Located across the street from Dollar Lake and inside Fenton Township’s well-loved Fenton Winery & Brewery, the Dream Machine Distillery is more than a bar — it’s an architectural statement and a physical expression of craftsmanship and creativity. The design strikes a balance between industrial edge and timeless craft, complementing the exposed mechanicals and brewery equipment while introducing warmth, character, and cohesion. Every joint, bracket, and finish detail was custom-executed to ensure both durability in a high-traffic environment and alignment with the brewery’s brand personality.

FIRST PLACE

JEFF GARLAND

JEFF GARLAND

COMMERCIAL DESIGN // HOTEL/INN

Wickwood

Inn With Soucie Horner Design Collective

This 11-room boutique property in Saugatuck offers guests a quintessential coastal vacation experience and sets a new standard for distinctive vacations without an ounce of pretension. The inn oozes gracious hospitality, high design, inspiring environs, and culture, and features well-appointed furnishings, antiques, and one-of-a-kind art in every corner. Each guest room was completely reconfigured and curated with luxurious pieces. Many of the artifacts, artwork, and furnishings are available for purchase from this living showroom of the Soucie Horner Design Collective.

FIRST PLACE

SECOND PLACE Forest Inn, Douglas

WICKWOOD INN

WICKWOOD INN

ERIC LANNING

READERS’

CHOICE // BEST OVERALL HOME // MATHISON | MATHISON ARCHITECTS

Brower Shores

Mathison | Mathison Architects creates a special home in Rockford

Ahuge congratulations goes to Mathison | Mathison Architects of Grand Rapids, which took top honors in the Readers’ Choice Award, part of the annual Michigan Blue Design Awards. The Rockford gem, located near Grand Rapids, was one of dozens of homes that were featured online at mibluemag.com for several days during the competition, during which time readers could vote for their favorite home.

Close to both their business and their growing family, the clients selected a southern lakefront site on Brower Lake to build a family home where they could host their children, grandchildren, and friends. A primary goal for this project was for the home to have generous space for entertaining, yet remain comfortable for one couple.

The design of the home, built by Grand Rapids’ Berghuis Construction, includes an entry and courtyard with two distinct spaces on either side; a broad, layered public space with continuous indoor/outdoor areas; and a

BY Megan Swoyer

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Geoff

Shirley

more compact, vertical design housing private spaces including a guest suite, garden deck, and roof deck. The material palette showcases natural and clean attributes, including wide-plank oak flooring and stucco walls, contrasted by blackened steel beams and black windows.

Indoors, the public areas are flooded with natural light thanks to layers of clerestory windows placed above a north-facing wall of floor-to-ceiling glass. A three-panel pocketing lift-and-slide door expands the living space to include a covered patio with an outdoor kitchen, skylights, and retractable screens. An infinity-edge hot tub recesses into the patio, looking out to the landscape and the lake beyond. The interior design is by Lisa Keller of Lisa Keller Designs of Grand Rapids, while the landscaping layout was created by Rockford-based Rivertown Landscapes.

Thank you, readers, for casting your vote. And well done, Mathison | Mathison Architects and team.

Top to bottom: A layered design and a vertical section housing a guest suite and garden deck, plus indoor/outdoor areas and a natural palette, all add up to a winner.

mPn Fine Home Builders

Nestled on the shoreline of Lake Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay amid towering trees and stunning natural beauty is an architectural masterpiece designed by Frederick Crosley Ball Associates and custom-crafted by mPn Fine Home Builders. The residence, located near the charming city of Harbor Springs, represents the homeowners’ vision brought to life through collaboration, attention to detail, and artistry. With a live roof and deck, as well as finishing touches by Ohara Davies-Gaetano Interiors and Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects, the indoor and outdoor elements harmonize seamlessly with the wooded setting.

Standout characteristics of the home design and construction include a glass sky bridge, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a glass and steel elevator that’s the first of its kind in northern Michigan. Throughout are a number of built-in pieces all tailor-made by mPn in its 10,000-squarefoot cabinet shop. This includes white-oak cabinetry, bunk beds, doors, and a wine cooler that preserves and displays the homeowners’ wine collection. Even the wine cooler was custom-built, from the steel rods and specially manufactured chiller components to the glass doors and specialized lighting.

In addition to the primary suite, kitchen, laundry, and gym, there are two guest suites on the main level. Each has its own bathroom, with custom glass skylights providing an abundance of natural light. There are showpieces at every turn — especially the powder room, with its walls covered in backlit onyx. The sky bridge connects the primary living space to a “man cave,” which is where the custom bunk beds and wine cooler are located.

Creating a dream dwelling like this requires the ability to take a concept and turn it into reality, all while keeping the client involved from start to finish. The mPn team delivers transparency, clarity, and communication on every project, resulting in an exceptional final product.

6075 M-32, East Jordan, MI 49727

231-536-0100

mpnbuild.com

Treatments

https://www.gotchacovered.com/grand-rapids/

time to make up for lost time.

For 3 decades people have been coming to Sweethaven to create vacation memories they will cherish for a lifetime.

For 3 decades people have been coming to Sweethaven to create vacation memories they will cherish for a lifetime.

For 3 decades people have

Both child and pet friendly, our fully furnished rental cottages accommodate 2 to 14 people, and are available for your getaway all season.

Both

Both child and pet friendly, our fully furnished rental cottages accommodate 2 to 14 people, and are available for your getaway all season.

Nestled in the heart of Harbor Country, with only 6 cottages on 9+ wooded acres, there is a feeling of spaciousness and tranquility that makes tightly wound grown-ups sleep like babies. Each cottage has it’s own unique look and location, but all have every amenity needed for a comfortable retreat.

The moss-covered paths beckon you to take a walk in the woods. The tree house, horseshoe pit and the volleyball court beg you to come and play.

The moss-covered paths beckon you to take a walk in the woods. The tree house, horseshoe pit and the volleyball court beg you to come and play. The screened porches, sunny decks and private hot tubs offer serene spots to just sit and rest.

The screened porches, sunny decks and private hot tubs offer serene spots to just sit and rest.

All year long Sweethaven is where beach excursions begin, snowball fights breakout, and campfires happen. It’s time to make up for lost time.

season. Nestled in the heart of Harbor Country, with only 6 cottages on 9+ wooded acres, there is a feeling of spaciousness and tranquility that makes tightly wound grown-ups sleep like babies. Each cottage has it’s own unique look and location, but all have every amenity needed for a comfortable retreat. The moss-covered paths beckon you to take a walk in the woods. The tree house, horseshoe pit and the volleyball court beg you to come and play. The screened porches, sunny decks and private hot tubs offer serene spots to just sit and rest.

Nestled in the heart of Harbor Country, with only 6 cottages on 9+ wooded acres, there is a feeling of spaciousness and tranquility that makes tightly wound grown-ups sleep like babies. Each cottage has it’s own unique look and location, but all have every amenity needed for a comfortable retreat.

All year long Sweethaven is where beach excursions begin, snowball fights breakout, and campfires happen.

All year long Sweethaven is where beach excursions begin, snowball fights breakout, and campfires happen.

Union Pier, MI • 269-469-0332 sweethavenresort.com

Union Pier, MI • 269-469-0332 sweethavenresort.com

ANCHORS AWEIGH

on

Read all about this special

extensive renovation and plans for even more alluring amenities, beginning on page 82.

Located

New Buffalo’s harbor, the Marina Grand Resort immediately puts guests in chill mode.

resort’s

MICHIGAN

There’s something captivating about those tempestuous days when the ever-changing weather churns up white-capped waves and whips up ominous cloud formations in the skies over the Great Lakes. For the founders of Stormcloud Brewing Co. in Frankfort, the name of their business was crafted in recognition of people gathering at the lakeshore to watch a storm roll in. The idea behind the brewery was creating a spot where the community could congregate and enjoy a craft beer, in Stormcloud’s case.

Brian Confer, who once made a living as a commercial photographer, turned a home-brewing hobby into a new career by tapping local entrepreneur Rick Schmitt to get the business off the ground.

The pair transformed a vacant building next door to The Garden Theater — a nonprofit that Schmitt and others operate through a friends’ group — in downtown Frankfort. In the summer of 2013, they opened the 16-tap brewery, just two blocks from the Lake Michigan shoreline, to rave reviews.

To set himself apart from the growing number of breweries popping up around the state at the time, Confer focused on Belgian-style beers that are rich in historical tradition and are known for their distinct malt-forward flavors. He’s also proud to support local agriculture by sourcing Michigan-grown hops from Hop Alliance for his herbaceous IPAs (India Pale Ale) and the brewery’s flagship Rainmaker pale ale, among other seasonal and year-round brews. He also used malt from Traverse City’s Great Lakes Malting Co.

Stormcloud’s small but mighty menu features inventive Midwestern cuisine that includes artisan flatbreads, shareables, sandwiches, salads, and an array of decadent, flavored craft popcorn such as truffle

TASTING

ROOM

Mixing Popcorn, Curling, and Beer

Chill out and warm up at downtown Frankfort’s Stormcloud Brewing Co.

BY Dianna Stampfler

Above: Warm up on a wintry day at Stormcloud Brewing Co. Left: Burgers and chips are popular fare.

oil and fresh parmesan or honey siracha. Throughout the winter, visitors can sink their teeth into Burger Fridays with beef, black bean, and rotating specialty burgers.

Beyond the food and beer, it’s Stormcloud’s cozy, inviting atmosphere that brings in locals and visitors even on the coldest, snowiest winter days.

“There are tons of great trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing near Frankfort, the southern gateway to the Sleeping Bear Dunes,” Schmitt notes. Sections of the 22-mile Betsie Valley Trail — which was formally named a Pure Michigan Trail in 2025 — traverse throughout the county along a former Ann Arbor Railroad bed. The trails are well-suited for winter fat-tire biking. The brewery is also about 15 miles from Crystal Mountain Resort, making it a popular après-ski destination.

Visitors to the Cloud, as the brewery is affectionately known, also can try their hand at curling — a 16th century Scottish

sport where two teams of four players each slide large granite stones down a sheet of ice toward a series of concentric circles at the end called the “house.” Regulation play consists of 10 ends (similar to an inning in baseball), with all eight players throwing their stones and the team with the most points at the conclusion of play being named the winner.

Often referred to as “chess on ice,” curling for men was first played at the inaugural 1924 Winter Games in Chamonix, France, but it wasn’t until the 2010 Vancouver Games that it became a medal sport — thanks to the enthusiasm of Canadians. Curling in men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles will be among the games on tap at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, where Michigan-born Delaney Strouse of the Traverse City Curling Club hopes to compete.

While there are a handful of curling clubs around Michigan (see related Discoveries story in this issue on U.P.

curling page 84), Stormcloud offers weekly leagues and open public play on its outdoor ice sheets. Learn to Curl lessons are available on Saturday afternoons from mid-January through mid-February, weather-permitting.

As the outdoor ice sheet isn’t refrigerated like indoor rinks, temperatures must be at or below freezing for optimal play. Stormcloud’s sheet is also considerably smaller than the Olympic size of 150 feet long by 16.5 feet wide, making it more approachable for new, beginner, or amateur players.

Those taking a break between games or simply spectating can warm up next to the beer garden’s outdoor fire pits while sipping hearty brews such as the Nightswimmer Stout winter seasonal (at 7 percent alcohol by volume, ABV), which help keep the chill at bay.

Inside the taproom, a variety of board games such as Shut the Box, Risk, Code Names, Tapple, and miniature tabletop

curling, as well as decks of cards for pickup games of Euchre, encourage competition paired with a pint or flight. Wednesday nights are reserved for Trivia Tournaments and there’s almost always a sporting event — including curling, in the winter — being shown on the TVs.

In addition to the downtown pub, Stormcloud opened a 13,000-square-foot production facility and seasonal Parkview Taproom (open during the summer season) on the east end of town in the spring of 2018. It’s there that the brewery’s canned and draft beer is produced for sale around the state.

Plan It!

Stormcloud Brewing Co stormcloudingbrewing.com

Right: A curling patron moves a large granite stone down a sheet of ice, while Belgianstyle beers flow from the tap.

Comfy Fireplaces and Harbor Views

Marina Grand Resort’s Lake Michigan location positions it as a peaceful winter getaway

BY Mark Spezia

Nestled on New Buffalo’s harbor, a short stroll from downtown and the city beach, the Marina Grand Resort delivers boutique-style lodging that oozes coziness and comfort.

“Winter on the marina is special (because) when the boats are gone, winter delivers stillness that can’t be matched,” says Toast Hotel Group President Robert Kemper.

“From scenic storms brewing over Lake Michigan to the birds searching for open

water and sunshine on newly snow-covered docks, it’s a magical time. Some guests never leave the building, but the adventurous might head out to our many nearby hiking trails or tasting rooms.”

A welcoming warmth greets guests as they step through the doors into a spacious area known as The Living Room, which is anchored by a large fireplace surrounded by a collection of comfortable seating options.

The area was made even more inviting with the completion of an extensive renova-

Clockwise from opposite page:

At Marina Grand Resort, wood and textiles play a starring role.

Chicago-based Curioso Design’s philosophy creates spaces that put people first. Harbor views are key amenities in the guest rooms.

The Living Room, which is anchored by a fireplace, is a welcome respite from winter’s chill.

tion project in 2023. The hotel’s restaurant (Bentwood Tavern) and meeting spaces were also updated. A renovation of the resort’s front entrance and pools is planned for 2026.

Depending on a guest’s time of arrival, a barista or evening bartender is ready with a complimentary welcome beverage for those checking in.

“The transformation opened southern-facing windows to the guest enjoyment areas and created a tucked-away, cozy tavern experience,” Kemper says. “Guests have sunny places to enjoy daytime activities and events, and a large fireplace for savoring evening beverages. (Chicago-based) Curioso Design created spaces that put people first and connect with our corner of Lake Michigan through the thoughtful use of wood, textiles, and color.”

Kemper and his wife, Collette, founded Toast Hotel Group, which also includes The Harbor Grand Hotel in New Buffalo, in 2000.

Marina Grand Resort opened six years later.

The group also owns The Harbor Grand Hotel and Foundation Mind & Body Spa.

“It was important to establish, upon guests’ arrival, a sense of discovery and comfort,” Kemper says. “We achieve this through our welcoming staff, art, books and magazines, food and beverages, lighting, and music.”

Leaving The Living Room doesn’t mean leaving the soothing fireplace behind. Every Marina Grand Resort room has a hand-crafted private fireplace, as well as harbor views from private balconies or patios. Options range from 350- to 1,250-square-foot spaces that can accommodate between two and eight guests (couples, families, or groups).

The Marina King (two guests) and Marina Double Queen (sleeps two to four) are both 350 square feet and have mini-refrigerators.

All other rooms — flat-style suites — boast fully equipped kitchens, dining tables, soaking tubs, and walk-in showers, as well as a curated selection of books and magazines.

The Mariner Corner Luxury Suite (710 square feet) and Mariner Luxury Suite (750) have room for up to four guests, and have a king bed and queen sleeper sofa. Mariner Corner has one bathroom, while the Mariner Suite has 1.5 baths.

The 900-square-foot Loft Two-Bedroom Luxury Suite (two to six guests) offers an open loft with two twin beds, a king bed, a queen sleeper sofa, and 1.5 bathrooms. The Mariner Two-Bedroom Luxury Suite (1,100 square feet) can hold up to six guests. It has a king bed in one bedroom and two queen beds in another, along with a queen sleeper sofa.

The Loft Three-Bedroom Luxury Suite (1,250 square feet), which is flexible living space, can accommodate up to eight people and has a king bed in each bedroom, two twin beds in an open loft, and 2.5 bathrooms.

The Living Room Cafe serves coffee, espresso, and pastries from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the addition of beer, wine, and other snack items from 2-6 p.m. It also hosts complimentary nightly wine-tastings for guests, highlighting regional Michigan wineries.

The Bentwood Tavern serves dinner daily from 5-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday during winter months, and 5-9 p.m. during the week. Weekend brunch is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appetizers range from wood-fired French feta to cider-steamed mussels, while entrees include Steak Pot Pie, Manistee River rainbow trout, double-cut pork chops, and more. Among the desserts are a mini-Michigan pie and a cashew tart.

“Our chef-driven menu is focused on

local producers and fresh approaches to tavern signature dishes,” Kemper says. “We always feature seasonal vegetables, fruits, and herbs from our local growers. Our approach to beverages is sourcing the most interesting available, from Michigan microbrewery offerings on tap to crafted seasonal cocktails, and we have a highly curated wine program that highlights next-generation Michigan winemakers.”

Marina Grand features an indoor pool and jacuzzi, game and fitness rooms, and a rooftop deck. The warmer months include options for outdoor waterfront dining, swimming in the outdoor pool and at nearby New Buffalo Beach, and the complimentary use of bikes.

The resort is a perfect retreat after fat-tire biking, snowshoeing, hiking, or sledding on the nearby dunes, says Courtney KrullGraybeal, executive director of New Buffalo Explored. “And it’s just minutes from downtown New Buffalo’s shops, cafes, and restaurants, such as Lakeside Goods, David’s Delicatessen, and Postboy.”

Kemper also recommends experiencing the icy views and majestic sunsets you can only see when you’re winter beach-walking. “After a snowstorm, especially, you can see ice sculptures the storm left behind, and then come back for a hot toddy at Bentwood.”

Extra Easy: The resort is located three blocks from New Buffalo’s Amtrak station. In addition, guests can dock their boats at the nearby public transient marina, a few blocks away.

Plan It!

Marina Grand Resort marinagrandresort.com

New Buffalo Explored newbuffaloexplored.com/play

DISCOVERIES

Coolness Factor

The sport of curling spreads in popularity and access across the state

It’s like high-stakes shuffleboard using granite.” That’s how Scottish-American comedian and actor Craig Ferguson describes curling, and his description of the sport is pretty accurate. But no matter how you define it, curling has become a wintertime favorite across Michigan.

“COVID boosted interest in a lot of sports,” says Gary Lassila, president of

the Copper Country Curling Club (CCCC) in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, “but there’s a coolness quality to curling. People watch competitions, with the sliding stones and the sweeping brooms and the teammates yelling commands. And they say, ‘Oh, that’s crazy. I want to try it.’ ” (See related story, Tasting Room/Stormcloud, on page 80.)

Curling pits two teams of four at either

end of a 140-foot stretch of ice, called a sheet. Players take turns sliding 42-pound granite stones (more than 95 percent of which are crafted in Scotland) toward a target on the opposite end. Teams alternate shots with each team delivering eight stones. The team with the rock(s) closest to the “button” scores. If the three rocks closest to the button are all red, the red team scores

BY Amy S. Eckert

three points. Sweepers polish the ice ahead of a stone’s path with a broom, accelerating the stone’s movement and influencing its direction, improving its location, and, if all goes according to plan, knocking their player’s opponents’ stones out of play.

Curling was first mentioned in writing by a Scottish notary in 1541, making it the oldest team sport in the world. The pastime shows up in historic written documents, paintings, and even poetry — all linking the sport to Scotland, where players tossed stones across frozen lochs.

Curling became increasingly popular through the 18th and 19th centuries. Even Queen Victoria is recorded as having had a go in 1842, sending polished stones across a gleaming wooden floor before declaring the activity too strenuous for her delicate arm.

Perhaps the queen would have fared better had she tried curling on ice, as the sport was meant to be played. But CCCC’s Lassila warns that not just any ice will do when it comes to modern-day curling.

Despite the sport’s connection to natural waterways in Scotland, Calumet’s contemporary curlers wouldn’t consider playing on the ice of nearby Lake Superior, Slaughterhouse Creek, or Calumet Lake. Nor would they want to play on local hockey or figure skating venues that have been cut up by blades and repaired by Zambonis. To the naked eye that ice may look perfect, but even slight variations can ruin a game.

“If the ice is carved by skates or slanted even just a little, the rocks will find those imperfections and they’ll drift,” Lassila says.

Instead, curling enthusiasts insist on a dedicated rink that’s been carefully frozen and shaved by an ice technician, as is the ice at the CCCC. Perfectly frozen sheets ensure good conditions for members and attract distant clubs for competitions, called spiels.

The CCCC’s building is itself an attraction. The club occupies the Drill House, constructed in 1885 for the manufacture and maintenance of copper mining drills. A unique red-and-black exterior of Jacobsville sandstone and basalt houses an uninsulated interior space, allowing curlers the rare experience of playing indoors on unrefrigerated ice.

Calumet resident Tyler Hosking became intrigued by curling after watching broadcasts of the 2018 Winter Olympics, when the U.S. won its first gold medal in the sport. Hosking took a Learn to Curl class the following year at the CCCC and quickly became hooked. He’s been a member of the club and has played in various leagues ever since.

“Curling is really approachable,” Hosking says. “There’s not a lot of startup cost, because the club provides the stones and the brooms. You play in tennis shoes, so you don’t need to invest much money to try it. And there are different adaptations that people can do for curling, so teams can span a lot of generations.”

The CCCC’s 85-member roster ranges from high schoolers to 70-somethings, and it’s not uncommon to see the spectrum represented within a single team. Furthermore, while most players crouch deeply and slide into their delivery, league play allows the use of a stick to launch a stone — a plus for those with limited mobility.

“Being athletic certainly helps improve your curling,” Lassila says, “but you don’t have to be a super athlete. The biggest, strongest, and fastest isn’t necessarily going to be the best in curling.” Rather, the sport favors nuance and strategy.

The Copper Country Curling Club offers a unique playing venue, but would-be and experienced curlers can find opportunities for play across the state.

The Traverse City and Kalamazoo Curling clubs rank as two of the state’s

largest, each with five sheets of ice. Their facilities offer play for all ages and abilities, including those with physical disabilities, and each has hosted USA Curling National Championships.

The Lewiston and Greater Midland Curling clubs both date to the 1960s and provide two and four sheets of ice, respectively. Michigan’s oldest club — and one of the oldest in the nation — is the Detroit Curling Club in Ferndale, which traces its roots to 1885, back when Calumet’s Drill House was still a drill house. All clubs offer lessons.

Regardless of where curlers take to the ice, Tyler Hosking thinks they’ll discover within the sport an incredible sense of camaraderie.

“Curling is one of the most communitybased sports there is,” he says. “People are there to encourage and to help, whether you’re on their team or not. We all just really love curling and want to bring others in.”

Plan It!

sites.google.com/site/coppercountrycurlingclub tccurling.org kalamazoocurlingclub.com lewistoncurlingclub.com midlandcurls.org detroitcurlingclub.com

Both pages, clockwise from left: Curling may be one of the oldest team sports in the world, insiders say. At the Copper Country Curling Club in the Keweenaw Peninsula, throngs of curling enthusiasts take to the perfectly frozen ice. Smooth ice, shaved by technicians, is mandatory so dedicated curling rinks are a necessity. Here, a player bends deeply and slides into her delivery.

Frankfort Finery

Come winter, get to the Point!

Among the plentiful, beautiful lighthouses that decorate Michigan’s Great Lakes shorelines, Point Betsie, just north of Frankfort, consistently sits at the top of my list of favorites. The site is rich with history, starting with the origin of its name: the French phrase “Pointe Aux Bec Scies,” meaning Saw Beak Point or Point of Sawbill Ducks. Native Americans gave it this name as a nod to where sawbill or merganser ducks thrived. Meanwhile, complementing her history as a constant guiding light to mariners sailing Lake Michigan is her simple and serene sense of elegance.

The charming lighthouse, constructed in 1858 and situated along the northern shores of Lake Michigan, is located in an area of our state that can easily be equated to heaven on earth. A visit to Point Betsie when driving along the picturesque M-22 scenic byway is always a must! Surrounded by miles of the Betsie Dunes Nature Conservancy, her beautiful grounds include lilac bushes and her shore is rich with rocks — a rockhound’s paradise!

Although the grounds are lush with greenery during the warmer months, winter at Point Betsie offers a special beauty. Her transformation during the colder months is a type of magic. Tree branches become gloriously

glazed in ice and sparkle like diamonds. When the branches and the waters off the shoreline are coated in ice, Point Betsie becomes a frozen wonderland.

There’s something truly special about this Michigan treasure when it’s dressed in winter’s essence. The ice contrasts brilliantly with the hue of the water, especially when the sunlight is filtered through a perfect array of cloud cover. These conditions were present on the evening I captured this image last February. I used my Nikon Z8 camera body and my Nikkor Z 24-200mm lens to preserve the scene, with the goal of getting light that reveals itself through the moody clouds and casts shades of pink on the ice.

The original 1858 lighthouse, keeper’s residence, fog signal building, and Boathouse Museum are open to the public. The lighthouse is open every day from mid-May through mid-October, except for Tuesdays. During May, September, and October, the lighthouse is closed on Wednesdays. The lighthouse opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. On Sundays, it’s open noon-5 p.m.

Sarah Goodwin, of Spring Lake, is a photo ambassador for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. She owns SG Captures and sells her work on Etsy/SG Captures. Follow her on Instagram at @sg.captures.

TEXT AND PHOTO BY Sarah Goodwin

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