UP NORTH

Up North. PEOPLE | NATURE | ARTS | NOSTALGIA | BUZZ | WISDOM | CURIOSITIES

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL

by CARLY SIMPSON

Dan McDonough, a ninetime world champion log roller and the owner of Jack Pine Lumberjack Shows in Mackinaw City, carries on the traditions of Michigan’s mighty loggers.

Audience members divided into rival logging camps—the Mill Creek camp versus the Mackinaw City camp—cheer wildly as lumberjacks scale cedar poles, race across floating logs and send wood chips flying. In the center of it all is Dan McDonough, hyping up the crowd and sharing the history of Michigan’s logging industry.

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“People did this for a living, and lumbering was a dangerous job,” Dan says. “There was a good chance on a river drive you could be killed. If you made one slip and fell in the water, you were going to get crushed or drown … All of the events we do evolved from skills lumberjacks had to master to survive.”

Dan started Jack Pine Lumberjack Shows in 2008 after a career of building log cabins and competing in shows across the world, from Australia to Alaska. In his hometown of Escanaba, log rolling was like playing baseball. Growing up, Dan and his friends would roll in Little Bay de Noc, and were looked up to by their peers in the city’s youth program. “When they got good down at the city program, they’d come roll with us,” Dan says with a hint of pride. He started competing at age 11.

Dan, now 61, teaches about a dozen local kids in Mackinaw City each summer, and Jack Pine audience members are welcome to join. “Some families come up every year,” he says. “Their kids roll a couple of times while they’re camping; it’s a part of their vacation.”

The Jack Pine Lumberjack Shows are a family tradition, too. Some people have returned year after year for more than a decade. They know the lumberjacks by name and have a fierce loyalty to their logging camp. The shows draw a crowd, with more than 500 people filling the grandstand some days. The cheering can be heard three miles away, Dan says (his neighbors don’t mind). “I always tell people if you don’t cheer you have to log roll, and in 14 years we’ve never had anyone roll,” he says with a laugh. “It’s just good family fun.”

After each show, everyone is invited down to talk with the lumberjacks, ask questions, get an autograph and take home a wood chip as a souvenir. “People will come up and say, ‘Oh, my grandfather worked at a logging camp’ or ‘My grandma cooked at one.’ It’s woven into people’s lives. They’ve heard those stories before,” Dan says. “Keeping the sport alive is important to me; it’s a part of Americana.” jackpinelumberjackshows.com

Up North Kids & Family

OLD-SCHOOL SUMMER FUN

by CARLY SIMPSON

Chasing fairies, crafting in nature, paddling a pristine river—these three simplepleasure family outings will stoke your nostalgia and leave your little people smiling.

PADDLE FOR PUDDING

Crystal River

Glen Arbor’s first food truck, Fried, started slinging falafel and fried fish this summer along with chicken tenders and grilled cheese for kids. The real fan favorite, however, is the chocolate pudding. It’s downright decadent. Located between Crystal River Outfitters and Riverfront Deli, the food truck lot has several picnic tables so you can eat by the lazily flowing Crystal River, which we suggest you kayak first. You’ll start and end your adventure at the newly rebuilt Crystal River Outfitters, which reopened this spring after a fire last August. The 4.5-mile paddle takes from two to three hours to complete, and “shooting the tube”— a culvert large enough for you and your kayak to fit through—is always a thrill.

top photo by Angela Brown // right photo by Allison Jarrell

CREATE ART OUTDOORS

Michigan Legacy Art Park at Crystal Mountain is offering drop-in art activities on Saturdays and select Sundays all summer long. Press wildflowers, write nature haikus, make a pine cone mobile and more. The mobiles can be taken home or added to the park’s large-scale community project called “The Pine Cone Forest” that will be on display through the fall. Art activities are free with paid admission (adults $5, children free). No reservations required.

HUNT FOR FAIRIES

Tiny doors have been popping up around downtown Charlevoix. Gnome homes? Or fairy apartments perhaps? The 13 magical doors, with more to come from artist Kristi Jenkins, are hidden inside local shops. Go on a scavenger hunt and see how many you can find. The list of shops is online at charlevoixmi.gov. Search “tiny doors.”

Fried Food Truck

Up North Biz News

photo by Carly Simpson

NEW UP NORTH

Cool finds, community updates and sweet new businesses.

AMY KATE DESIGNS & GOLDEN HILL FARMS

131 RIVER ST., ELK RAPIDS This gift, home and garden shop offers the likes of beeswax candles, potted plants and beautiful florals. The shop is run by the talented team at Amy Kate Designs, a boutique for floral design and events. amykatedesigns.com

CAPITAL DOG

106 ST. MARY’S ST., LAKE LEELANAU Serving hot dogs, slow-roasted pork and ice cream. Look for the white building with a black awning; if the stoplight on the side is green, they’re open. facebook.com/CapitalDogLeelanau

ETERNAL WELLNESS SPA

400 W. FRONT ST., SUITE 200, TRAVERSE CITY A downtown medspa above North Peak Brewing Company offering a wide variety of services and aesthetic medicine procedures. eternalwellnessmedicalspa.co

QUIET MOOSE SECOND HOME

305 E. MITCHELL ST., PETOSKEY The Quiet Moose, a full-service interior design studio and furniture store in downtown Petoskey, opened a second location across the street to expand its selection of indoor and outdoor goods and décor. quietmoose.com

ROUGH PONY

144 HALL ST., SUITE 100, TRAVERSE CITY A cash-only coffee and juice bar inside the Warehouse MRKT with fresh bagels from Bubbie’s. Hours and menu posted on Instagram @roughpony.

Know of a business that just opened or have a fun community update? Let us know at editorial@traversemagazine.com.

BUS I NESS HIGHL I GHT

HUNGRY DUCKS FARM

4580 M-66 N (AT SHAW ROAD), CHARLEVOIX

Cuddle goats, feed sheep, take a hay ride (watch out for bigfoot), spin on the carousel, fish in the trout pond and don’t miss the model trains in the museum. And that’s just the start of the fun. Hungry Ducks Farm is Charlevoix’s newest family-friendly destination and it’s a doozy. The petting farm has barns to explore, a gift shop with a massive museum filled with antique toys and a pavilion for when you need a picnic lunch break. QR codes throughout the property share fun facts about the many animals that call the farm home—cattle, rabbits, peacocks, potbellied pigs and more. There are also special events like Love a Llama Weekend and “Not a Goat” Rodeo Day (think goat yoga, costume contests, crafts). A wrist band gets you unlimited rides, access to each interactive petting farm area and admission to the museum ($12 for adults; $8 ages 1–12; free under 1). Charlevoix County residents and employees get 50 percent off. –C.S.