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Keweenaw's Explorer Blog

August 2024 | Industry Newsletter

The Keweenaw’s visitor economy plays a vital role in our region’s quality of life and future prosperity. To keep local leaders and stakeholders current on issues impacting the industry, Visit Keweenaw created this monthly newsletter to share information on topics such as economic trends, destination and community investments, and other pertinent news.

We hope you find this a valuable resource to stay up to date on the Keweenaw’s visitor economy and encourage you to share it with parties you think would benefit from the information. As always, we look forward to sharing what makes the Keweenaw a special community to both live in and visit.

Within this newsletter, you'll find: 

Summer Economy Update into Fall 

With Labor Day Weekend in the rearview mirror, the traditional Keweenaw summer travel season has come to a close. By all reports, the summer was a busy one for the region. Kicked off by a robust June, early reports suggest that overall travel fell just short of last summer’s numbers. While not a complete return to pre-pandemic visitation levels, we did see the visitation growth trajectory level off. 

According to a recent study by the University of Michigan’s Economic Growth Institute, the typical overnight summer Keweenaw visitor spends between $360 and $440 per trip. Predominantly from the Midwest, visitors flock to the Keweenaw to enjoy the outdoors through activities such as hiking, waterfall viewing and beach going. Nearly 40% of all visitors to the Keweenaw come during the months of June, July and August making the period critical to many local businesses. This period is also distinct in that we see more young families visit the area compared to other times of the year like winter and fall.

The next few weeks offer a brief reprieve before the Keweenaw gears up for the fall visitor season. While fleeting, autumn is perhaps the busiest time of year for the Keweenaw’s visitor economy thanks to an influx of leaf peepers, university events, and outdoor enthusiasts seeking to connect with nature before the snow flies. Based on advanced reservation data, the prospect of a strong fall visitor season is high.

20th Pasty Fest Pulls Thousands to Calumet for Hot Pies and Medieval Times

Pasty Fest 2024 on Aug. 17 brought Calumet to life with a celebration of Cornish tradition drawing around three thousand folks to 5th Street for a taste of pasties and a dose of Calumet culture. The festival celebrated its 20th year, immersing ketchup and gravy lovers in medieval-themed activities. Two LARP groups set up encampments, hosting archery games, battles and even escorting participants to the stocks for mock executions.

This year, the demand for pasties appeared to be at an all-time high. The Mohawk Superette, which placed 2nd in the Pasty Bake Off behind first-place East Fork Pasty Co., reported some impressive sales figures. In a Facebook post, the Superette says it sold 1,040 pasties the Tuesday leading up to the event, 1,050 on Friday and a staggering 1,150 on Pasty Fest Saturday during the four-hour festival. With nine vendors participating in the bake off, each pasty vendor could also bring up to a thousand or so pasties to vend during the day.

Visit Keweenaw ran a Pasty Pull for the second year sponsoring a $500 cash prize for first place. This is a truck pulling contest where folks pull a truck down Oak Street in Calumet loaded with Pasty Fest vegetable ingredient mascots.

Pasty Fest 2024 was a great success, continuing its growth as a vital fundraiser for Main Street Calumet. Stay tuned for more details on Pasty Fest 2025!

two figures costumed in medieval garb mock fight with swords
A Houghton-Hancock LARP group demonstrated battles on 5th Street in Calumet. (Lily Venable)

Laurium Manor Inn Celebrates Ranking in Newsweek’s Best Historical B&B Contest

The Laurium Manor Inn has proudly secured third place in Newsweek.com’s prestigious Best Historical B&B Contest. This marks a significant achievement for Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula copper story. The Laurium Manor Inn, a mining-era gem, with its distinctive white tile porch and exotic elephant hide walls, stood out among some of the most esteemed historical inns across the country. That includes Ludington’s Cartier Mansion, which took first.

“When mining magnate Thomas Hoatson Jr. built Laurium Manor for his wife, Cornelia, in 1908, the four-story residence stood as the largest, most splendid on Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. The 45-room mansion became a bread and breakfast in 1989, retaining many of its unique features, such as the silver-leaf domed parlor ceiling, elephant leather wall coverings and hand-carved oak triple staircase. It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.” – Newsweek.

Laurium Manor Inn’s achievement underscores the value of the Keweenaw Peninsula’s rich mining history and the dedication of those who have preserved this magnificent property. The inn continues to offer guests an immersive experience, complete with self-guided audio tours and a renowned homemade breakfast, ensuring that its story lives on.

exterior side view of the laurium manor inn
Laurium Manor Inn pictured this summer.

Upper Peninsula Accessibility Summit: One Month Away

With the Upper Peninsula Accessibility Summit (UPAS) fast approaching, the time to secure your space is now. Set to take place on Sept. 26-27 at Michigan Technological University, this first-of-its-kind event is a must-attend for anyone committed to making the Keweenaw – and the broader UP – accessible to all.

Hosted by the Accessible Keweenaw Initiative (AKI), UPAS offers a premiere opportunity for individuals, businesses, organizations and community leaders to gain actionable insights on creating inclusive recreation opportunities. Whether it’s wheelchair-friendly entrances to downtown businesses, more adaptive equipment at sites or broader infrastructure, the summit will equip attendees with the knowledge, tools and strategies needed to make a tangible impact.

If you have a stake in accessibility in the U.P., you need to be at UPAS. Whether you’re a business leader, government official or a passionate advocate, we’ll have a seat for you at the table to be part of the solution.

a figure using mobility aids walks down a ramp towards a lake
McLain State Park is a perfect example of a park taking steps toward accessibility.

Fall Tour Alert: 15% Discount on Seaplane Color Tours for UP College Students

Isle Royale Seaplanes is offering fall color tours from its new home in Lake Linden. You can book a flight from Sept. 26 through Oct. 13. Isle Royale Seaplanes is offering a 15% discount for UP college students, which makes the service a great recommendation to traveling families with MTU students. Flying is a really incredible way for folks to see much of the Keweenaw’s unique geology over the half-hour flight.

Isle Royale Seaplanes has moved to Lake Linden. You can tell guests to go to stores like Lindell’s or grab a bite to eat at The Drive Thru Depot or The Loading Zone II on their way to or from the seaplanes.

Hundreds of Mountain Bikers to Pedal Northern Michigan Wilderness Labor Day Weekend: Over three decades of Trails Fest

Labor Day weekend, hundreds of mountain bikers rode the Northern Michigan wilderness. The Copper Harbor Trails Fest, a beloved annual event, brought folks north to check the trail system that gets upgraded every year. Classic XC bike races as well as Downhill, Enduros, and more took place over Labor Day weekend. Entering its 31st year, Trails Fest kicked off on Friday, August 30 with a Farm & Field Day and a family ride in Copper Harbor. Lake Effect Farm brought veggies and yoga to town. 

That Saturday, the big XC race started in downtown Copper Harbor at 10 a.m. The Junior Mountain Bike race took place on the Orchard Trail, one of Copper Harbor’s newest additions funded partially by Visit Keweenaw. Evening music and a raffle for a chance at $30,000+ in prizes like campers, bike frames and other outdoor recreational goodies entertained the riders and visitors in Copper Harbor!

 Go to the Copper Harbor Trails Club website for more information on Trails Fest and all things mountain biking in Copper Harbor.

VK Community Involvement

Visit Keweenaw recently presented to the Hancock Rotary Club about its vital role in the region. This presentation is a good practice of professional development and helping more community members understand what Visit Keweenaw does. The opportunities often lead to more organizational connections.

Just a couple weeks later, Hancock Rotary helped Visit Keweenaw staff a photo shoot including the Houghton Pier, Quincy Mine, McLain State Park and Brockway Mountain Drive to show off transportation logistics in the area. Visit Keweenaw wants to help be ready to assist cruise, bus and regional tour industries that could connect routes with the Keweenaw. Our destination has a lot of unique experiences to offer and with some planning, can pull off large scale tours of popular attractions.

UP Dark Sky Festival Planning Begins: Tickets On Sale Soon

Planning is underway for the 3rd Annual Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival. In the course of three years, the festival has taken off and continued to grow each year in terms of opportunities for attendees and the presenting speakers. 

Last year, Visit Keweenaw facilitated an additional tour of the neighboring Calumet Air Force Station, the Keweenaw’s highest natural point. Additionally, a “History on the Rocks” was organized at the Mariner North in collaboration with the Keweenaw National Historical Park to give attendees a deeper dive into Keweenaw culture and history at a nearby business.

More details will be announced soon about speakers, programming and additional 2025 activities in coming months. Tickets are set to go on sale in the beginning of October for stargazers already longing to re-attend the festival.

The Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival is a collaboration between the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park, and Visit Keweenaw. The event celebrates dark skies in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and brings folks into the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park in Copper Harbor. Around 50-70 people can attend and it boosts activity in the area during a quieter time of year. Astrotourism is a growing trend and the Keweenaw is a best place in the lower 48 states to stargaze and learn about dark skies.

two people peer through a telescope at night
Dave Faulkner, a NASA Ambassador, attended in 2024 and gave guided telescope viewings in the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park. (Chris Guibert)

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