Book
Keweenaw's Explorer Blog

February 2025 | 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: 

Winter Events Bring Visitors to Town

The Keweenaw is known for its staple winter events like Winter Carnival and Jibba Jabba. Hancock stepped up its winter lineup – introducing the Snow Sculpting Invitational, attracting national teams to compete in town. Through intense February snowfall, these events shined bright like stars – bringing people to downtown Houghton and Hancock – boosting the winter economy. Winter Carnival saw incredible weather, making snow statues look pristine for weeks after the competition and Hancock’s invitational carried on the sculpting creativity.

Jibba Jabba saw Red Bull come in with additional sponsorship dollars to award riders for the “Best Stomp” of the evening. This new debut was the first “Best Stomp” in snow sports by Red Bull, awarding the cleanest, most insane trick landings of the night. Red Bull brought $1,500, and the event already gives out a cash prize of $1,000 to the top male and female competitors of the night.

Thousands of people attended, filling Huron Street from Shelden Avenue to the Portage Canal. The energy was phenomenal, with professional riders hitting the snow course in Houghton. Visit Keweenaw is a proud sponsor of Jibba Jabba with the City of Houghton and Jenn and Dustin Reed of Minnie Farms.

snowboarder hits a jump in view of a crowd
Jibba Jabba Rail Jam brought big energy and even bigger crowds to downtown Houghton.

Hancock Snow Sculpting Invitational Debuts With Big Snow, Detailed Statues

The Hancock Snow Sculpting Invitational made its debut on Quincy Street, turning downtown into a frozen art gallery. The invitational called for detailed and impressive statues to be built over three days in Hancock. It filled the February event lineup this year between Jibba Jabba and the CopperDog 150, but Hancock says its intention is to move this event to Heikinpaiva in 2026. 

Visit Keweenaw proudly sponsors the Hancock Snow Sculpting Invitational. It hosted two professional national teams (Sculptora Borealis & Team USA), TKE and St. Albert’s The Great (Ice Mass Creators) to face off in Hancock. Sculptora’s team took first place, winning $1,500. Team USA took second, going home with $750.

three people put finishing touches on a snow sculpture of a roman helmet pierced by a sword
First Place winners, Sculptora Borealis, put finishing touches on their snow sculpture.

New Minimum Wage and Earned Sick Leave Laws for Michigan Businesses

Michigan has recently enacted significant updates to both its Earned Sick Leave Act and Minimum Wage laws under legislation signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on February 21, 2025. These changes will impact many local Keweenaw businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Employers are encouraged to review and update their sick leave policies to ensure compliance with the amended ESTA. The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity will provide further guidance and required postings to assist in this transition. Details on both laws as well as future relevant training can be found at mrla.org. 

Visit Keweenaw Seeks Destination Development Fund Applications

Visit Keweenaw is accepting applications for its Destination Development Fund! This grant program is designed to support projects that enhance the visitor experience, improve outdoor recreation opportunities, and strengthen tourism-related infrastructure in the Keweenaw. Whether it’s a trail improvement, wayfinding signage or a public space enhancement, we want to hear from you! If you have a project that aligns with our mission to make the Keweenaw an even more welcoming and exciting place to explore, this is your chance to bring it to life.

Funding is available for nonprofit organizations operating in Houghton or Keweenaw County, and to local municipalities. Businesses can help provide insight and ideas to applications, and can support them financially. However, businesses are ineligible to apply for funding. Past projects have included trail construction, historical interpretation signs and outdoor seating installations. Applications are open now – and Visit Keweenaw encourages interested applicants to review the guidelines and apply soon!

If you have any questions about the Destination Development Fund, please review its online page and application or email bbarnett@visitkeweenaw.com. 

Two New Businesses Open in the Keweenaw: Cliff View Bar and La Catrina Mexican Restaurant

La Catrina will now be one of the first dining options folks see if they’re coming from the eastern Upper Peninsula into Houghton. The popular Mexican restaurant running in Marquette just opened a second location on US-41 before Tech Campus near the Nara Nature Park. It’s near the Pilgrim River, offering a gorgeous and quiet location to grab a delicious bite to eat. 

A beloved establishment also opened its doors this week. The Cliff View Bar on US-41 is a great place to stop in between Calumet and Copper Harbor. It was purchased and reopened by Mike Lamotte, owner of Fitzgerald’s. It’s right on the snowmobile and has great views of the Cliff Range near Cliff Drive. Stop in and see all the wonderful updates to the space and updated menu.

two people stand on the porch of a snow laden small town bar
A Keweenaw classic comes back to life with more than a few new twists!

Keweenaw Snow-Venture Press Trip Wows Local Partners, Inspires Travel Media

In February Visit Keweenaw hosted nine travel media professionals in the Keweenaw for its first ever group press trip dubbed: The Keweenaw Snow-Venture. Visit Keweenaw staff put on a full tour of the Keweenaw, from picking people up from the Houghton County Memorial Airport, to a reception at the Observatory Lounge and outdoor activities – we showed people the best of the Keweenaw. 

Visit Keweenaw brings travel writers to the area with a goal that they help us tell the story of the Keweenaw as a destination for tourism. The Snow-Venture spanned four days, allowing for people to fully immerse in winter activities, cozy culture of downtowns and dining all with big snow! Visit Keweenaw has received positive feedback from community partners and attendees about the Snow-Venture. Stay tuned for more opportunities to collaborate with Visit Keweenaw’s efforts in the realm of media.

These writers were vetted through an application process to make sure they align with the values of Visit Keweenaw and the type of traveler we want to attract (responsible/sustainable recreation). Folks flew in from Florida, Oklahoma, Utah and across the Midwest to experience the Keweenaw as a snow powder Mecca. In fact, Visit Keweenaw simultaneously hosted a German journalist flying in from Berlin. Many had never been to Michigan, let alone Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Visit Keweenaw worked diligently to welcome them to the area and make sure they were having a comfortable and enjoyable experience in the snow.

Media folks were able to tour and use facilities like the Quincy Mine, MTU Tech Trails, Takka Saunas, Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Mount Bohemia Ski Resort. Attendees went to Jibba Jabba and got to see the Keweenaw’s snowboard culture. One writer, Gentry Hale, already published a piece from the visit with Snowboard Magazine.

people look on thoughtful towards a speaker
Pure Michigan Vice President Kelly Wolgamott shared a warm welcome during the Snow-Venture opener at The Observatory Lounge.

Snowfall Totals Blaze Past Last Year - More to Fall

The Keweenaw Snow Gauge off US-41 in Mohawk is trying to keep up with this year’s snowfall. Reports show the Keweenaw is up to 239.25 inches for the season. An average winter is between 240-270 inches. Given how much of the season is left, any further snow is a great boost for winter enthusiasts. Last year – the season totaled 153.25 inches by April 4th. 

Ramping up for winter events, the snow base will perform well for the CopperDog 150 Feb. 28-March 2, sending dog sled teams hundreds of miles for victory in the Keweenaw. Snow offerings are plentiful in Copper Harbor, with cross-country skiing taking off around Fort Wilkins and the End of the Road Trails are becoming popular in the endless powder. 

Stay warm here this winter and remember – the Keweenaw usually gets snow until April. Be aware, the CopperDog 150 uses snowmobile trails and the teams will be going 5-15 miles per hour.

For more details on the current conditions of the Keweenaw, always check our Trails Report!

CopperDog 150 Takes Off in Calumet This Weekend

Get ready for the CopperDog 150! It’s back in action and our winter weather is better than ever. After the full races were canceled last year, folks are READY for the CopperDog. Join the fun Friday night in Calumet on Fifth Street as all the mushers get in line to begin their race. Go along the sidelines and find your perfect spot to see it all.

Visit Keweenaw is volunteering at a crossing point on Friday night in Calumet. Volunteering is a great way to watch the race, and show your support for CopperDog!

CopperDog150
Don't miss the kick-off night in Calumet!

MAHA Hockey Tourney Comes to Calumet

This weekend Calumet will host the 2025 Youth 14U AA Tier II Hockey Tournament. Teams from across the state will travel to the Copper Country to vie for statewide ice supremacy and compete against Calumet’s Bantam AA squad. The tournament launches on Friday February 28th at 10 am at the Calumet Colosseum with the finals scheduled for Sunday, March 2 at 4 pm. For a detailed schedule, visit the Michigan Amateur Hockey Association website.  

Keweenaw Hosts Michigan High School Nordic State Championship  

The Copper Country Ski Tigers will be hosting the 2025 Michigan Nordic Ski Championship for middle and high school skiers at the Michigan Tech Trails and Swedetown Trails. February 28-March 2, 2025. Thanks to reliable snowfall and excellent grooming, the Keweenaw will attract the state’s top Nordic skiers this weekend. For a full schedule, visit the NordicSkiRacer website. 

Spring Deals, Share Yours With Us!

Alright, lodging partners—last year, we got some solid hits by pushing out spring break and early spring deals right about this time. People are looking ahead, and we know a well-placed deal can tip the scales on their travel plans. So, if you’ve got a spring special, an early booking discount, or some kind of Keweenaw-themed package up your sleeve, now’s the time to let us know!

Submit Spring (or summer!) deals and discounts here. 

Shoot us your deals, and we’ll help get the word out through press releases, email newsletters, and premium placement on our Deals & Discounts page! Let’s make sure spring travelers have a reason to book a stay in the Keweenaw! We have a page ready to go on our website and will be promoting anything we find out about in our spring marketing efforts.

In the Headlines