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NEWBERRY
POINTS
OF
INTEREST
Tahquamenon Logging Museum and Nature Study Area. Good displays of local history in the farmhouse, many logging tools, a CCC museum, and a beautiful interpretive nature trail to a scenic Tahquamenon River overlook make this a choice place to stop ...
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Luce County Historical Museum. The museum is in the ornate 1894 sheriff's house and jail. Among the collections of hats and buttons, the old-fashioned kitchen and bedroom displays are maps and a few artifacts from an important archaeological discovery on Whitefish Bay. The jail cell, an ideal photo-op, thrills kids. ...
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Canoeing the Tahquamenon. Rent a canoe at a local livery and take a beautiful, tranquil two-hour trip from the Dollarville Dam to Newberry. There's also good fishing for pike, muskie, walleye, and panfish ...
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Region: Tahquamenon & Seney, Grand Marais & Whitefish Point
NEWBERRY
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 | | The Newberry Correctional Facility, formerly the U.P.’s state psychiatric hospital, is far and away the area’s most important employer. When Michigan’s Republican legislature put it on the budget-cutting block and opted to save a less efficient facility in West Michigan, the local Ford dealer organized a vocal, wide-ranging “Save Newberry” campaign. Its power surprised downstate political people who don’t expect many problems from the U.P. With only 300,000 people, the U.P. has only 4 state representatives and 1 ˝ state senators. | This old lumber town of about 2,600 is the only town of any size for 60 mines. Newberry was processing lumber from surrounding camps as early as the Civil War. Unlike lumber boom towns like Flint, Saginaw, Muskegon, or Menominee/Marinette, Newberry didn't have the capital to develop into a manufacturing center. State institutions, aggressively sought by local civic leaders, have kept the town afloat – first a mental hospital, then a prison. The local forest products industry has been able to survive into the present day because of the variety of tree species in the Tahquamenon basin.
 | | Newberry is a village of simple pleasures: woods, fishing, walks and bike rides, meeting friends at church or out at places like The Scoop on the south side on M-123. | Newberry village was founded by men who had built a railroad in the 1870s from St. Ignace to the Marquette Iron Range, connecting the Lower Peninsula railroad being built north up to the Straits of Mackinac. Here they built the Vulcan Furnace Company to make charcoal iron. Vice-president John S. Newberry named the main streets after family members (Newberry, Truman, Helen, Parmalee, John, etc.), none of whom ever lived here. Rising Republican politicians Truman Newberry and James McMillan, soon to become U.S. senators, were honored with especially prominent streets. The charcoal iron plant lasted until 1945.
Newberry's low point occurred when the big state psychiatric hospital south of downtown, which at its peak housed some 1,800 patients, was shut down in 1990. The stately, impressive Georgian-style campus of cottages and a hospital covered 900 park-like acres on M-123 on the south side of town. After the state closed the sprawling facility, jokes one local, "you could stand on our main street, throw a rock, and not have a chance of hitting a soul."
The community's economic blow after the hospital closed was greatly softened when, in 1995, the west part of the hospital site was used to build the Newberry Correctional Facility, a medium-security state prison. The facility houses 930 prisoners and has a staff of over 300, adding $28 million a year to the local economy. (It costs $30,000 to incarcerate one prisoner for a year.) Rolls of glinting silver razor wire top the prison's 16-foot perimeter fences, creating a less than heartwarming visual entrance into town.
Another economic boost is the impressive Louisiana Pacific plant just southeast of town. Using state-of-the-art pollution controls, the plant's 125 employees use Canadian spruce to make 100 million board feet a day of exterior siding. Yet another boon has been the surge in snowmobiling, turning the winter doldrums here into a beehive of activity, with many motels filled to capacity on weekends. Newberry has become the principal lodging center serving Tahquamenon Falls, which draws up to 750,000 visitors a year.
In a county without a stoplight (Luce County has only 7.7 people per square mile), Newberry is the only place between Sault Ste. Marie on the east and Manistique or Munising on the west where you'll find a fast-food chain like Pizza Hut. The far-flung Tahquamenon Area Schools may spend a larger percentage of its annual budget for transportation than any other school district east of the Mississippi.
Downtown specialty stores aimed at visitors and cottage owners come and go. But the Tahqua-Land Theater at 210 S. Newberry/M-123 has been something of a hidden gem, reopened in 2001. First-run movies are shown nightly at 7 and 9 p.m. Call (906) 293-3372 for what's playing. Once inside, you'll be amazed at the very large and colorful murals, original to the 1920s theater, depicting scenes from Greek myths: Cupid and Psyche, Daphnis and Chloe, and more. Owner Fred Dunkeld single-handedly funded the restoration, down to the gold leaf. To see them online, visit www.newberrychamber.net Another exciting development is the sale of the 1915 Falls Hotel, a three-story brick downtown landmark. Its new owners plan to renovate the building and start a restaurant.
Back to Tahquamenon & Seney, Grand Marais & Whitefish Point
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NEWBERRY
RESTAURANTS,
LODGINGS
& CAMPGROUNDS
These are our choices, not ads.
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NEWBERRY
RESTAURANTS
See also: Tahquamenon Falls State Park, Curtis, Seney, Eckerman, Bay Mills.
TIMBER CHARLIE'S FOOD ‘N' SPIRITS
(906) 293-3363
This is a quite popular spot, consistently recommended. New owners took over in April, 2005. Timber Charlie's has evolved from a bar and grill into a full-service restaurant with a big menu ranging from steaks and lobster to Italian, Mexican, pasties, whitefish battered or broiled, and meal-size salads like grilled chicken salad. Now breakfast has been added. Knotty pine walls, a terrazzo floor, ruffled curtains and mounted animal heads give the place its old-timey character, carried over by a menu with a lumberjack's glossary of food terms ("Irish apples" are potatoes, "biscuit shooter" is a waitress). There's an extensive gift shop, too, open when it's busy or upon request. Timber Charlie's is known for BBQ baby-back ribs ($11 and $14 at dinner in 2001). Dinners ($8 to $18 in 2001) include potato and salad. Soups are a specialty: four a day, always including French onion and a tasty, meaty vegetable beef soup. Around $3 buys a crock of soup, along with a roll, crackers, and a pickle – enough for a meal. There's a large side parking lot right next to a busy snowmobile trail.
110 Newberry Ave./M-123 at the north end of downtown, by the tracks. Open daily including Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at least, to 10 or 11 weekends. Handicap accessible. Full bar.
PIZZA PLACE
(906) 293-5551
In addition to very good pizza, Pizza Place has a spiffy eat-in dining area and patio that take advantage of the good hillcrest view. Among the specialty pizzas, chicken fajita with roasted peppers, onions, bacon, and olives is a standout. There's a dessert pizza: apples, cherries, etc. on a cinnamon crust. Non-pizza menu items include fettucine and spaghetti, chicken strips and subs. Delivery available. No smoking anywhere on the premises.
On the west side of M-123/S. Newberry Ave. as it enters town from the south. It sits back from the road up on a hill. Look for the penguin on the sign. Open daily, spring through fall 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., 4 to 11 p.m. in winter. Handicap accessible. Family friendly. No alcohol. 4-11 in winter.
ZELLAR’S VILLAGE INN
293-5114
Zellar’s is another popular Newberry gathering place. It does everything from hearty breakfasts to Mexican, hot dogs to prime rib, homemade pies and pizza, buffets, and dancing with DJs and occasional live music in its lounge. There’s no smoking in the dining room, only the bar. Daily lunch specials were $7 in 2001. Daily dinner specials are currently pork chops (Mon.), spaghetti (Wed.), liver and onions (Thurs.), fresh fish (Fri.) and prime rib (Sat.). A breakfast buffet is on weekends. Friday fish fry ($11 in 2001) has fresh fish when available. Prime rib on Saturday prime rib was $13.
7552 Hwy. M-123 at the bottom of the hill from M-28. Connected with Zellar’s Village Inn on the east side of South M-123. Open daily 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. Handicap accessible. Family friendly. Full bar.
ELKS' CLUB
(906) 293-8321
A popular local institution is the Friday night all-you-can-eat fish fry at the Elks' Club, with whitefish and menominee dinners.
It's downtown at 109 Newberry Ave./M-123, across the street from Timber Charlie's. The fish fry starts at 4:30 and lasts until 8 or so.
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NEWBERRY
LODGINGS
Newberry is 25 miles from Tahquamenon Falls. It makes a convenient hub for day trips through the wilderness on the Toonerville Trolley, to Seney National Wildlife Refuge, the Two Hearted River Mouth, and the Grand Marais end of Pictured Rocks. As the area's only town, it offers way more services (groceries, late dinners, laundry) than other area lodging choices.
See also: Paradise, Hulbert, Trout Lake, and Bay Mills. Motels are arranged from in-town to beyond.
ZELLAR'S VILLAGE INN
(906) 293-5114; www.superiorsights.com/lodging/zellars
Zellar's Village Inn (906) 293-5114; superiorsights.com/lodging/zellars For people who want everything under one roof — a motel, a competent restaurant, Z's Lounge with darts and, on weekends, dancing, this popular local gathering place is the right choice. Guests can use the indoor pool at the adjacent Super 8, owned by the Zellar family. The motel has 20 units plus 2 duplexes on one floor. Rooms ($55/night for 2 in summer) are pleasant. Wireless internet. If quiet means a lot, ask for rooms away from Z's Lounge, especially weekends. There's room in back to walk dogs. Not far from the in-town street system, a plus for walkers and joggers. Non-smoking available.
March, 2008
On east side of M-123 at the south edge of town. Some ADA accessible rooms. Children under 12 free. $10/extra person. Dogs: $10/day in all rooms..
SUPER 8 of NEWBERRY
(906) 293-5114; superiorsights.com/super8/
The Zellar family's newer motel, 32 rooms on two floors, is behind their Village Inn restaurant and bar, not far from in-town streets and sidewalks. There's a lobby with a two-story fireplace, and a good-size indoor pool with hot tub. Standard rooms for 2 with 2 queens: $89/night in summer, $59 in late fall. Ask about large suites with kitchenettes and living areas, for $135/night. Light continental breakfast with fruit, cereal, more. Wireless internet thoughout. March, 2008
On M-123 at the south edge of town. Some ADA accessible rooms. Families: under 12 free. $10/extra person. No pets.
GATEWAY MOTEL
(906) 293-5651; superiorsights.com/gateway
Each of the 11 pleasant rooms in this single-story motel is individually furnished with books to read, a rocking chair, and prints and paintings of natural subjects. Wood carvings decorate the exterior: a largemouth bass, eagle with fish, snowmobiler, hummingbird, logging truck, and more. Rooms have either one queen or king ($54 for 2 in season) or 2 queens ($62). 2 smoking rooms. Ask about low off-season rates. March, 2008
7885 M-123, west side of road, 1/4 mile south of central Newberry. Handicap access: call. Children under 12 free; $4/extra adult. Dogs: call
AMERICA'S BEST VALUE INN NEWBERRY (formerly Best Western)
(906) 293-4000; americasbestvalueinn.com/bestv.cfm?idp
Newberry's biggest hotel (66 rooms on 2 stories) hotel has an indoor pool, sauna and whirlpool. Rooms have either1 bed (king or queen) or 2 queens. Summer rates: $99 for standard rooms, $150 for a 1 BR suite (sleeps 4) with microwave, refrigerator, cooktop. The 2 BR suite that sleeps 6 is $197. Off-season rates are substantially less. There's a free continental breakfast. Wireless internet in all rooms. March, 2008
South of Newberry at 12956 M-28, a mile east of M-123. Some rooms ADA accessible. Age 12 & under free. One pet room.
THE MACLEOD HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST
(906) 293-3841; macleodhouse.net
When a bank expansion threatened to destroy one of Newberry's landmark homes, Cheryl and Frank Cicala moved the house out to a pretty rural location not far from town. They restored it and fashioned a third-floor apartment for themselves. The house was built in 1898 by Donald MacLeod, who owned a lumberyard and hotel. It has the big front porch that's a hallmark of the Queen Anne style, and two side porches as well. Period details are in excellent condition: parquet floors in four woods, paneling in the parlor and stair hall, copper-bordered fireplace, and mirrored mantel. The web site pictures the romantic, vivid Victorian décor. Three attractive guest rooms with private baths are all on the second floor. $79 to $105 (suite with whirlpool). A deck and a gazebo are outdoor sitting areas with pleasant rural views. A full breakfast is served. Wireless internet throughout. March, 2008
943 CR 441 less than 2 miles southwest of Newberry but north of M-28. No handicap access. Family-friendly. No pets.
HALFWAY LAKE RESORT
(906) 658-3579; halfwaylake.com
8 newish housekeeping cabins and a private, 64-acre spring-fed Halfway Lake (site of the old Halfway Hotel, midway between Newberry and Deer Park) make this resort quite unusual. No gasoline motors are and will be allowed, by deed restrictions. Quiet reigns; loons nest on the lake, surrounded by hardwoods. A fishing boat comes with each cabin. Electric motors can be rented. Pike and perch reproduce naturally. Guests can catch dinner, but otherwise it's catch-and-release. No fishing license needed. All cabins have 2 bedrooms. 6 have lake views. The other 2 have gas fireplaces. Cabins sleep up to 8. Limited TV reception. Guests use office phone and dial-up internet. In-season rates are $99/day for 2 adults, children under 16, with a 3-day minimum. $15/day/extra person. There's a small sand beach for swimming, and a fire pit. By the road, away from the cabins are volleyball, basketball, and horseshoe pits. There's a hot tub and sauna, a rec building, and games to borrow. It's an easy mile to a snowmobile trail. It's easy to take day trips from here to Tahquamenon Falls, Whitefish Point, the North Country Trail along Lake Superior, and Grand Marais. Oswald's Bear Ranch is almost a neighbor. Owners Delain and Doug McCool are selling some lake lots and cabins.
12 miles north of Newberry on CR 407. From Newberry, turn west at Four Mile Corner. Handicap access: call. Families: 16 & under free. No pets
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NEWBERRY
CAMPGROUNDS
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