 | Copper Range Railroad "The Chippewa"
at South Range in 1946. Kevin Musser Collection. | Platted by a mining company in 1902, South Range was named for its location on the South Range just southwest of Houghton. The town became the business center for smaller clusters of miner's homes on the South Range. A popular resale shop which closed in late 2007, Etc., Etc., occupied the prominent corner storefront in the handsome brick Kaleva Building. It was erected circa 1910 by a Finnish fraternal group. and named for the Finnish national epic. Its women's club remains active today.
In 1913 the range's Copper Range Company was one of the three biggest employers, second only to Calumet and Hecla. The information-rich Copper Range web site www.copperrange.org has photos and history from many contributors, some but far from all centered on the Copper Range mines and railroad which ran from the mines of the South Range to Calumet. Bookmark this one if you like Copper Country history!
South Range is the center of year-round polka dancing that involves some of the very best musicians in Copper Country, in the opinion of former area resident Bernie Larsen. He had been familiar with virtually all area musicians through his ExUrban club and Spinout Records.
Each Sunday there's polka dancing with a live band at the Eagles hall in the onetime co-operative store building on Baltic at M-26. It's from 6 to 10 in summer, and in winter from 5 to 9. Call (906) 482-7670 for details. Lately the third Sunday of the month features country music.
Once a year in August or September, polka fans from all over Michigan come to the big Polka Fest at the beautiful old South Range Community Hall downtown on Trimountain Avenue/M-26. The interior, recently restored to its original glory, really comes to life, with three accordion-driven bands in turn on the stage and dancing couples spinning over the maple floor. Dance fans consider it one of the best floors in all the Upper Peninsula; it was designed for dancing, and it gives a bit. Dancing starts in the afternoon and goes on through the evening. There are always some dance fans from Michigan Tech's international community, in addition to the usual polka aficionados of Slovenian, Croatian, Polish, and German descent. Brian Juntikka, host of a syndicated radio polka show and former owner of the onetime Brian's Polka Dot tavern in South Range, comes back from Florida for the event. The community hall can be rented for events; call the village office weekday mornings at (906) 482-8833.
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SOUTH RANGE
RESTAURANTS,
LODGINGS
& CAMPGROUNDS
These are our choices, not ads.
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SOUTH RANGE
RESTAURANTS
See also: Houghton, Freda, Tapiola.
Cozy Corner Bar and Grill
(906-483-3190
In the heart of downtown South Range, where M-26 makes a corner, the Cozy Corner Bar and Grill is known for homemade ribs and pizza.
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SOUTH RANGE
LODGINGS
WILDLIFE REFUGE CABINS
(906) 482-1001. (888) 510-1001
These six charming log cottages, built in 2001, reflect the many ideas gleaned by owners David and Lori Sleeman from their snowmobile adventures out west, and from watching cable TV travel channels. Web site photos don't do justice to the delightful effect of Lori's oil paintings, small (pine branches on switchplates) and large (murals of carefully observed scenes of wildlife in their natural habitat). It's what Lori calls "roughing it in style": rustic log furniture, quilts on beds and bunks, cable TV, ample porches, gas grills, and fireplaces with stone chimneys (made by Lori, who learned masonry for this project). Two large cabins (2 baths, sleep 10) are $200/day in winter, $150 otherwise. Three cabins ($150/$100) sleep 8 with one bath. The wheelchair-accessible cabin is $125 and $75. 2004 prices.
The shared gas-fired sauna makes for good steam on sauna rocks - much better than electric saunas. Then there's the comfy gift shop/lounge with cappuccino and hot chocolate, and examples of Lori's work for sale. She paints her beautiful scenes on everything from rocks to snowmobile helmets to cars.
For their retirement work, Dave (a contractor) and Lori looked for years for land on a snowmobile trail within walking distance to town restaurants and taverns, with space for separate cabins so groups could relax and unwind without disturbing others. They found it here on the Bill Nichols Trail in South Range, three miles from Dave's home town in Painesdale and just 8 miles from Houghton. The cabins are a stone's throw from the Kozy Korner bar with its homemade ribs and pizza.
The Sleemans were disappointed to have to to remove the existing trees to provide the necessary parking. They hope to add landscaping and expanded outdoor and indoor gathering spots for the family reunions, ski teams, and such who have discovered these versatile, centrally located lodging.
101 Wildlife Lane behind VFW Post at the turn of M-26 in downtown South Range. 1 unit wheelchair accessible. Children: no extra charge. Pets: no.
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SOUTH RANGE
CAMPGROUNDS
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