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Region: Ironwood & the Gogebic Range
WAKEFIELD
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 | | Motorists heading into Wakefield on M-28 can look across Sunday Lake to see picturesque Eddy Park with its pavilion. The park offers swimming, a playground, and camping. | Wakefield is the easternmost mining town of the Gogebic Range and the closest town to the west side of the Porcupine Mountains State Park. It spreads out south and east of Sunday Lake along M-28 and U.S. 2. Looking west across the lake from M-28 at sunset is a most memorable sight, especially when low clouds are backlit and the orange and purple sky is reflected in the lake, with the silhouettes of high hills unfolding in the distance. (Nearby Indianhead ski resort takes advantage of these slopes.)
Wakefield was platted at the same time as other Gogebic towns, in 1884, and named after an official in the Brotherton Mine, one of four pioneering mines. The town owes its tidy appearance (especially when a blanket of snow hides some frayed edges) to replanning after a fire in 1887 and then a second boom that started in World War I and lasted through World War II. Downtown was built along Sunday Lake Street, extending south up the hill from the highway intersection.
 | | Wakefield's pleasant visitors' center at M-28 and US-2 is not only a great source of information about the area, but a nifty gift & souvenir shop as well. | By the 1930s and 1940s, smaller mines were consolidated into large companies like Pickands Mather, associated with Bethlehem Steel. A line of mine shafts stretched out on the ridge from Wakefield west to Ironwood and beyond. "Mines operated around the clock. The town really hummed," recalls an old-timer. At the Plymouth Open Pit Mine, iron deposits were so close to the surface that ore was extracted from a large open pit, the only such pit on the Gogebic Range. To see the Plymouth Mine, go south on Sunday Lake Street to Old U.S. 2, turn right (west), and you'll soon see the pit and the Plymouth location.
Some memorabilia from old Wakefield and the mining era can be found in the WAKEFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY (906-224-1045) in a white frame house just north of downtown at 306 Sunday Lake Street. Usually it's open from early June into September from noon to four.
SUNDAY LAKE, on the north end of town right where U.S. 2 joins M-28, has long been a favorite beauty spot and focal point. By the helpful Wakefield Chamber of Commerce TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER at the junction is a lake overlook and a huge carved head of an Indian brave, carved from a tree trunk by Peter Toth. His life work was to install one such figure in every state as memorials to North America's earlier residents. Near it right on the lake is an interesting WPA project from 1939, the former Gogebic Chiefs hockey arena. Stonemasons employed its rough local stone in an unusual 1930s art deco design. Two impressive, boxy brick buildings from around 1920 face the lake from across M-28: the high school and the unoccupied Memorial Community building, which townspeople hope will be renovated for use by a young native son coming back to town.
EDDY PARK on Sunday Lake's north side is Wakefield's chief attraction. Here an attractive, old-fashioned shady park with pavilion offers warm swimming, a playground, and camping, mainly for RVs. (See Wakefield Campgrounds on this page.)
Wakefield has been hit doubly hard recently with the closing of both the White Pine Mine and Connors, the biggest local private employer, which logged hard maples and ran a sawmill here. Smaller companies that log and haul timber are the largest remaining employers. The state police post, mental health and medical care facilities, and natural gas pipelines help out. Many local people cherish the present and see the possibilities in their little town. "We think we have a beautiful town," says one. "Our downtown has one of everything you need" - drugstore, hardware store, cafe, bar, insurance, even a newspaper, the lively Wakefield News (906-224-9561) at 405 Sunday Lake Street, which doubles as a print shop and office supply store.
Back to Ironwood & the Gogebic Range
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WAKEFIELD
RESTAURANTS,
LODGINGS
& CAMPGROUNDS
These are our choices, not ads.
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WAKEFIELD
RESTAURANTS
See also Bessemer, Ironwood, Bergland and Lake Gogebic.
KORNER KITCHEN
(906) 229-5311
is a little spot that's very popular with locals. Breakfast business is huge. It's also famous for its big hot beef sandwiches ($6.50 with real mashed potatoes and salad or slaw in 2004). The full menu, which includes breakfast, ranges from spaghetti and burgers to roast beef, roast pork, and fried chicken, done from scratch right here. Homemade cream pies ($2) are a specialty. Consider takeout for a satisfying picnic. The Friday special is fried or baked haddock ($6) with potato and slaw. Limited no-smoking section; expect smoke.
1207 East U.S. 2, about a mile east of downtown and the M-28/U.S. 2 intersection. Open 6 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, except closes at 2 p.m. Tues, stays open to 8 p.m. Fri & Sat. No credit cards; out-of-town checks OK. Wheelchair access: requires assistance.
UPTOWN FOOD & DELI
(906) 224-7421
Suzette Fetters has imaginatively transformed her husband's former storefront grocery in downtown Wakefield into this smoke-free establishment. A few shelves have groceries for sale, artfully arranged with an eye for classic packaging. Gifts in front include attractive, locally knit scarves and hats. The six tables are quite a popular gathering spot for young and old: work crews, teens, women at lunch. The food is standard deli fare: subs served with complimentary chips and salsa, soups, taco salad ($4.25), chef salad ($3.50), hot dogs, and wraps. Changing daily desserts like rice pudding and chocolate cream pie are made by Suzette's mom, Carolyn Paquette, who also paints the landscapes displayed here.
501 Sunday Lake St. (south of the M-28/U.S. 2 intersection) in downtown Wakefield. Mon-Fri 9-4, Sat 9-2. Wheelchair access: no. 3 steps.
TREATS OLD-TYME ICE CREAM PARLOR
(906) 229-5122; www.westernup.com/regalinn
Here are all the classic fountain treats — phosphates, sundaes, malts, and more, plus soup (around $3 for a big bowl), and sandwiches, starting at around $2.50 for a basic burger up to $8. There's a soda fountain inside, and a deck for nice weather. At the moment Regal Inn owner Dick Swanson works the fountain as well.
Attached to the Regal Country Inn motel on U.S. 2 a mile east of the M-28 intersection in Wakefield. Use side entrance. Open year-round, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Not handicap accessible.
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WAKEFIELD
LODGINGS
See also Bessemer, Ironwood, Hurley Area.
Expect higher rates for the weeks around Christmas, New Year's, and Presidents' Day.
REGAL COUNTRY INN
(906) 229-5122
This unusual 18-room motel offers a bed-and-breakfast atmosphere intended for adults. There's a large central fireside room for evening relaxing, and a sauna (by reservation). Treats Old-Tyme Ice Cream Parlor connects to the motel, with a separate entrance for the general public. It serves fountain treats, soup, and sandwiches inside or on the deck.
Quiet is assured by enforced 10 p.m. quiet hours. Snowmobiles must be in and parked by 10 p.m. as well. Morning coffee and fresh-baked cinnamon rolls are served to all guests.
All rooms have cable TV, air-conditioning, and no phones. Guests can use the front desk phone. Basic motel rooms with a country look are (for two) $61 in summer, $50 in fall, $65 in early ski season, and $94 Christmas week. $4 off for paying by check or cash. Individually decorated rooms with Victorian décor for two are $10 more, three historical theme rooms are $20 more. No smoking.
In a highway location at 602 East U.S. 2, a mile east of downtown Wakefield and the M-28 intersection. Handicap access: call.
BINGO'S MOTEL
(906) 229-5593
POSTED
Bingo's Motel
(906) 229-5593
A real piece of roadside Americana, Bingo's Motel began in 1949 as cabins. It grew into a complex with separate gas station (still open), garage (closed), a wonderful vintage bar where longtime owners Charlotte and Bingo Vittone preside, and adjoining dance hall (used on special occasions). The motel consists of 19 rooms ($49 for one double bed in winter, $60 for two) and 8 two-bedroom kitchenette units (the former cottages) with cozy kitchens and varying bed configurations ($85). Rates include tax. Rooms have TVs with 3 or so channels. No phones. Guests with calling cards can use the bar's phone. Some units have air-conditioners. The bar has a separate parking lot; noise doesn't affect motel rooms. Bingo's is about 13 miles from the Presque Isle River waterfalls and west end of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. Summer availability is good. Ask about rates. 8 no-smoking rooms. March, 2008
On M-28, two miles east of Wakefield and about a half mile east of CR 519 (the road going north to the Presque Isle River waterfalls and Lake Superior). Call about handicap access. $5/extra child, $10/extra adult. No pets.
INDIANHEAD MOUNTAIN SKI RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER
(906) 229-5181
An unusually attractive setting and a well-designed facility makes this ski resort complex stand out. It's built on top of a mountain, so the massive ski lifts are less visible. See ski section of our web site for details on skiing. Current owners have been continuously renovating the place. The 46-room main lodge, in an uncloying, vaguely Alpine style, is decorated in dark green and pine wood with Indian motifs. Some rooms have bunks; all have VCRs. The lodge is planned to separate noisy younger skiers from adults.
In summer Indianhead offers lots of extras for family vacations at very attractive rates. Summer rates for hotel rooms are typically $60-$65/night. Trailside condos for two-night stays are $275-$450. Chalets in the village are $250-$400 (sleep 4-12).
In the main ski season standard one-room chalets sleeping 4-6 range from $146-$307/night. Five bedroom chalets sleeping 12 from $351 to $575/night depending on size and location). There are many options between these two extremes.
Rates are much less in the "value" ski season. Check out deals like: children 12 and under can ski and rent free, senior guests can ski free. The main lodge has an appealingly designed bar/restaurant, an extremely pleasant indoor pool room, game room, exercise room, sauna, and whirlpool. In addition, there are inviting outdoor terraces, mountain bike trails, nine holes of golf, a basketball/shuffleboard/floor hockey court, and two tennis courts. It's 17 miles to the waterfalls at the Presque Isle River mouth in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.
500 Indianhead Rd. north of U.S. 2 and west of Wakefield. Wheelchair access: one room. Call about chalets.
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WAKEFIELD
CAMPGROUNDS
EDDY PARK CAMPGROUND
(906) 229-5131 for info & reserv.
The 94-site campground adjoining a Wakefield city park has some real plusses (hot showers, for one; a nearby boat launch, for another). It might serve as a good alternative to the rustic state park campground at the Presque Isle River mouth at Lake Superior, about 20 miles away via CR 519. The campground is next to a pleasant, sandy swimming beach on Sunday Lake, appreciated because it's reliably warm enough for swimming when Superior is too cold. A man from outside Houghton enjoys camping here because it's a quiet campground, "the kids are always going to catch something," and the water quality is good, "refreshing and not hot even on a warm day." Don't be put off by the harmless yellow color, caused by tannin from hemlock roots.
The campground caters to RVs, but it appears they are not level enough for big rigs. An Airstream caravan that camped here in 2004 was most unhappy. The main drive with 79 RV sites is on a peninsula, beneath shady maples. Sites have electricity and water. Many sites are taken by weekly ($60) and monthly ($200) campers. (Rates are from 2004.) But space for overnight campers ($12/night) is usually available on a first-come, first-served basis except on July 4 weekend and the biannual boat race. About 15 tent sites ($5) are in an open area along the entrance drive.
On the north side of Sunday Lake less than a mile's walk to Wakefield. Open from Mem. Day thru bear season (early Oct.). Wheelchair access: showers, sites, paved walks through campground and park. No extra charge for extra people
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