Keweenaw Mountain Lodge is a log lodge, a nine-hole golf course and 24 cabins about a mile south of Copper Harbor, and it exists because Keweenaw County ran out of work. On September 12, 1932 the mining companies announced they were permanently suspending all mining, and the state’s emergency welfare relief commission put the county’s unemployment at 75.2 percent. So Ocha Potter, head of the Keweenaw County Road Commission, came up with a golf course and clubhouse in the autumn of 1933. He applied for federal money, and crews of local workmen built the thing.
The money that started it came from the Civil Works Administration, a New Deal jobs program that lasted a matter of months, according to the lodge’s own history. The Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association’s listing says it was built in 1934 by the WPA. The Works Progress Administration was only established on May 6, 1935, and the basic structure of the lodge building was already complete by late fall 1934. The WPA came in afterward, on the cabins.
124 men and 18,700 trees
Work started on November 6, 1933, with a crew of 124 clearing the grounds and cutting a gravel entrance road, according to the lodge’s historical timeline. By its count they cut an estimated 18,700 trees and blasted 16,500 stumps. The logs went into the lodge itself, on 167 acres the county’s Board of Park Trustees had bought from the Keweenaw Copper Company. The National Register record lists the WPA and architect Louis Azzi as its designers.
The Civil Works Administration stopped most of its employment on March 31, 1934, and the project carried on. By the end of 1934 the first nine holes were cleared and seeded. The lodge officially opened on June 23, 1935, when 2,000 people in 427 cars drove up to what was then called Keweenaw Park Resort.
In 1935 the WPA approved a project to build cabins, and the lodge says the first 13, on the golf course side, went up in 1936 with 11 more on the forest side in 1938. Superior Development renamed the place Keweenaw Mountain Lodge in 1966, then defaulted two years later and the county took it back. It went on the National Register of Historic Places on June 18, 1980.
The county owned it for 84 years
By 2018 Keweenaw County owed the federal government several million dollars over grants and loans an earlier board had secured, and it could not pay, The Mining Gazette reported. The lodge went to auction on July 26, 2018, by order of the USDA, and John Lamb of Corpus Christi, Texas, placed the high bid of $1.175 million. Lamb assigned his interest to the second highest bidder, John Mueller of Austin, Texas. The sale closed on September 5, 2018, and cleared the county of the debt.
Who gets in now
Keweenaw Resort, LLC has owned and operated the lodge since, and its own site says the property is privately owned and not controlled by the public. Resort facilities, dining and golf included, are for cabin guests only. The course went hickory clubs only and walking only for 2026, with a few special days for people not staying there.
The one door left open is the sky. In 2022 the International Dark-Sky Association named the Keweenaw Dark Sky Park, headquartered at the lodge, the third IDA-certified dark sky park in Michigan. Anyone can walk the grounds for stargazing from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., so the resort a county built for its jobless now opens to everybody after dark.
Go See It
Where: Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, 14252 US Hwy 41, Copper Harbor, MI 49918, about a mile south of Copper Harbor.
Hours: Main lodge building 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, for cabin guests. Grounds open to non-guests for stargazing only, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Cost: Cabin prices are shown per cabin and per date in the lodge’s online booking, not published on its site. Two-night minimum. Small dogs welcome with a pet fee.
Season: Cabins open year-round, except November 16 through December 14, 2026 and the month of April outside the Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival. Golf June 1 to October 15, weather permitting. Winter trails December 15 to March 31.
Drive: About 2 hours 45 minutes and 144 miles from Marquette by US-41, per Google Maps (read Sept. 26, 2026).
Booking: Online or by phone more than 14 days ahead. No walk-ins and no same-day reservations. Golf tee times required, none same day.
Sources: Keweenaw Mountain Lodge; National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places; The Mining Gazette; DarkSky International; Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association; Wikipedia; Living New Deal.
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Sources, credits, and reporting details
Sources & accountability
How this story was reported
Editorial methodAggregation
Last verifiedSep. 26, 2026
Corrections statusNo material correction note is recorded on this article.
AI assistanceResearched and drafted with AI tools. Reviewed and approved by editor Keegan O’Brien.
Verification note: Sources read and checked Sept. 26, 2026.
Primary sources
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Lodging – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: 24 cabins
"The resort has 24 cabins, made up of 3-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 1-bedroom units."
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Golf – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Nine-hole golf course
"9-hole golf course"
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History – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: September 12, 1932: mining companies announced permanent suspension of all mining
"On September 12, 1932, the mining companies announced that they were permanently suspending all mining activities."
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History – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
"The state emergency welfare relief commission in Lansing reported a 75.2% unemployment rate in Keweenaw County at that time."
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Historical Timeline – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Golf course and clubhouse idea conceived by Potter in autumn 1933
"Idea of a golf course and club house was conceived by Ocha Potter in autumn of 1933."
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History – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
"The Lodge was officially established in 1934, initially using funds from the Civil Works Administration (CWA) program and then transitioning to the Works Progress Administration (WPA) program sometime in 1934-1935."
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Historical Timeline – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: CWA was a New Deal jobs program that lasted a matter of months
"CWA Program Established" (Nov 8, 1933), described as a New Deal job creation program lasting 5 months; "Most employment stopped March 31, 1934, but the program was not officially stopped until July 1934."
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Historical Timeline – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: CORRECTION: WPA established May 6, 1935
"May 6, 1935 / Works Progress Administration (WPA) Program Established" / "FDR established the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as part of the New Deal program to help alleviate unemployment."
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Historical Timeline – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Basic structure of the lodge building complete by late fall 1934
"By late fall 1934, the basic structure of the lodge building was complete."
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Historical Timeline – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Work began November 6, 1933, crew of 124, clearing grounds and gravel entrance road
"November 6, 1933 / Work on the Keweenaw Park and Golf Course Begins" / "With a crew of 124, work began on clearing the grounds and constructing a gravel entrance road."
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Historical Timeline – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Estimated 18,700 trees cut and 16,500 stumps blasted
"An estimated 18,700 trees were cut and 16, 500 stumps were blasted."
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex (NRIS 80001878) — National Park Service, NPGallery
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: National Register lists the WPA and Louis Azzi as architect/builder
"Architect/Builder: WPA; Louis Azzi"
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Historical Timeline – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: CWA stopped most employment March 31, 1934
"Most employment stopped March 31, 1934, but the program was not officially stopped until July 1934."
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Historical Timeline – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Officially opened June 23, 1935; 2,000 people in 427 cars; then called Keweenaw Park Resort
"June 23, 1935 / The Lodge Building (Clubhouse) Officially Opens" / "2,000 people in 427 cars traveled to what was then known as the Keweenaw Park Resort for the opening."
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History – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: 13 golf-course-side cabins 1936; 11 forest-side cabins 1938
"the golf course-side cabins were built in 1936 (13 cabins), and the forest-side cabins were built in 1938 (11 cabins)."
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Historical Timeline – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
"Name changed from Keweenaw Park and Golf Course to Keweenaw Mountain Lodge when it was operated by Superior Development." (1966) / "May 13, 1968" "Superior Development was found in default, and Keweenaw County resumed ownership."
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex (NRIS 80001878) — National Park Service, NPGallery
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: National Register of Historic Places, June 18, 1980
"Date Listed: 6/18/1980"
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History – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: County owned it for 84 years, sold 2018
"After 84 years of ownership, in 2018, Keweenaw County sold the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge."
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge sold officially — The Mining Gazette
Published Sep. 11, 2018. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
"Keweenaw County was several millions of dollars in debt to the federal government because of grants and loans a previous County Board had secured years ago." / "The county was not able to pay the government back."
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge sold officially — The Mining Gazette
Published Sep. 11, 2018. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
"The KML was placed on auction on July 26, by the order of the USDA, and John Lamb of 4 Lambs Properties was the winning bidder." / "Soon afterward, Lamb assigned his company's interests in the purchasing agreement to the second highest bidder, John Mueller, of Austin, Texas."
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Going, going, gone: Keweenaw Mountain Lodge sold at auction — The Mining Gazette
Published Jul. 27, 2018. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: John Lamb of Corpus Christi, Texas, high bid $1.175 million
"The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge was sold at auction Thursday morning when John Lamb, of Corpus Christi, Texas placed the high bid of $1.175 million"
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge sold officially — The Mining Gazette
Published Sep. 11, 2018. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Sale closed September 5, 2018 and cleared the county of the debt
"The sale of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge was finalized with John Mueller of Austin, Texas, on Sept. 5, and it removed Keweenaw County from further obligation or debt to the U.S. Department of Agriculture"
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History – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Keweenaw Resort, LLC owner and operator since 2018
"As of September 5, 2018, Keweenaw Resort, LLC became the owner and operator of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge."
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About – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Privately owned and not controlled by the public
"Since 2018, the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge has been privately-owned." / "not a public asset, nor is it controlled by the public"
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About – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Resort facilities, dining and golf included, for cabin guests only
"Resort facilities are available for cabin guests only."
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Dining – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Dining is for lodging guests
"only available to lodging guest at this time"
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Golf – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Golf for guests; hickory only and walking only for 2026; special days for non-guests
"The golf course is available for lodging guests only" / "hickory only and walking only golf course" / "special days for non-lodging guests to play the golf course"
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Lodging – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: (Go See It support) Book online or by phone more than 14 days out; two-night minimum; no walk-ins
"All lodging reservations are made online or over the phone (not in person) more than 14 days in advance (no walk-ins, no same-day reservations), and there is a 2-night minimum stay."
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The Historic Keweenaw Mountain Lodge Designated as Michigan's Third International Dark Sky Park — DarkSky International
Published Jun. 21, 2022. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: 2022 IDA named Keweenaw Dark Sky Park, headquartered at the lodge, third in Michigan
"The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) has named Keweenaw Dark Sky Park the newest addition to the International Dark Sky Places Program. The headquarters for the Dark Sky Park is located at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge (KML)." / "the 3rd IDA-certified Dark Sky Park in the State of Michigan"
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Stargazing – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Grounds open to non-guests for stargazing 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
"Property is accessible 7pm – 7am to non-cabin guests for stargazing. Cabin guests can access property at any time."
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge (home) — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Go See It / Where: 14252 US Hwy 41, Copper Harbor, MI 49918
"14252 US Hwy 41, Copper Harbor, Michigan 49918"
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Hours of Operation – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Go See It / Hours: main lodge 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, cabin guests; stargazing 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
"The main Lodge building is open 8am – 6pm, 7 days a week" / "The Lodge is only available to Cabin Guests at this time." / "the outside property is accessible to non-cabin guests at night for stargazing from 7pm to 7am"
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Lodging – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
"When going through the reservation process online (selecting the cabin and the dates of your stay), you will be able to see price ($) of the specific cabin you are reserving" / "Small dogs are welcomed. There is a pet fee."
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Hours of Operation – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
"November 16 – December 14" / "the month of April (except during the days of the annual Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival)" / "open June 1st – October 15th, dependent on weather" / "open December 15th – March 31st, dependent on weather"
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Lodging – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Go See It / Season: cabins open year-round
"Cabins are OPEN YEAR-ROUND, 2-night minimum stay"
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Golf – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Go See It / Booking: tee times required, none same day
"Tee times are required – no same day tee times"
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Lodging – Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Keweenaw Mountain Lodge
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Go See It / Booking: online or phone more than 14 days ahead, no walk-ins, no same-day
"more than 14 days in advance (no walk-ins, no same-day reservations)"
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Google Maps driving directions from Marquette — Google Maps
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Read live in Chrome Sep 26, 2026 (Saturday): "2 hr 43 min, 144 miles, via US-41 N, Fastest route".
Additional reporting
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: About a mile south of Copper Harbor
"situated about one mile (1.6 km) south of Copper Harbor"
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Unemployment over seventy percent (the FB post's figure)
"The mining industry had fallen on hard times, and unemployment stood at over seventy percent."
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Ocha Potter, head of the Keweenaw County Road Commission, conceived the resort
"Ocha Potter, the head of the Keweenaw County Road Commission and superintendent of Ahmeek Mine, conceived of constructing a resort complex in the county."
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Potter applied for federal money under the Civil Works Administration
"In 1933, he applied to the federal government for funding under the newly created Civil Works Administration."
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Built by crews of local workmen
"The lodge complex was designed and built in 1934 and 1935, in the depths of the Great Depression, using crews of local workmen."
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge — Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: WRONG CLAIM corrected: UPTRA listing says built in 1934 by the WPA
"Built in 1934 by the WPA, the lodge stands as a testament to a bygone era"
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: WPA came in afterward on the cabins; 1935 WPA approved a cabin project
"In 1935, another project to build 20 cabins was approved by the Works Progress Administration, which were completed during the next few years."
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Logs from the property went into the lodge
"The logs from the property were used construct the lodge."
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: 167 acres bought by the county Board of Park Trustees from the Keweenaw Copper Company
"The county Board of Park Trustees had previously negotiated purchase of 167 acres (68 ha) of land from the Keweenaw Copper Company"
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex — Wikipedia
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: First nine holes cleared and seeded by end of 1934
"By the end of 1934, the lodge was nearly completed and the first nine holes of the golf course were cleared and seeded." / "(A second planned nine holes was never completed.)"
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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Complex – Copper Harbor MI — Living New Deal
Accessed Sep. 26, 2026.
Supports: Cross-check: CWA 1933, WPA 1935 cabins; unemployment over 70%
Lists New Deal agencies "Civil Works Administration (CWA), Works Progress Administration (WPA)"; no CCC
Photo and media credits
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Keweenaw_Mountain_Lodge_Copper_Harbor_MI_2009.jpg (featured, media 3035) — Wikimedia Commons / Andrew Jameson
Featured image record. Published Aug. 9, 2009. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026. CC BY-SA 3.0.
Supports: Image credit and licence.
Licence read off the source page Sep 26, 2026; 3048×1636 original, uploaded as a downscale.
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Keweenaw_Mountain_Lodge_and_Golf_Course_Complex_Copper_Harbor_MI_2009.jpg (media 3036) — Wikimedia Commons / Andrew Jameson
Published Aug. 9, 2009. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026. CC BY-SA 3.0.
Supports: Image credit and licence.
Licence read off the source page Sep 26, 2026; 3872×1620 original, uploaded as a downscale.
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Keewanaw_Mtn_Lodge_P8250007.jpg (media 3037) — Wikimedia Commons / Chris Light
Published Aug. 25, 2006. Accessed Sep. 26, 2026. CC BY-SA 4.0.
Supports: Image credit and licence.
Licence read off the source page Sep 26, 2026; 1984×1488 original, uploaded as a downscale.
