Birch Lodge is located on an officially designated bicycle route as presented at the Eastern Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission website (under GIS maps, MDOT Eastern UP Bike Map).
Since Labor Day we've had three bicycling groups pass through and stay at the Motel. Two of the groups have been from Adventure Cycling, a nationwide group that sponsors tours including several across northern Michigan (website: AdventureCycling.org).
All the groups enjoyed the funky motel and historic lodge as well as the grounds. Using different sets of muscles after a day on the road, some took the Birch Lodge kayaks out for a spin on the lake and others went to the Birch Lodge Swimming Beach for a dip.
At night, they sat around our fire pit and exchanged stories.
For a short time we were "tagged" at the road entrance - letting fellow bikers know we were the place to stay. We've been told they will spread the word about Birch Lodge to fellow bikers and to be ready for their return next year.
I was looking for info on the Karst cave system and found your site. So happy to learn you are restoring the old lodge. We were there years ago when it was open. (We stayed overnight at the motel section.) I still remember the piano playing while the bar was busy with locals. Now, close to 30 years later, we have a place in Brevort. We'll stop by sometime!
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