The Van Riper State Park in Champion on Lake Michigamme is having its fourth annual Art and Moosic fest on August 17th. Several UPPAA members including Tyler Tichelaar, Gretchen Preston, Deborah Frontiera, Donna and Fred Winters, and Tom Cappuccio will be showing their work at booths onsite.The crafters section is open 11am-7pm. Music will be played from 12:30-10:30. There will also be food vendors.
Location: Van Riper State Park, 851 County Road AKE, Champion, MI, 49814
Van Riper State Park contains one-half mile of frontage on Lake Michigamme with a fine sandy beach. There is also one and one-half miles of frontage on the Peshekee River. A slow drive through the north of the park may reward you with the sight of a majestic moose.
Van Riper is located in an area rich in scenic, historic and recreational sites. It is only a few miles east of the park where iron ore was first discovered in the Lake Superior region in 1845. Evidence of early mining ventures of almost a century ago can be seen along several miles of good foot trails that wander through the hills on the north side of the highway. A fine scenic overlook of Lake Michigamme is found along these trails. Open pit mines are still operating in the general area and the Iron Industry Museum located in Negaunee is well worth a visit.
