GWINN, Mich. (WZMQ) – The holiday season may bring on cookie recipes and hot chocolate, but sometimes the Christmas spirit is found outdoors.
Over the Carp River and through these north woods, there’s more than just a community awaiting a winter wonderland. 14-year-olds Liza and Duke (pictured below) are both Belgian horses that live at the Up North Lodge in Gwinn.
Alongside Sleigh Drivers and around 80 acres of land, the coupled trotters gift the community with a wonderland sleigh ride. Up North Lodge Manager Jesie Melchiori said that when the lodge was originally called the Red Horse Range, there were always Sleigh Rides and after a brief pause, it was time to bring it back.
“Called my dad and said hey it’s time to bring the sleigh rides back, and he said who’s we do you got a mouse in your pocket and I said no dad, me and you,” commented Melchiori.
The sleigh experience takes riders through 80 acres of undeveloped UP backcountry to enjoy behind the reins. The sleigh rides are running up until the end of March and in only a couple of weeks, the Lodge will hit around 105 sleigh rides since just December 1st. “So that’s 105 different friends and family groups that are able to come out and spend the day here,” continued Melchiori.
You may never know the hidden treasures you can find here in the UP unless you go looking, but one of them is at the Up North Lodge.
