Cross-country skiing roots and a hometown vibe in Ishpeming
About 15 miles west of Marquette and the Lake Superior coast, Ishpeming is the birthplace of organized skiing in America. With about 6,000 residents, it is one of the largest cities in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, known for its iron mining roots, winter weather sports and accessible nature trail networks. It also has a diverse downtown area and a friendly hometown vibe. “I’m on the fifth generation of my family, and I still live in my grandfather’s house, which he built in the 1930s," says Benjamin Argall, a broker and owner at NextHome Superior Living and an Ishpeming resident. "You honk your horn to say ‘hi,’ not to stop people driving. It’s that kind of place."
Ski season traditions and a culture of winter sports
Ishpeming has multiple trail systems, which are used for both winter sports and warm-weather activities. The Al Quaal Recreation Area has athletic fields, courts and a network of cross-country skiing trails. The RAMBA Trails include more than 30 miles of handmade tracks for snowmobiling and mountain biking, which are built and maintained by volunteers. The Cliffs Shaft Museum is a historic mine pit with artifacts from the region’s history. It is a significant point for the Iron Ore Heritage Trail. Ishpeming is one of the birthplaces of skiing and is home to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame & Museum. "We are one of the first skiing areas in the country. We have the hall of fame, and there are many different locations for skiing in Ishpeming," Argall says. The UP Nordic Ski Complex hosts a sacred local tradition dating back to the 1880s, with an annual ski jumping tournament that includes fireworks and a bonfire in mid-January.
Historic architecture at lower prices than Marquette
Maple trees line the wide residential streets, with gradual hills giving way to eclectic residential architecture. While there are some Victorian and Queen Anne-style houses from the late 1800s, the area mainly includes New Traditional, American Foursquare and Craftsman-style homes. Single-family home prices range from $60,000 to $370,000, and manufactured homes cost between $150,000 and $230,000. "It’s about half of the cost for the same house in Marquette," Argall says. "We are up and coming. Because Marquette is oversaturated, new people are moving here for business and housing development."
Due to Marquette County’s close proximity to Lake Superior, Ishpeming receives up to 150 inches of annual snowfall, and most residents have vehicles with all-wheel drive. Winter temperatures also reach an average low of about 7°F in January.
Main Street has comfort food and the UP's signature sandwich
Downtown Ishpeming offers a colorful mix of architecture and many locally owned restaurants, centered around Main Street. There are two Jim’s Jubilee Foods IGA supermarkets for groceries. With a theme of big-game hunting, Buck’s Restaurant is known for its fried fish and classic American breakfast dishes. The Congress Lounge serves handmade pizzas with gluten-free and vegan options. It also serves as one of the UP’s most iconic culinary creations. The cudighi spread throughout the region when Italian immigrants arrived in the early 20th century. “One of our local foods is the cudighi sandwich,” Argall says. “It has Italian sausage with mozzarella, pizza sauce, mushrooms, onions and mustard.”
District offers schools of choice and a forest school program
The Ishpeming Public School District has about 700 students served by an elementary, middle and high school. It also has a school of choice program, which allows non-resident students to attend the district’s schools. Birchview Elementary School participates in the Great Start Readiness Program, which provides a free prekindergarten program with play-based learning for four-year-olds. It also has a forest school program with nature-based lessons. Ishpeming Middle School has a newly established theater program with musical productions. Birchview Elementary and Ishpeming Middle both earn C-plus grades. Ishpeming High School scores a B-plus. "Ishpeming also has a beautiful school. I went to high school there. It’s well-rounded and one of the better options outside Marquette," Argall says.
Quick access to Negaunee and Marquette
The MarqTran bus system makes daily trips through Ishpeming. The community has quick access to U.S. Route 41 and state Route 28B, which both reach nearby cities. Negaunee is about 4 miles east on SR-28B. The nearest emergency room is UP Health System - Emergency Services, which is roughly a mile north of downtown. The Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport is approximately 23 miles southeast with daily passenger flights to Detroit and Chicago.
