Winter Tourism Struggling

There’s another effect visible in the U.P. of the slow economy.

Even with the early blanket of snow, tourism-related businesses are struggling.

Deer season is usually very quiet at the Quartz Mountain Inn in Negaunee.

But they do have a small core of regulars that have visited each season for about 20 years.

Advance bookings through the holidays are down substantially, but there are some positive signs to point to.

Co-owner Nola McConaha says the opening of Marquette Mountain coming up on Friday always means an uptick in business, as does NMU’s fall-semester commencement in mid-December.

She says other small motels and even some larger hotels are seeing the same decline.

The inn also had some good business from deer hunters who needed a temporary home while they were out setting up their camps.