Which Leelanau Ticker story from this year generated 2.8 million hits? Which topics and trends were local readers most excited to follow and learn about? From ice formations on the lakeshore to businesses bought and sold, all the way to a once-in-a-lifetime whiskey experiment, read on for a recap of our seven biggest stories of 2022.

“Giant Ice Boulders Formed On Lake Michigan This Week. Did You See Them?”
Back on January 28, the Leelanau Ticker had what may have been its biggest story ever. That story, about huge “pearl-like ice orbs” forming on Lake Michigan in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, garnered more than 2.8 million views and nearly 48,000 social media engagements. The ice boulders were the result of wave action on the lake. Ice pieces broke off from larger sheets on the lake, and those pieces then tumbled amidst the waves in a fashion that smoothed them into big, icy orbs.

While these great balls of ice are amazing to look at – and worth keeping an eye out for as another northern Michigan winter revs into high gear – we do encourage locals to heed warnings from the National Lakeshore that ice boulders along the shoreline can be unpredictable. “Ice formations along the Lake Michigan shoreline may be tempting to explore but are dangerous,” the Lakeshore warned at the time. “Please exercise caution! Freezing temperatures, as well as slippery and unstable surfaces, create hazards.”

“Popular Maple City Eatery Pegtown Station Is For Sale”
As is often the case here at the Leelanau Ticker, several of our biggest stories of the year had to do with businesses opening, closing, hitting the market, or changing hands. That was the case in September when we reported that Mary and Dave MacDonald, owners of the long-running mom-and-pop eatery Pegtown Station in Maple City, had listed the business for sale. Speaking to the Leelanau Ticker about the decision to sell, the MacDonalds said they felt it was the right time given a booming real estate market and a desire to move on to the next chapter of their lives. The search is underway for a buyer, with the business still listed for sale at its initial $799,500 price point. In the meantime, Pegtown is still operating as usual.

“Sugarfoot Saloon, Long-Loved Local Hangout In Cedar, Has SOLD”
Speaking of businesses changing hands, another one of our biggest stories of 2022 was this one from March, where we broke the news that Karen and Peter Bardenhagen, longtime owners of Sugarfoot Saloon in Cedar, had officially sold the business. The Bardenhagens had announced the closure of the iconic Mexican eatery, a core fixture of Leelanau County since 1967, all the way back in 2018, but they briefly came out of retirement during the pandemic. A new concept has yet to surface at the restaurant’s 4997 S Good Harbor Trail location, but Lisa Rossi-Brett of The Leelanau Group - Five Star Real Estate told The Leelanau Ticker in March that she “believes the plan is a restaurant of some sort” on the property.

“The Riverside Inn Reopens April 7 With New Ownership; Leland Wine & Food Festival Moves To The Leland Lodge”
This April story included not one but two pieces of breaking Leelanau news: First, an exclusive look at the new Riverside Inn. Second, a preview of a revamped format for the Leland Wine & Food Festival, returning in June. The new Riverside Inn opened for its 120th season this year under new ownership and with a revamped identity. Now called “The Riv,” the business recalibrated with a big assist from the innovative local hospitality group Fernhaus, which brought a reimagined food and beverage menu, along with several other notable changes.

“Fischer's Happy Hour Tavern To Close Permanently”
On November 20, we shared the news that Northport’s beloved Fischer's Happy Hour Tavern would be closing its doors permanently after 51 years in business. Owners Kristi Fischer and Brian Hafner announced that they had “come to the hard conclusion that we were both ready to take a step back.” The good news? Fischer’s isn’t closing down until around January 1, which means there are still a few days left to enjoy this jewel of Leelanau County. Fischer’s is closed today (Wednesday), but will be open from 11:30am to 10pm Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week. Sunday, New Year’s Day, is listed as “TBD.” “The goal is to run out of as much food and alcohol as possible so the menu will become limited,” Fischer’s shared in a Facebook post this past Monday. 

History Made As Prized Prohibition-Era Rye Is Harvested On South Manitou Island
One of the big local stories we’re keeping an eye on is Mammoth Distilling’s ongoing project to grow and harvest a Prohibition-era rye out on South Manitou Island. The varietal, Rosen rye, was extremely popular among Prohibition-era moonshiners, thanks to its outstanding crop productivity and strong flavor character. Over time, cross pollination and hybridization led Rosen rye to lose its most favorable characteristics, leading whiskey makers to stop using it. But since South Manitou, as an island, is free of many of the cross-pollination risks of the mainland, it’s an ideal spot to try growing the first pure strain of Rosen rye in about 70 years.

Leelanau Ticker sister publication Northern Express got the scoop on the project in July 2021, and we followed up with Mammoth Distilling this past August to get an update. At that point, the Mammoth team was harvesting their first crop of Rosen rye from the island. Per Mammoth CEO Chad Munger, the next step is  “replanting all the seed we grow to get our crop size up to production level.” The first Rosen whiskey from Mammoth, therefore, should be on the way in 2024.

“Zero Homes To Rent In The County: Families Trapped In A Desperate Long-Term Rental Crisis”
Perhaps the most pressing ongoing story this year in Leelanau County was the shortage of affordable, attainable housing. The Leelanau Ticker tackled that topic on multiple occasions, but based on our readership statistics, the housing story that most struck nerve for locals was this article from March, which put a human face on the struggle. We sat down with two families – the Meoaks and the Halls – who were on the hunt for rental housing in a market that had none to offer.