The Gray Owl Outdoors

08/30/2026

WHOO KNEW!? Wakefield has a new restaurant in town!!

The owners and their team have been doing a great job working out the kinks since the opening of Black River Bistro, 2 weeks ago.
The Gray Owl Outdoors and Touch of Gray Interiors welcomes this addition to our community. Thank you for choosing Wakefield in your business adventure! Though we haven't had the privilege of stopping in yet, we look forward to frequenting Black River Bistro.

Two weeks in at Black River Bistro, and we have so much to be thankful for! ❤️

We are truly blessed by how warmly this community has welcomed us. Your support, encouragement, and patience have meant a lot.

We're also incredibly thankful for our great servers who have jumped in, learned along the way, and helped make these first two weeks a success. We're still looking for the right person to join us in the kitchen, so if you enjoy cooking, we'd love to hear from you!

Our window signs are finally up, although we still need more signage. Fortunately, Marty Ikola is ready to help once we figure out exactly what we want!

We've learned A LOT about our POS system and can officially say we're no longer novices! Not quite pros yet, but we're getting there!

And thanks to one observant guest yesterday, we now have created and printed gift certificates! They will be at the bistro when we open on Monday. Sometimes things get overlooked when you're getting started.

Thank you for supporting us these first two weeks. We're excited for what's ahead!

FAQ (LOL)
501 Sunday Lake Street, Wakefield, MI
Monday–Saturday | 10 AM–4 PM
906-229-3001

08/29/2026

This is a very exciting addition to the trail system!!

We are pleased to share that we are within $500 of raising the $175,000 needed to purchase the Soo Line railroad grade between Hurley and Montreal! A new anonymous donor contributed $25,000 this month, bringing us up to the finish line. Once the City of Hurley owns the railroad grade, ICORE will lead the effort to design and build the new 3-mile trail, eventually extending the Iron Belle Trail west to Montreal. To get a jump start on trail construction, yet another anonymous donor is offering a NEW MATCH CAMPAIGN! They will donate up to $15,000, matching donations through September 2026. Except for the final $500 to purchase the land, all new donations will be used as local match for grant applications to design and build the trail.

08/28/2026

Look at the rocks for answers!! Weather can change in a matter of minutes so close to Lake Superior. Especially in the U.P.!! Don't forget to pick out your own weather rock and stay informed! We open at 10:30 all weekend.
Happy Friday everyone!!

08/27/2026

The changing of the season is almost upon us. The cool evenings bring a crispness to the air. The battle against mosquitos becomes a thing of the past.
Despite the drought this summer, a vibrancy of color still begins to emerge. The colors will only last a few weeks, don't miss your chance for fall hiking!!

08/16/2026

The effort put into trail maintenance is easily overlooked when walking a nice, well maintained and frequently traveled path. As frequent flyers of Split Rock, we would like to say thank you for all the hard work volunteers put in on Saturday and throughout the summer. It is greatly appreciated by so many in and outside our community!

Interested in joining The Gray Owl for a morning or evening hike on Split Rock Trails? Inquire by sending a message, stopping by the store Thursday-Sunday or commenting on this post. We want to be part of your adventures and help you G.O. Outdoors!

08/14/2026

Find your adventure and G.O. Outdoors!!