Iron County's George Young Complex Offers 3,300 Acres of Public Recreation

Just off Michigan Route 424 in the south central Upper Peninsula, a 3,300-acre property bordering three lakes quietly anchors one of the region's most ambitious acts of public generosity. The George Young Recreation Complex, known locally as Young's Golf, Recreation and Dining, was not built by a municipality or funded by a grant program. It was given away, by an Iron County native and his wife, so that the community they loved could always have a place to gather, learn, and play.

A Story That Starts in Chicago

George Young grew up in Iron County and fell in love, both with the land and with a woman named Margaret, while attending college in Chicago. The two spent summers in the Upper Peninsula, acquiring significant property and, according to the complex's own history, treasuring everything the land had to offer. They funded their lives through the Chicago Fire Brick Company, a successful manufacturing business that had belonged to Margaret's father. When George and Margaret eventually chose what to do with their Iron County holdings, they donated the entire property to Iron County for public use and established a Trust to ensure it would remain a place for the community to enjoy and learn for generations after them.

That decision shapes everything about how Young's operates today. The complex is a not-for-profit corporation, open to the general public and dedicated to recreation, education, and preservation. Because of the Trust and the original donation, Young's maintains an affordable fee schedule that gives Iron County residents even deeper discounts on programs and services than outside visitors receive.

The Golf Course George Designed

George Young was an avid golfer, and the centerpiece of the complex reflects that obsession. He personally designed the 18-hole course, reportedly drawing on his favorite holes from courses around the nation to create something that would challenge and reward players at every ability level. The Championship 18-hole Golf Course opened in May 1984, and according to Iron County Lodging Association materials, it has grown in popularity with each passing year.

Local tourism materials describe it as the longest 18-hole golf course in the Upper Peninsula; Young's own website calls it one of the longest courses in Michigan. The course offers three yardage configurations, all playing to a par of 72:

• Professional Course: 7,030 yards, described as a layout that "challenges even the most accomplished player"
• Championship Course: 6,076 yards
• Standard Course: 5,388 yards

The course is known for its characteristically large greens, and the setting lives up to the marketing phrase that appears on local lodging guides: "Relax and enjoy a round of golf carved out of the wilderness." The complex also lists indoor golf among its offerings, though details on simulator technology, hours, and pricing are best confirmed directly through the facility.

The Clubhouse and Its Dedication

A decade after the golf course opened, Young's added the structure that now serves as the heart of on-site hospitality. The rustic timber and stone clubhouse and lounge was built in 1993 and dedicated to George and Margaret Young in their memory. It serves as the gathering place for golfers finishing a round, community members hosting events, and visitors looking for a meal after a morning on the trails.

Food and beverage are available in the clubhouse for anyone using the recreational facilities. Beyond dining, the building provides indoor event and meeting space, positioning Young's as a venue for community celebrations and organizational gatherings, not only a place to play.

Four Seasons of Recreation

Golf is the marquee attraction, but the 3,300-acre property sustains a full calendar of outdoor activity. Miles of trails wind through the complex, accommodating hikers in summer, cross-country skiers in winter, and mountain bikers across the longer shoulder seasons. The property borders three lakes, giving the surrounding landscape a character that is rare even by Upper Peninsula standards.

Inside, a heated swimming pool with jacuzzi and sauna extends the recreational options year-round, regardless of what the Upper Michigan weather delivers. Taken together, the trail network, the water access, and the indoor amenities mean that Young's serves a meaningfully different function in January than it does in July, drawing residents back through every season rather than functioning as a warm-weather-only destination.

Mission and Management

Under General Manager Jason Rivard, the complex pursues a mission stated plainly on its website: "To fully develop and steward Young's as a world-class regional destination for the public to recreate, learn, relax, and cherish all the gifts of nature offered through its unique properties and facilities."

That mission extends beyond recreation into community programming. Young's hosts special events and community-driven educational programs as part of a deliberate effort to honor the legacy George and Margaret established. As the complex describes it: "We strive to stay true to the legacy of George and Margaret Young by providing year-round recreational opportunities, special events, and community-driven educational programs. Young's is your place to gather, celebrate, relax, and play."

The complex is promoted prominently in Iron County Lodging Association materials and the Iron County Michigan Visitors Guide, positioning it as an anchor attraction for visitors traveling to the region, not only a local asset. Iron County has long been described by tourism partners as one of the Upper Peninsula's best-kept secrets, and Young's, sitting just off Route 424, is among the most tangible reasons that description holds up.

Getting There and Planning a Visit

The complex sits just off Michigan Route 424 in the south central Upper Peninsula, making it accessible from the county's main road network. Whether the visit centers on an 18-hole round on a course four decades in the making, an afternoon ski on the trail system, or an evening event in the 1993 clubhouse, the scale and diversity of the property mean there is rarely a season when Young's has nothing to offer.

The Youngs could not have known in 1984, when the first golfers walked those large greens in the wilderness, exactly what the complex would become. Four decades later, the Trust they created still holds, the not-for-profit still runs, and the 3,300 acres they gave to Iron County remain exactly what they intended: a place for the public to learn, recreate, and come back to.