80-acre Mulligan Pines preserve with historic Finnish cabin permanently protected in U.P.

The Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy has permanently protected 80 acres of wetlands and old-growth forest along Mulligan Creek by combining the Saari family's 40-acre donation with an adjacent 40-acre parcel; the site includes a restored Finnish dovetail log cabin planned for use by North Country Trail hikers.

The Upper Peninsula Land Conservancy has secured permanent protection for 80 acres along Mulligan Creek west of Marquette. The new Mulligan Pines Preserve combines a 40-acre donation from Jon and Christine Saari with a 40-acre parcel acquired through a land exchange with Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands LLC. The Saari family rescued and reassembled a dovetail log cabin that was originally built as a sauna on a Finnish farm and placed it near their family camp known as Fish Camp. A 2015 gift from Fred Prince provided the conservancy flexibility that helped make the land exchange possible. Key details: - Preserve size and location: 80 acres of wetlands and old-growth forest along Mulligan Creek, west of Marquette. - Land arrangement: 40-acre donation from the Saari family plus a 40-acre acquisition via land exchange with Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands LLC. - Historic structure: a restored dovetail log cabin, originally a Finnish sauna, moved and reassembled by the Saari family; planned as an overnight shelter for North Country Trail through-hikers. - Ecological features: old-growth white pines, conifer swamps, wetlands that store carbon and filter water, and cold-water trout habitat connecting to the Dead River and other protected lands. - Trail and public access: the North Country Trail Association Marquette Area Chapter will maintain a spur trail; the property is open for non-motorized activities and the conservancy is working on signage, access improvements, and cabin maintenance with volunteer days planned. Summary: The designation preserves a mix of ecological functions and a cultural structure within a connected watershed and trail network. Partners report they will maintain a trail spur, use the restored cabin for North Country Trail hikers, and proceed with signage, access improvements, and cabin upkeep, with volunteer work planned this summer.