The Good Times Roll at Northern Lights Recreation

March 2, 2005

When Victories Casino was being built in Petoskey, Kerry Smith was one of the contractors working on the job. But building the casino ended up being more than just a job for him - it also gave him the seed for an idea that -- with the help of a few friends -- would grow into what is quickly becoming one of Petoskey/Harbor Springs’ most popular new recreation destinations.
The building that the casino resides in today used to be a bowling alley called “The Victories.” When Smith began work to transform the Victories building into its new casino format, he quietly filed the bowling alley idea in the back of his mind.
“I kind of stood around for three or four years, waiting for someone to replace the bowling alley in this area,” Smith explains. “So when no one stepped up to the plate, I just decided to do it myself.”
With the help of his friend Randy Crim, a banker -- who is now the business’ co-owner -- Smith located some property through yet another friend, Emmet County Road Commissioner Brian Gutowski, and decided in June 2004 to begin construction on what would become Northern Lights Recreation.

GREAT LOCATION
Located on M-119 midway between Petoskey and Harbor Springs, Northern Lights Recreation is in a great location for those looking to have a little fun throughout the region; it is also only a short drive from the soon-to-be-opened Wendy’s/Folger’s Cafe that is being constructed a little way down the road.
The facility’s main feature, of course, are the 16 brand new bowling lanes, topped off by airbrushed murals featuring bowling balls and pins in a kind of Up North-meets-cosmic theme that is continued throughout the building. The lanes also have fun computerized scoring systems that keep the action lively with funny graphics and flashing screens when a strike or spare is made, and bowlers sit in a comfortable players’ area of tables and swivel chairs.
And even though Northern Lights Recreation just opened in mid-December, there is already a rousing roster of bowling league teams, bumper bowling for the kids, “Cosmic Bowling” (glow-in-the-dark bowling) on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., and open bowling every day until 6 p.m.. They plan to add eight more lanes next summer.
ALL THE EXTRAS
Now, you’d think that all of this would be quite enough fun for Northern Michigan residents. But Smith and Crim decided to take things several steps further. They have banquet rooms available for special events, including pre-planned children’s bowling birthday parties that they have set up for as low as $9.95 per child.
Regular banquets or parties (for teens or adults) can feature a spread of in-house snacks, from miniature beef Wellington or bacon-wrapped scallops to BBQ cocktail franks or riblets, also for reasonable prices.
In addition to bowling, there are three additional diversions at Northern Lights Recreation including Chalkies, their own old-fashioned billiards room. Chalkies features traditional green billiards lamps overhanging a half-dozen tables in a maroon-walled room with a view of pine trees and an impressive bearskin hanging on the wall. The room has a great feel to it and is sure to become a favorite hangout for the top-notch pool players in the area. “Our in-house Billiards League already boasts 52 members,” Smith states.
The second diversion is their game room and arcade, with plenty of videogames and “smaller” gaming competitions for kids and adults alike. And the third is Northern Lights Recreation’s own full-service restaurant and bar, The Sassy Loon Bar and Grill.

SASSY LOON
Located in the middle of the building just a few steps away from the bowling area, The Sassy Loon offers a wide range of menu items to please pretty much all palates.
Whether the restaurant patrons choose to sit in a comfortable green booth near the fireplace, or in a seat at the hand-built bar, food and beverage manager Ron Braniecki - yet another Smith pal - is the one responsible for the high quality food that’s served, and he keeps the prices moderate here, as well. “The menu is great,” he enthuses.
Beginning with their appetizer list, which includes snacks both familiar and more unusual, The Sassy Loon lets you start with anything from traditional Potato Skins, Chicken Wings, Nachos, or Fried Mozzarella Sticks to the more quirky but equally delicious Fried Pickles or “secret recipe” Pizza Chips with dipping sauce. Salads and soups are available next, from a simple Tossed Salad and Soup of the Day to their own Chicken Fajita Salad, Red Cabbage Slaw, or Baked Five Onion Soup.
The Sassy Loon’s entrees start on the lighter side, with such choices as their half-dozen “Sassy Subs,” their great pizzas, or their list of sandwiches (including the “Looney Burger,” the High Rollers Reuben, or the 300 Club). There’s even a Kid’s Menu featuring “Bowling For Noodles,” Mac and Cheese Nuggets, and the Hot Doggie. But according to Smith and Braniecki, the dinner selections are the real standouts. Dinner favorites include Baby Back Ribs, Lasagna, and Honey Fried Chicken, as well as seafood selections from Broiled Whitefish to “North of the Border Walleye,” Fried Popcorn Shrimp to a half-pound of Fish n’ Chips in dark beer batter.
For the meat lover, there’s a 10 ounce Delmonico, a 12 ounce New York Strip, and Northern Lights Recreation’s pride and joy - their Saturday-night-only Prime Rib special. Finish up your meal with a Bavarian Creme Brownie Delight or a slice of their Daily Cheesecake Special, and you’re good to go bowling!

Northern Lights Recreation is open from 10 am to 1 am, seven days a week. They are located at 8865 Harbor-Petoskey Road (M-119), tel. 231-347-3100.