River Club celebrates one year in Glen Arbor

Photo: Diane from South Carolina set a River Club record in late June with two hole-in-ones in a single round.

From staff reports

Since opening a year ago on June 24, and pumping even more excitement into an already thriving downtown, the River Club Glen Arbor minigolf course and outdoor lounge has hosted wedding receptions, corporate events, family reunions, many kid playdates, a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, the M22 Challenge afterparty, and at least one marriage proposal on the venue’s sky deck.

“There was a group of about 30 people who all wore different sports jerseys,” said River Club owner Mike Sheldon. “They played a game together then went onto the rooftop where a guy proposed to his now fiancé. Then he yelled down into the park, ‘I will love this woman forever!’”

Sheldon and his team built the venue on the banks of the Crystal River large enough to be able to accommodate both special events and everyday customers.

“What’s unique about this place relative to the alternatives is that we can handle a massive amount of people and not have it overwhelm the system,” said Sheldon. “You couldn’t go to average bar or small winery [elsewhere in Leelanau County] and do that. Plus, we have live music, and the river, and food. People are discovering that it’s an ideal location if you have a group.”

On June 14 the River Club hosted the M22 Challenge afterparty and welcomed 900 athletes who earlier that morning had run up the Sleeping Bear Dune climb, biked around the Glen Lakes and paddled on Little Glen Lake. Participants were offered a free entrée and a $1 craft beer.

“The M22 brand is so iconic and so steeped in quality,” said Sheldon. “That spills over into a really well-run event. The athletes and volunteers made out because they got free food and dollar beers. We made out because we got to introduce our concept to broad group of people from across the state and the country to a new place many of them hadn’t seen before.

“I was able to watch the race beforehand. What a spectacular, colorful, high-energy spectacle of athleticism.”

The River Club’s expanded food menu in 2025 include the Mucho Macho Nachos, which Sheldon describes as a “gargantuan-sized half-sheet of everything we have in the kitchen on one plate on a tortilla base and loaded up with protein, vegetables, sauces, guacamole and sour cream.” It’s a shareable dish that feeds 4-6 people and often yields leftovers. Also popular is the River Monster, a shareable dessert that includes waffle fries, ice cream, chocolate and caramel on a monster-size dish.

“We put it on the table once for a Glen Lake choir group and they devoured it,” said Sheldon. “It was like 15 kids, and the dessert was gone in 45 seconds.”

Mike’s Margarita Bar now offers a full line of frozen margaritas, which trend well in the summertime. Last year the frozen hibiscus lime margarita was the venue’s top seller. So they added five more flavors, from watermelon mint, to El Diablo (spicy) to El Camino, the Cadillac of margaritas.

“They are refreshing and light. People love tequila-based drinks in the afternoon and early evening.”

Sheldon is excited about the River Club now offering entertainment and live music seven nights a week on the stage with the Crystal River as its backdrop.

“Last year we would host music on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and the place just lit up. People love live music. It really completed the experience here. This year we’re doing it seven nights a week. It’s a bit of an investment, but it doesn’t matter because it’s something the community can rely on.”

Someone staying in Glen Arbor can now open their window and pick and choose which live music venue to frequent—from Boonedocks, to Cherry Republic, to Glen Arbor Wines, to M22, to the River Club.

Above all, Sheldon and his team are excited to bask in their second full summer at River Club.

“Last year we were asses and elbows trying to get things off the ground. We didn’t know if we could staff it, if the food would be cold, or the beer would be warm, and if anyone would show up,” he said. “Now we know we can do this, and we’re making the place more efficient, spending money on marketing, and upping our game on live music.”