River Club Glen Arbor

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World Cup fever grips Leelanau; global soccer offers antidote to imperialism

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Mike Sheldon, owner of River Club Glen Arbor, flew to Los Angeles to watch the U.S. national team play Turkey on June 25. Gary Jonas, co-owner of Farm Club and The Little Fleet in Traverse City, hit Dallas together with his father and his son on June 27 to witness Argentina’s date with Jordan. Greg Graetz and his son scored tickets to a friendly match between the United States and Germany at Chicago’s Soldier Field, just prior to this summer’s World Cup. Venues including The Little Fleet and River Club are packed with enthusiastic crowds gathered to watch the world’s greatest sporting event, co-hosted this summer by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Crowds hush and gaze at the television as footballers send creative passes and move in unison up the field. Hundreds of voices crescendo into a roar as the ball cannons toward the goal.

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River Club Glen Arbor holds Drinks, Putts & Fire Trucks to benefit Glen Lake Fire Department

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The Glen Lake Fire Department and River Club Glen Arbor plan to hold their first annual community building and fund-raising event, “Drinks, Putts & Fire Trucks,” on Wednesday, June 17, from 4-8 pm at the River Club. The event will celebrate the massive contribution the Glen Lake Fire Department makes to the greater Leelanau County region. The two primary goals are to create closer ties to community members with individual fire department personnel and to raise funds that help the department flourish and stay modern given the vast needs of the community. River Club will donate a portion of their profits for the day to the Glen Lake Fire Department’s general fund along with providing community members a free round of golf on their next visit.

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Cerus Quartet plays Sound Garden throughout Glen Arbor area

The Glen Arbor Arts Center is thrilled to host the Cerus Quartet as Musicians‑in‑Residence from June 8–20, as part of their Manitou Music Series, in partnership with Interlochen Public Radio’s Sound Garden Project. Emerging as one of the most compelling chamber ensembles of their generation, the Cerus Quartet brings the dynamic sound of the saxophone quartet to the Glen Arbor area. Their repertoire spans contemporary works and transcriptions of classical masterworks, combining innovation, versatility, and engaging visual elements to create a distinctive performance experience. During their two‑week residency, the Cerus Quartet will offer immersive musical experiences around the Glen Arbor and Empire area, from public performances to school and library visits, open rehearsals, and “Sound Samples” (spontaneous musical interactions in community spaces).

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Re-arboring Glen Arbor

The Glen Arbor Beautification committee planted 20 seedlings on Nov. 6 on the back property of The River Club with Mike Sheldon, the owner’s approval and support. This is the first official planting by GAB, according to the group’s co-founder Chris Sack. Cherry Republic plans to do a planting in Spring 2026 to support GAB’s initiative. Rebecca Benedict, GAB co-founder, provided the trees: 20 x Blue & White Spruce that she obtained from Leelanau Conservation District. Kait Springsdorf, the other GAB co-founder, was at the planting as well as many members of The River Club’s managerial team.

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Traverse City Dance Project features Glen Arbor talent

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You may have seen Severin Brotschul or his girlfriend Jessica He working summer days at the River Club Glen Arbor. Now you can watch them ply their trade on stage during an upcoming Traverse City Dance Project performance. The project is a realization of professional dancer and choreographer Brent Whitney’s dream to bring top-tier dance back to his hometown of Traverse City and to “ensure that the vibrant community of northern Michigan can readily access and afford opportunities to experience the art of dance at its finest.” Traverse City Dance Project launched in 2012. This is Severin and Jessica’s first year with Whitney’s company.

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River Club celebrates one year in Glen Arbor

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. 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.”

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High Five, River Club

The River Club in Glen Arbor received two prestigious awards last month from the Traverse City Tourism High Five Awards, which honor top professionals in the region’s hospitality industry. Award recipients (l-r) include River Club general manager Stephen Brotschul (Front of the House Award) and owners Gina and Mike Sheldon (Cheer & Leadership Award).

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Leelanau’s influencers of 2024

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With 2024 in the rearview mirror and 2025 upon us, we’re recognizing 25 “influencers” we covered in the Glen Arbor Sun this past year who are making a meaningful impact on Leelanau County communities, commerce, and culture. Read below about those 25 local influencers, who include everyone from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, to Leelanau Investing for Teens, to Empire’s polar dippers, to popular new destinations River Club Glen Arbor, the Sleeping Bear Inn, and the Lively’s NeighborFood Market.

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Sleeping Bear manhunt, Empire sugar bear, Pop-tart man Bill Post, Twin Flames wedding: Glen Arbor Sun’s top-viewed stories of 2024

Our coverage in 2024 featured crimes, celebrities, cool new businesses, and an homage to the now removed Crystal River culverts. Our top 10 most-read stories included: a manhunt in the National Lakeshore; the search for a black bear that broke into Grocers Daughter Chocolate and devoured a 50-pound bag of sugar; Jerry Seinfeld’s movie “Unfrosted” about Pop-Tart man Bill Post, and the Twin Flames Universe cult’s secretive wedding in Traverse City. Thanks for your readership. We look forward to sharing more stories of Leelanau County events, characters, businesses, and the arts in 2025. Here’s the list of our Top 10 stories by online views in 2024.

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Five out of five kids recommend golf at Glen Arbor’s new River Club

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Glen Arbor’s newest attraction is not your average putting course experience. Many of you have been to the River Club already, but for those of you who haven’t, here is a review, courtesy of 11-year-old Martin Ludden and four other kids between ages 8 and 11. During our two visits to River Club so far, there have been families on most of the course’s 18 holes, but they move quick. It’s a fun vibe, and with people talking and laughing it feels almost like a community treasure hunt. Plus, you can finish and start a new game. With your day-pass wrist band the place offers unlimited minigolf while your parents eat and drink, relax by the river or listen to live music!

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