FACES AND PLACES: Lake Huron Ukrainian shores (09/08/02)

FACES AND PLACES

by Myron B. Kuropas

Lake Huron Ukrainian shores

Ever since Lesia and I purchased the Readers Digest 150 Scenic Drives in America, we've been hitting the road as often as possible.

Among other scenic by-ways, we've traveled around Lake Michigan as well as the Lake Superior shoreline of upper peninsula Michigan, drove down to the Shawnee Hills in southern Illinois, been thrilled by the Great River Drive in Minnesota and Wisconsin, traveled the Red Rock Country and Apache Trails in Arizona, and driven along Skyline Drive in Virginia.

America is a magnificent country, and we aim to see the best of it as long as health and energy permit. At our age, postponing travel is not a good idea.

In all of our many U.S. highway trips we've never run into any Ukrainians. I know that sounds strange, but it's true.

This year we decided to return to Michigan, our favorite Great Lakes state, and to travel the so-called Sunrise Shore of Lake Huron. We drove to Bay City and from there traveled north along highway 13, a two-lane road most of the time, along the shore. It was a 220-mile trip that took us through Bay City State Park, Tawas State Park, the River Road National Forest and eventually Mackinaw City. Returning, we drove south along Lake Michigan's eastern shore, stopping overnight in beautiful Charlevoix, our favorite resort town in Michigan.

As we were driving north on highway 13, coasting along the Lake Huron shore, we passed many resorts when suddenly, we zipped by a flagpole with an American flag on top and what appeared to be a Ukrainian flag below it. "Did you see that?" I asked Lesia. "It looked like a Ukrainian flag."

"It looked like a Ukrainian flag," Lesia replied, "but it could have been Swedish. Let's go back and take a second look."

So we turned around, drove back, and sure enough, it was a Ukrainian flag. A Ukrainian flag in what appeared to us as a scenic but somewhat isolated place in Michigan, not far from the village of Greenbush. Imagine that, we thought.

The sign said "Stefan's R & R Resort," so we drove in. Sweeping the driveway was Stefan Maryliw, a tall man who appeared to be in his 50s.

We drove up to him and asked: "Are you Stefan?"

"I am," he replied.

"Are you Ukrainian?" I asked.

"Affirmative, he said.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. (Stupid question.)

I rephrased my quesion. "I mean, how did you ever end up here?"

Stefan told us he was originally from Detroit.

"Do you know Stephen Wichar?" I asked. (Another stupid question.)

"Everybody knows Stephen Wichar, answered Stefan.

To establish his bona fides further, Stefan brought out the latest issue of The Ukrainian Weekly which, fortunately, had my column in it. I pointed to it and said "that's me."

"Uh, huh," said Stefan, obviously not all that impressed.

He showed us around his impressive resort. Located on 300 feet of sandy Lake Huron beach front, the facilities include lakefront luxury suites with jacuzzi and fireplace (going for $160-$180 per couple), decorated in Mardi Gras style. Amenities include a wet bar, a microwave, CD player, TV/VCR and a special breakfast served in your suite. In addition, there are one-to-three-bedroom family cottages ($110-$130) on the grounds, only a few feet from the lake.

In addition to numerous nature trails and river boat rides in the area, Stefan offers Saturday night bonfires on the beach, a pavillion with ping-pong and pool tables, as well as volleyball and banminton courts. The winter months offer snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and ice-boating, ice-fishing and skating on inland lakes. Great Ukrainian hospitality abounds year around.

This year for the ninth year in a row, Stefan and his lovely wife, Jennie, will host their annual Ukrainian Fall Festival.

So how did Stefan Maryliw end up on this side of Lake Huron? His is a familiar story. Born in Germany, he arrived in Detroit in 1951 as a displaced person. He attended St. John's Ukrainian Elementary School and St. Joseph's High School in Detroit. He spent a year in Vietnam as part of a three-year hitch in the U.S. Army. Later, he worked for the U.S. Defense Department, retiring after 28 years. During this time he served a term as vice-commander of the Ukrainian American Veterans, Post 101 in Warren, Mich. Stefan and Jennie purchased the resort in 1993.

There's still time to enjoy Michigan's exquisite fall foilage. Call Stefan at (989) 739-2778 or e-mail him at stefan@stefans-rr-resort.com. You'd better believe he'll treat you right.

Myron Kuropas' e-mail address is: mbkuropas@compuserve.com.

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