It’s official, the Mine Shaft and Rock House Grill & Tavern in Houghton are open again, complete with go karts, mini golf and more (from the Web site):

• 18 state-of-the-art bowling lanes
• Over 40 interactive video and prize games
• 18-hole putting golf course
• Go-kart racing on the Huron Creek Speedway
• Private party/meeting room
• Leading-edge audio/video system, featuring 25 widescreen TVs

Initial reviews for the complex are great, and early concerns that the updated Rock House’s menu wouldn’t match up to the restaurant’s previous version also turn out to be premature, at least based on what they’re offering.    There’s even some pretty good wine on the list at the high end, and a full selection of cocktails.

The Mine Shaft’s Web site says the facility’s grand opening is planned for Sept. 18-20.  That’s a busy weekend in Houghton, with the annual Parade of Nations and the Michigan Tech football team’s first home game so there should be plenty of people around town to make the event a success .

Despite the slight delay on the grand opening, reservations are being taken now for parties at the Mine Shaft, “the largest bowling center in the Northwestern U.P.” (a pretty singular distinction, if ever there was one) and they’ve announced the addition of tailgate parties, bowling leagues, and the like.

It’s great to see the Mine Shaft back, now go patronize it!

Credit: www.skypixs.com

Congratulations to Michigan Tech, which has just been listed one of the Princeton Review’s Best 371 Colleges.  The story on the subject from Michigan Tech News said the university was recognized for having exemplary fire safety (they rank that?), quality of life and “green” policies and procedures, and that students praised both the school’s academics and extracurricular activities (No surprise there: Where else can students ski, golf, or go to hockey games or shows for one super-low fee?)

We moved here fully convinced that Michigan Tech is one of the coolest places you could pick to go to school, so it’s great to see the place get additional national recognition. Well done!