Big Bear Arena
Welcome to the Big Bear Arena (Chi Mukwa Community Recreation Center), home of the Sault High Blue Devils Hockey team, Soo Michigan Hockey Association, Summer Recreation Program and the Academy of Performing Arts Dance Program.
The Big Bear is owned and operated by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and was opened September 27, 1996. The facility was named “Chi Mukwa,” which is Ojibwe for Big Bear. The 150,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art recreational facility is one of Northern Michigan’s largest sports and fitness venues. Big Bear Arena is the only ice arena in the Upper Peninsula equipped with 2-ice rinks under one roof.
The recreational facility is also home to the All-In-One Fitness Club, which is the largest fitness center in the city. The fitness center features Hammer Strength and Magnum strength training equipment along with plenty of free weights. The cardiovascular area includes Cybex and Precor steppers, elliptical machines and treadmills. The facility is also home to the Sault Tribe’s Education Department including Adult Education, Higher Education, Youth Education and Activities and the Workforce Innovation & Opportunities Act Department, Community Health Services as well as a Physical Rehabilitation Clinic.
Along with the facility’s many features, Big Bear hosts various, sporting events, youth programs, fitness classes, and social events, making Big Bear Arena the ultimate family destination for fitness and fun.