It was a great summer and now we are heading into fall time at Northwind Lodge! Cooler days and early fall colors are making us a great place to “get outta Dodge”. Give us a call, come on up, and get on the water!
Fishing Fun at Northwind Lodge
Tag: Ely MN
It’s the Year of Animals at Northwind Lodge – 2020 – Ely, MN
Watching the TV last night and Annette started to sputter while pointing at our cat who was looking out the patio door window. A good-sized bobcat came in to take a look as his relative. Our grey cat didn’t appreciate his presence and arched her back while laying her ears down, growling slightly. He, on the other hand, looked curious for a very few seconds and then turned to leave. I managed to fumble my phone on to access the camera and shot two quick pics. Then, he decided to turn around and come back one more time just to make sure the grey house cat behind the glass was for real. I shot two more pics and tried to turn on video. Of course, there is no such thing as “quickly turning on” anything with electronics – like a switch – so while the phone indicated a video was being taken for two seconds, I ended up with a slightly blury video of my foot, then the ceiling, and then the wall. The bob cat turned, showed us his bob tail and faded into the brush like he was never even there.
At this point, I’m guessing we have served as many nights of boring entertainment for bobcats, wolves, pine martens, bears, and others while sitting in the downstairs living room. You can’t see them and seldom hear them. But, they are there always watching. What else have they go to do?
So, Summer 2020 is the year of the animals. We’ve had bears of all sizes wandering through the property, wolf tracks in the mud let by fresh rain, deer tracks (but not many with wolf tracks around) and assorted beavers, muskrats, eagles, loons, the occasional swan family, squirrels and chipmunks.
The fish have also been biting REALLY well in the last two weeks with big bass, northerns and sunnies really pounding on some days. Top it off with rather spectacular, temperate, weather and we are great place to visit to get away from the insanity on the outside. Hang out at the beach, take an art lesson, come see the art in the Fernberg Gallery, maybe go to town. Being hunkered down in the woods on a pretty lake has been resonating particularly well with our guests this summer. Plus the smell of barbecue wafting by in the evening makes one drool. We feel sorry for guests who need to return home after their stay. You can see on their faces that they feel the same. There’s always next season.
Give us a call. See what cabins might be open. Find out what you’ve been missing!
218-365-5489
Bobcats Are Us at Northwind Lodge
I’ve always figured that they are silently watching us forever now. They never make themselves known. They never slip up to be discovered, especially in the summer with all the leaves and shadows hiding their subtle camoflage. Well, they do slip up once every 50+ years or so.
Until now, I have never ever seen a bobcat in the summer. Never. This is a case of curiosity blowing the cover of a summer bobcat. Annette and I were watching the TV, when Annette started sputtering in a language that was neither English nor German.
I looked at her wondering what the issue was. She was pointing at our grey cat who was looking out the patio door. On the other side of the glass, there was a good-sized, healthy bobcat looking in. Our grey cat was now arching her back and laying her ears back and flat. I struggled with my phone doing the super fast wrist-twist-turn-on maneuver for exactly this type of use. Yeah- it failed miserably and I was relegated to finding/pushing icons on my phone. Fortunately, the large beige cat was enamoured with our smaller grey cat and not watching me dumbly waving my phone in the air. Then he turned to leave but curiosity got the best of him. He turned around and a re-approached yet again, allowing me to get two more shots, one zoomed in, too.
Then, in the seven-second window for all this to happen, he turned around and stealthily faded into the brush like a ghost.
We are both convinced that said bobcat is sitting right outside the window all the time. He’s watching and waiting for us to slip up by letting to cat out. Never going to happen and I’m sure this is not the last we will see of him.
This is life in the real northwoods of Minnesota. All year long, during the various seasons, we see bears, wolves, deer, etc. I’ve never seen a summer bobcat before, however. This was fun!
The fish are biting and people are taking art lessons, kayaking, canoeing, and hiking. This is social distancing in wilderness. Give us a call for updated cabin availability and see what you’ve been missing. Our lodge guests have been having a great time this summer! 218-365-5489
C’mon up and getaway from the scary outside world! Assorted bears and a now proof of a bobcat, are wandering around outside. I also feel immensely safer here than I would in many metro areas, today. We know what to expect from our wild animals here.
August Cabin Super Deals
A perfect time to come up to Northwind Lodge and enjoy the beauty and still social distance!
We’re a Mom & Pop resort, not a gargantuan center on a highly populated lake. We have no public access to Jasper Lake. We are surrounded by the BWCA. Bring your canoe. Go take a day trip. Hang out on Jasper. Grill a steak on the Weber. Live the simple life in the woods. Come look at art or take an art lesson. Enjoy the soothing sounds of jasper creek, the loons calling, the birds singing or just relax for a moment.
Please practice social distancing when in the presence of people outside of your group. (yes – we know, we don’t like it either but it’s ridiculously easy here).
Updated 8/15/2020
Aug 15th through 29th
Cabin 5 Weekly Rate $1049.00 Special Price $899.00 Free motor included a value of $175.00
Nightly Rate $169.00 special Price $129 a night (3 night minimum) for 2 people
Aug 8th through 15th and 20th- 29th
Treetop Haus Weekly Rate $819.00 Special Price $699.00 Free motor included a value of $175.00
Nightly Rate $169.00 special Price $129 a night (3 night minimum) for 2 people
Aug 22nd – 26th
Cabin 6 Nightly Rate $169.00 special Price $129 a night (3 night minimum) for first 4 people and $10.00 night up to 6 people
Give us a call. It’ll most likely be me answering. If I’m not in, please leave a
message. We’ll call back. 218-365-5489
Socially distancing at Northwind Lodge – This is the way to do it.
Thanks to Lauren Johnson and family for these cool candid pics of a week at Northwind Lodge. I’m guessing they had a great week.
Weekend in Review – 4th of July, 2020 – What you missed
Well, despite the less-than-savory news outside of the wilderness bubble in which we are fortunate to live, Northwind Lodge guests appeared to have had a GREAT time social distancing with family and friends.
They caught a bunch of fish in Jasper. The Rust/Ramsland party in Cabin 6 reported nice-sized largemouth bass caught on weedless worms that we stock in the Fernberg Gallery (weird, I know…but good tackle is like art!) Cabin #2, the Smith family also caught fish, ate fish, disappeared with their canoe for a day and took painting classes when they weren’t outside having fun. I didn’t even see Cabin #8 for the entire weekend. Same with Cabin #3 with the exception of them coming in to see about checkout today. They wanted to go for one last, Jasper Lake kayak ride on this beautiful morning after our first major rain in months. They are somewhere out there right now. TreeTopHaus is still here until tomorrow and I haven’t seen them since yesterday morning. For several days, the air smelled like pine needles, clean water and mouthwatering barbecue. Yeah, it was really miserable here with the loons flying overhead calling.
I always conclude our guests are having a good time when we don’t see them for long periods and they check out at the last possible second. The last thing I want to see are guests chomping on the bit to leave. They rarely, if ever, seem to do that.
Art lessons with me are pretty hot right now. I only teach related groups due to China virus these days, but it seems to be working well. Six, micro art lessons (2-hours) in four days was a lot of fun and many people took home a rock that they painted as a souvenir and inspiration to pursue painting. I’m going to have to take another run to Lake Superior for more rocks! Darn….
In other news, Ely held what could be defined as an almost impromptu (and greatest) Patriotic March on the 4th of July. I attended as a member of my organization, Fight For Mining Minnesota. We brought along my painted canoe that, when not being dragged around in patriotic marches, otherwise reside inside the Fernberg Gallery as a large historical display. A handful of patriotic renegades in Ely cobbled together a parade that was probably the best I have ever seen. They extended the route for social distancing purposes, worked with the Ely Police Department and City of Ely, acquired the permits, and even arranged insurance via a quick, really-successful, fundraiser.
It was about 92 degrees F, as I walked the route handing out “Iron Range Proud” yard signs along with two young and very motivated helpers. Ahead of me were logging trucks, fire engines, classic cars, old jeeps, American flags and blue stripes to support law enforcement officers. The wildly popular, Ely Klown Band played brashly and slightly out of tune to the beat of rattling, pounding drums. There were heavily decorated ATV’s, side-by-sides, heavy-equipment trucks with Fight For Mining Minnesota banners, more Jeeps, motorcycles, someone with a really huge, old, twin-screw boat on a trailer that I was told was worth over “a hundred grand”, and on and on. There were “Iron Range Proud” signs for as far as the eye could see plus we handed out another 250 of them to whoever wanted one. Our Congressman Pete Stauber was there with a trailer and looked me up in the lineup to say “hi”. As he shook his head in amazement, he said “Ely is going to be put on the map for this one”. We were both in awe of the spectacle. It was stunning. There were Trump/Pence signs from one end to the other for as far as the eye could see. No other signs were present. None…
As I walked the street handing out signs next to my canoe (Greg & Jane Mosher pulling the trailer with their SUV in air-conditioned comfort), I got to an area where there were so many people yelling my name for signs and just to give me a thumbs-up, I didn’t know which way to look/turn/run next. It was pretty crazy and lots of fun!
Then, there was Zup’s market. I swear Jimmy Zupancich is one of Ely’s most creative business owners. As per usual, they were almost shoveling candy with snow shovels out to the socially-distanced crowds. Spectator kids were standing with buckets full of cavity forming goodness. It was a sea of Tootsie Rolls and a wide variety of other sweets. They were also tossing what looked to be packages of cookies, and all sorts of toys and potato chips. As we approached the end of route, a Zup’s, un-decorated, windowless van, suspiciously squeezed off from an avenue into the parade line right behind me as I sat on the back of the trailer. When it straightened out on the road, the side doors were FLUNG open. I could have sworn I heard someone yell in a thick, Spanish accent “Say ‘Hello!’ to my little friend!”. The innocent, unsuspecting bystanders were unmercifully pelted with even more bags of chips, plastic toys, toothbrushes (?) and cookies. Jim Zupancich, Sr. was sitting white-haired in the passenger seat laughing his head off.
But the pièce de résistance was the funniest part of the parade: Toilet paper. Zup’s had a huge trailer full of toilet paper and was tossing rolls to the crowds. I’ve never seen people holding toilet paper while standing on the side walks before. This week’s Ely Echo is going to be pretty fun, I’m sure.
As the parade approached its end near Whiteside park, we had run out of Iron Range Proud signs. Me and the little red-cheeked kid sat on the trailer until Mort Tome was seen standing on the north curb with a garden hose. The kid and his sister (Mike Banovetz’ grandson and granddaughter), both stopped off to get hosed down in the street with cool water by Mort. Towering Mort laughed in his usual, bellicose manner, the soaking wet kid thanked him and hopped back on the trailer. It’s little things like that which add life to any painting or story.
All this activity was officiated with two USAF F-16’s blasting low and westward down Sheridan Street (Steve Saari organized that) and ended in a raucous fireworks display on over Miners Lake later that evening.
It was great to “feel American” again.
You missed this year’s Ely parade. Doesn’t mean you have to miss staying in the woods for a vacation in northern Minnesota. We’re very proud to be Americans up here in Ely.
Social Distancing Guidelines at Northwind Lodge – Ely Minnesota
Social Distancing Guidelines
We’ve been social distancing for 76 years at Northwind Lodge on Jasper Lake by Ely, MN. We just never had a fancy name for it other than “going out on the water” or “fishing”. At Northwind Lodge, our guests “virtue signal” by disappearing in kayaks, boats and canoes. We all feel safer when they are out on the water doing what people have been doing for the last 76 years here. The closest human can be anywhere from 100 feet to a half mile away. Some would conclude that some of our guests are less into virtue signaling & social distancing and more into being anti-social. We all can appreciate that. It works well. If you just want to wave and hit the water, that is your prerogative.
Whatever title you want to assign it, there is a lot of open space here at Northwind Lodge and our guests seem to really be enjoying it this summer and last summer, and the summer before that, etc. We are very fortunate to have a lot of room for our guests to spread out and have a great vacation. …and that’s not to imply we have guests who are anything less than wonderful people. We have really great guests and they all get along. It’s just times such as these (well, this IS the first) wherein having space and a beautiful wilderness resort makes sense to get out of the chaos of the world to hide for a very relaxing week.
Relaxation redefined: We’ve had a bear in the yard for the last 4 days. People have shot videos of him. He’s a big one and some people get twitchy around bears. So far, everybody here has been OK. Whacking garbage cans and making a little noise, then he’s gone into the night. Typical bear….
The following photos are by one of our guests, Ashley Myhre. She and family made a fun vacation great along with art lessons to boot. Thanks, Ashley!
First Weekend Gone – and it was a beautiful one!
Our first weekend with lodge guests went by beautifully. We had sunny blue days, temps in the high 60’s, low 70’s and everybody was hiding somewhere. Well, hiding is perhaps the incorrect word but one party was fishing from their kayaks on neighboring Triangle, another took their canoe on a day canoe trip from Lake One to Ojibway and another spent their days fishing on Jasper. Sounds like everybody caught fish, too. Usually, when the days are this beautiful, fish are less cooperative. Apparently, the fish are fed up with quarantine as well.
Two of our our groups stopped in to see my growing, but un-hung art collection. That’s always fun for me. Many paintings have stories and while socially distancing, I waved my arms, pointed and told a few. It’s a bohunk thing.
I spent a good part of the time painting and figuratively “guarding the fort”. It’s insanely quiet so I’ve been able to get a long way on a whimsical landscape I working on right now. It’s almost done. Then, it’s back to a larger commission for which I developed painter’s block. Going whimsical/abstract-ish, helps me break out of the creativity killing fog that sets in once in a while.
For those of you sick and tired of watching and waiting with this China plague, if you are healthy, you can come out and play in the woods. Please practice social distancing when in the presence of people outside of your group. (yes – we know, we don’t like it either but it’s ridiculously easy here) Stay in a nice housekeeping cabin for ONLY $89.95 for the first 2 people and $10 each additional person. That’s for any cabin! (We try to fit it to your needs and size. Taxes not included. Total 9.875% Three night minimum rental required.) These rates apply THROUGH May 26. We still have openings and we’re a Mom & Pop resort, not a gargantuan center on a highly populated lake. We are surrounded by the BWCA. Bring your canoe. Go take a day trip. Hang out on Jasper. Roast a steak on the Weber. Live the simple life in the woods. Come look at art.
Give us a call. It’ll most likely be me answering. If I’m not in, please leave a message. We’ll call back. 218-365-5489
More Northwind Lodge Videos from May 1, 2020
More videos from Northwind Lodge
Beaver….
Second Footbridge on Jasper Creek
Jasper Creek Falls at Northwind Lodge – Ely MN resort
New! Northwind Lodge Activities
Resort sponsored activities are planned for
Tuesday through Thursday each week.
During select weeks at Northwind Lodge, join us for our weekly activities. To see when they begin, please visit our activities calendar (Click Here)
The Activities Low Down
Painting Classes
Get your creative juices going by taking a painting class during your stay. Classes are scheduled for Tuesday evenings. Also, depending on schedule availability, classes can be held at other times and for private groups. We paint rocks and Christmas ornaments in the two-hour sessions. Other longer classes and programming is available at different price rates as well. For more information about our regular art programming options, please visit intothebrush.org our non-profit art education organization.
Wednesday Campfire
It’s S’mores time, come to the fire ring by Jasper Creek Falls to enjoy an evening sitting around the campfire. Bring your s’more components. Wiener sticks – the whittled kind – are provided.
NEW – Thursday Potluck
New for 2020! Potluck Dinner on Thursday evening! Get to know some of the guests at the lodge and join us for dinner! Bring a dish, bring dessert, bring yourself. Dress is casual, conversation entertaining, dining is outside.
What a fun way to get together to greet and eat! Joe will be cooking as well. Who knows? It may be gastronomical adventure! That’s why “luck” is part of the word used to describe it!
Click here to check out our Activity Calendar
Call 1-800-280-1078 or Message Us in Facebook (Click Here): Northwind Lodge
