Posted by: Mark Elllerbroek
on Feb 1, 2012
Posted by: Mark Elllerbroek
on Jan 4, 2012
If you enjoy the winter and all the activities of being out in the elements, do not miss the Ely Winter Festival! This is a 10 day event starting February 2, 2012 and ending on February 12, 2012. The focal point of this event is in Whiteside Park where the snow carving takes place. Professional carvers travel from far and wide to take part in this symposium. You will be amazed and impressed as they turn large block of snow into living forms for your pleasure! There is also an amateur showing of smaller blocks with upcoming professional carvers. Mix this in with food, art walks, dancing, and community events and you will have a great winter vacation in Ely. For more information go to www.ely.org and stay at Garden Lake Resort www.gardenlakeresort.com while attending this unique Winter Festival! 855-365-5498
Posted by: Mark Elllerbroek
on Jan 4, 2012
Winter recreation in Ely offers many opportunities but none as exciting as a Day with the Dogs! Mushing down a trail or on the lake, offer amazing sights and sounds in an incredibly beautiful environment, as the dogs work together in perfect rhythm with you in control! You can just ride or mush, fish or snack, you decide. There are half day and full day trips with options of where you can go and what you can do. Bring your own warm winter gear or be totally outfitted for all your needs. Remember to book early and stay at Garden Lake Resort as your base winter lodging location. Let us help you set up your trip and suggest other activities for you as well. Experience the opportunity of a lifetime and check this one off your bucket list!
Posted by: Mark Elllerbroek
on Dec 7, 2011
As Garden Resort ends 2011, we would like to thank all of you who have been faithful guests for many years! It has been great to also meet so many of you for the first time in 2011. We have had a busy year at Garden Lake with record bookings for our 35 years in business! We are looking forward to 2012 and anxious to see you all again. There will be some changes and improvements by this summer to make your stay with us more enjoyable. Much happened this year in Ely and the big news item was the fire burning 100,000 acres in the BWCAW to the East and South of Garden Lake. There was no impact for us regarding the fire and the winds were in our favour with almost no smoke in the Ely area. We are thankful that the winds did not move the fire in our direction. Ely continues to be a draw for many who are looking for a vacation change and unique experience. There are few places left to visit like Ely and we are thankful to live here and have you as our guests all year round! Come and visit us this Winter! You will be glad you did! Have a great 2012 and a blessed Christmas!
Posted by: Mark Elllerbroek
on Nov 30, 2011
Here at Garden Lake we not only have walleyes but we have whale-eyes as well. When my son Jesse was small he would call the walleyes, whale-eyes, which always got a laugh! During this time of the year as the temperatures go into the single numbers and there is little snow on the newly frozen lake, there are strange sounds that we hear at night, even in the lodge. There is a groaning, thumping, and almost whale sounding noise that is heard as the lake begins to make ice. Because of the lack of heavy snow on the ice, there is little insulation from the cold temps. As the ice builds, there are cracking sounds from the pressure of the ice expansion, which when standing on the ice, is an exciting experience. Maybe all the thumping and cracking and groaning are the whales trying to come up for a breath of clean Garden Lake air! Maybe next spring and summer when you visit Garden Lake Resort and are out fishing, you might just hook a Whale-eye! That may be the biggest fish story you will ever tell to your friends. Happy Holidays from Garden Lake Resort to you all!
Posted by: Mark Elllerbroek
on Nov 8, 2011
It is a much quieter time now in the surrounding area of Ely. As the seasons change so does the pace. What a great time to catch up on all those projects or just sit back and take a breath from the busy summer and fall. The fishing rods have been exchanged for guns, and the boats for snowmobiles. Shops and stores have cut back their hours prior to the holidays, and life is very unique and laid back in Ely. If you like to vacation when the crowds are gone and the activities are less, this is the time to come to Ely! Winter lodging at Garden Lake Resort is comfortable and warm. Bring a book, a puzzle, or a project and hang out in front of the fireplace at the most affordable prices of the year. When in Ely, why not shop for those special gifts and hard to please friends and family. You can always find something special and different in Ely. You will be glad you did!
Posted by: Mark Elllerbroek
on Oct 26, 2011
The colors have been beautiful this fall and came earlier than normal. Many of you have taken advantage of our 35 years in business discount of $99 per night for two people. As we end 2011 we would like to extend that discount for November & December by offering a Hot Deals Special of $79 per night for two people/2 night minimum. Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas week and New Years are excluded!
For the spring of 2012 we will be offering some new changes for your comfort and enjoyment. Cabins will now have 1 full bed and 1 queen bed. For hot summer times you will find that the cabins are now air conditioned. We are pleased to offer our guests these new amenities!
Posted by: Mark Elllerbroek
on Oct 26, 2011
Soon the hunters will be heading for the woods to find their trophy buck! With winter setting in and the temperatures dropping, the bucks will soon be in the rut. The population for Minnesota is high for 2011 and is allowing many areas to enjoy Hunters Choice, meaning you may shoot either a Buck or a Doe. Many hunters have their favourite areas “scoped” out and their hunting stands in place. Orange Camo is the hunter’s first choice for outerwear and most use grunts or rattling horns to attract the deer. Venison can be used for many great dish recipes and jerky, ground burger, and steaks are the preferred choice of many. Wilderness hunting is always an option in the Ely area if you like to get off the beaten trail and be more alone. It is always a great experience to hunt a remote area and enjoy a more pristine hunt! What a great time to spend in the Superior National Forest and at Garden Lake Resort. So, grab that rifle, and head north! Don’t forget to site in your scope so that you will be a successful White Tail Hunter.
Posted by: Mark Elllerbroek
on Oct 14, 2011
While the lakes may be covered with ice and snow, plenty of fish are waiting to grab hold of one of you fishing lures. This is the best time of the year to go after trout, as they're at depths that can be reached with "standard" equipment. Walleye, northern and crappie fishing can be equally as exciting and productive. Many of the lakes that are too difficult to get into in the summer are now easily reached by snowmobile, show shoes, cross-country skis or dog team. You can break your own trail or travel on any number of well-groomed or packed routes. Your fishing trip can be as comfortable or as rugged as you like. Many people combine staying at a warm lakeside cabin like Garden Lake Resort with an extended trip into their favorite lake. Others prefer day trips in the comfort of a heated fish house. All in all, don’t let a little cold and ice stop you from fishing all year round. Follow this link to the MN DNR site for your fishing license and information. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/fishing/index.html?type=fishing While in Ely, try out all the local restaurants and stores for the perfect Christmas items on your list! www.gardenlakeresort.com
Posted by: Mark Elllerbroek
on Oct 1, 2011
Summer has gone and fall is fading fast! One of the great things about Minnesota is that we enjoy 4 seasons a year. It seems that the seasons are sometimes mixed up and if you do not like the weather simply wait a day and it will change! The nights are becoming crisp with frost in the mornings and turning into a sunny day needing a light jacket. The air is great, the smells are amazing, and it is a great time for a walk in the woods. The geese are on the move and are seen daily as they fly overhead in a south direction. Migrating birds are beginning to show up as they too are moving to new locations for the winter. Soon the loons will be gone and the lakes will freeze. Winter is a season in northern Minnesota that we embrace and look forward to the changes that it brings. Soon we will have a new style of recreation outdoors, ice fishing, skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and playing in the snow. What a great time to consider a trip to Garden Lake and see the beauty for yourself. Remember, we are open 12 month of the year! Enjoy a warm cabin by the lake with a fireplace and some quiet time! See you soon!
