Take Lutheran Airlines to Garden Lake Resort via Duluth

Dis is da latest air service to sprout up in Minnesnowta.
Also serving Visconsin, Nort Dekota, and Moontana. Try it - you vill like it.

“If you are traveling soon, consider Lutheran Air, the no-frills airline. You’re all in da same boat on Lutheran Air, vere flying is an uplifting experience. There is no first class on any Lutheran Air flight. Meals are potluck. Rows 1-6, bring rolls; 7-15, bring a salad; 16-21, a main dish, and 22-30, a dessert. Basses and tenors please sit in the rear of the aircraft.
Everyone is responsible for his or her own baggage. All fares are by freewill offering and the plane will not land until the budget is met.
Pay attention to your flight attendant, who vill acquaint you with the safety system aboard this Lutheran Air 599.
Okay then, listen up: I’m only gonna say this once. In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, I am frankly going to be real surprised and so vill Captain Olson because ve fly right around 2000 feet, so loss of cabin pressure would probably indicate the Second Coming or something of that nature, and I vouldn’t bother with those little masks on the rubber tubes. You’re gonna have bigger things to worry about than that. Just stuff those back up in their little holes. Probably the masks fell out because of turbulence vhich, to be honest with you, ve’re going to have quite a bit of at 2000 feet, sort of like driving across a plowed field, but after a vile you get used to it. In the event of a water landing, I’d say forget it. Start saying the Lord’s Prayer and just hope you get to the part about “forgive us our sins as ve forgive those who sin against us, vich some people say trespass against us,” vich isn’t right, but vat can you do? The use of cell phones on the plane is strictly forbidden, not because they may interfere vith the plane’s navigational system, vich is seat of the pants all the way. No, it’s because cell phones are a pain in the wazoo, and if God meant you to use a cell phone, He vould have put your mouth on the side of your head. Ve’re going to start lunch right about noon and it’s buffet style vith the coffee pot up front.
Then ve’ll have the hymn sing; hymnals in the seat pocket in front of you. Don’t take yours vith you ven you go or am going to be real upset and I am not kidding!

Right now I’ll say Grace. “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest and let these gifts to us be blest. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, may ve land in Duluth or pretty close. Amen.”

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Moose on the Loose!

Most people have to turn on their Discovery Channel to see an 800-1200-pound moose in the wild. The back roads of the Superior National Forest in Minnesota provide the perfect boreal-forest habitat for a Moose on the loose! Come fall, bull moose go into the rut, and cows are in estrus. There is some fascinating behaviour that takes place during this mating season starting around the third week of September. They are active and on their feet and moving much of the time. This helps to provide opportunity to view and see these animals during their most visible time. Look for wide open spaces in the woods or shallow waters and where the audible call of a Bull is best heard. It will not be hard to spot sign as moose leave significant scrapings on the ground and rubs on trees. Always remember to give moose their space and do not get to close. Moose can be unpredictable and you should use common sense with keeping a respectable distance when on their turf. Best to avoid areas where hunters are active from (Oct 1-16). Remember to bring your camera for some exciting photo opportunities. A great place to stay while on your moose adventure is Garden Lake Resort! We can help you find your locations to view and provide you with amazing accommodations. You might even be able to rent Moose Lodge for your visit to the Ely area. See you soon!  www.gardenlakeresort.com  855-365-5498

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Kawishiwi Falls

Garden Lake, Farm Lake, White Iron Lake, and South Farm Lake are all part of a larger watershed that ends at the Garden Lake Dam. Here the water levels are regulated, power is generated, and control of run-off is monitored. There is a large spill way and three gates that are used to move the water into Fall Lake. There have been advantages to having this dam which allow for more stable lake levels. A tremendous by product of all of this is the Kawishiwi Falls that are spectacular! There is a trail off the Fernberg road, just past the Garden Lake Bridge, that allows access to view the falls. What a great place to take pictures, go for a hike, a picnic, or even a wedding ceremony. When water levels are high the falls produce a mist of fantastic colors and a roar that can be heard at Garden Lake Resort just a short ½ mile from the Falls. Why not check out the Falls the next time you visit Garden Lake. You will be glad you took the time to see nature at its best!

Have you ever wondered what the Superior National Forest look like from the eye of an Eagle? You can experience that sight when you fly with “Van Air” right from the docks of Garden Lake Resort. Your flight will encompass spectacular views and the true beauty that the North Country is renowned for. Your flight will be in a floatplane over many of the area lakes. All aircraft are outfitted with an intercom, headsets, and life jackets to add to the enjoyment and safety of your voyage! Imagine a sunset moose tour or a dinner flight with a view. You can take a short 20 minute flight or an hour flight following the route of the early fur trading Voyageurs. See the untouched wilderness and take in the true meaning of “10,000 Lakes”. During this flight it is not uncommon to see moose, bear, deer, and wolves. Looking for a little romance or celebrating a anniversary or birthday? Fly with VanAir for your dinner date to area restaurants on the water. A popular flight is toNelson’s Restaurant, a fine establishment on Crane Lake, at the U.S./Canadian border. Where ever you fly you will always be amazed as you view it with new eyes, as though you are on Eagle’s Wings!      vanair@rangenet.com  Tower, Mn.

Birds are everywhere in the Ely area and Superior National Forest depending on the season and the habitat. Approximately 155 species of birds breed in the forest.

These include about 100 small and inconspicuous song birds that are often hidden by thick foliage. Their presence is more easily noted soon after dawn during the early summer when they are the most active and in full song. Warblers and vireos comprise about half of the songbirds nesting in the national forest. They spend a remarkably short time on their northern breeding grounds, 3 months at the most, and actually nesting takes about 6 weeks – long enough to produce one brood of young. Upon first arrival in late May, the birds rapidly set up territories. Singing male activity is most conspicuous from June 1 to July 4. Most young are fledged by mid-July and the woods then are very quiet in contrast to the territorial songs heard only a few weeks before. Wandering flocks of post-breeding birds, usually family groups of warblers or chickadees, are encountered beginning in mid-July. Migration really gets underway by late July or early August after the birds have molted.

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Tourism in Minnesota is a major industry and creates countless jobs and large revenues for the state. Is it no wonder why the Lodging & Camping facilities, especially seasonal, like to see our public schools letting out early for spring and then start after Labor Day each year. When the state and schools cooperate in doing this, it generates huge additional revenues for both. It also allows students who need to work in the tourism industry, access to jobs that start in early spring and go into the fall. This benefits operators and their employees with work flow issues and gives extra income to their employees! Recently, it has been a disappointment that the State of Minnesota could not come up with a budget for 2011 and have had to shut down all state related business and jobs. The effect is widespread and also has hit tourism hard in camping and state parks revenues. This loss cannot be made up for prime time summer camping. Hopefully, the legislators will soon work out a compromised budget to get the state and tourism rolling again. We need good laws and state supported tourism efforts to keep the industry healthy! Let’s all do our part to support a healthy economy for 2011.

Garden Lake Resort offers high tech options that most travellers expect and need when on their vacation!

Even though you are in a remote location in the heart of the Superior National Forest, you are still able to have FREE high speed Internet access at each cabin and on the properties decks and grounds. Garden Lake Resort has invested in its service to our customers so that they may stay connected with family, friends, and work. Many guests have found they need to be able to work for periods of time during their stay, connecting with employees at their business or work place. With high speed DSL Internet, it is easy to connect with the wireless WI-Fi on your lap top, phone ,or any device needing Internet connection. Downloads and uploads are fast and help to send those pictures of your vacation experience or a picture of the days catch!

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When visiting Ely and Garden Lake Resort, you have endless lakes to fish! The Kawishiwi River Lake Chain of Garden Lake, Farm Lake, White Iron Lake, and South Farm Lake offer some of the area’s best fishing. Walleyes, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Black Crappies, and Bluegills are all caught on this lake chain.

Trophy fish are not uncommon and great to brag or lie about! For many years the Minnesota DNR fisheries has had an aggressive stocking program for Walleyes and slot limits for Walleyes and Northern Pike. Slot limits were set in place years ago which are now showing a difference in size and numbers of fish caught.

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Mark & Dianna are excited to announce that 2011 is the 35th year that they have been operating Garden Lake Resort. Much has change in those 35 years, but much has remained the same. We remain small with exceptional cabins, facilities, and all the amenities that make your stay with us comfortable. We offer our guests a unique 4 season vacation experience!

Resorting in Minnesota has gone from 2,200 Resorts in 1975 to around 850 in 2011. We are one of a small group of Mom & Pop resorts left and continue to operate as such. We are able to continue the tradition of personal hospitality which has been lost in much larger Resort/Motel settings. Customer service is very important to us and making your stay at Garden Lake memorable and lasting is important to us. Families and friends come here to enjoy peace and quiet and recreate in an incredibly special environment. Ely hosts a pristine and naturally beautiful experience that is hard to find anywhere else. When visiting Ely and Garden Lake Resort, you will experience a simpler time when families enjoyed walks, hikes, campfires and fishing together, remembering the past, and discovering new things together. Many of you have become regular guests at Garden Lake Resort and even more special to us have become good friends who we are always glad to see!

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Because Garden Lake Resort is a small resort of four cabins, it's not uncommon for families to book all four of our Ely Minnesota cabins for their family and extended family for a week.  

Grandma and grandpa, mom, dad, brothers,sisters, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles share time together in ways that they may not have the opportunity to do in everyday life, especially if they live far apart.

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