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!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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

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!

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.”

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

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!