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Sell YOur ResortTimber Bay Lodge and Houseboats
SVN | Northco is pleased to present, as exclusive advisor to ownership, the sale of Timber Bay Lodge & Houseboats ("Property") located on Birch Lake near Ely, Minnesota, and the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area (BWCA). Nestled deep within the heart of the Superior National Forest, the Property is one of the premier houseboat rental-oriented resorts in the Midwest. Surrounded by towering Norway pine, birch, and spruce trees, this modern Minnesota resort promises to fulfill the vacation dreams of families and fishing groups alike. The property boasts a full-service marina, a safe and sandy swimming beach, and a variety of resort activities, including children's programs ensuring a perfect family getaway year-round. Guests can enjoy boating, camping, fishing, canoeing, swimming, pickleball, or simply relaxing amidst the natural beauty. With 1,482 feet of waterfront on Birch Lake, the Property offers 14 cabins, a boathouse, an owner's residence, and an office/gift shop, providing everything that guests need for an unforgettable stay.
Williams and Hall Outfitters
SVN | Northco is pleased to present Williams and Hall Outfitters ("Property"), a premier Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Outfitter in Ely, Minnesota located on 500 feet of Moose Lake shoreline. The Property is a well-known outfitting service that specializes in providing equipment, services, and expertise for those venturing into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and the Quetico Provincial Park, which is just across the border in Ontario, Canada. The business has been on the shores of Moose Lake for approximately 60 years and consists of a great lodge, full-service dining room, retail store equipped with ultra-lightweight canoes, and camping equipment and food for each trip. The resort is seasonal and runs from mid-May to early October each year. When planning a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or Quetico Provincial Park, an outfitter like Williams and Hall can be a valuable resource, providing you with the necessary equipment, knowledge, and support to make your adventure safe and enjoyable.
One Heartland Camp
SVN | Northco is pleased to present the listing of One Heartland ("Property") located in Willow River, MN. The Property previously functioned as a children's camp resort with a variety of buildings including a main lodge, cabins, manager's quarters, storage facilities, and recreational amenities on 79.14 acres of land bordering multiple lakes. The main lodge spans 21,811 sf and includes a retreat center, cafeteria, recreation rooms, sleeping facilities for 75 and more. The property also features a manager's quarters, multiple shower houses, several storage buildings, and 15 cabins ranging from 320 to 512 square feet each. Recreational facilities include a sports court, basketball hoops, a swimming pool, a climbing tower, a baseball field, playgrounds, archery, hiking trails, lake activities, ropes courses, a grandstand and more. Approximately 55+ acres are still left for future development.
Vintage Vermilion Cabins and Retreat
SVN | Northco is pleased to present the sale of Vintage Vermilion Cabins & Retreat located on Black Bay on Lake Vermilion, MN (Property). This private resort captures a serene wilderness setting with 5 charming cabins on ±88 acres and ±3,000 feet of shoreline on the most remote automobile-accessible area of Lake Vermilion. The Property offers several activities and amenities including paddle boats, kayaks, canoes, a sauna, a 2-mile-long driveway for biking or jogging, and much more. Significant additional development potential exists given the fact that the Property is situated on ±88 acres. This property is located within an income tax opportunity zone and also in a rare Shoreland Mixed Use zoning category. It is one of the largest undeveloped parcels on the lake permitting such commercial use.
The Property is located on Black Bay on Lake Vermillion in the heart of Minnesota's Arrowhead Region; a mere 17 miles northeast of Cook, MN, 40 miles north of Virginia, MN, 110 miles north of Duluth, and just 240 miles north of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
Lake Vermilion is Minnesota's fifth largest lake with over 40,000 acres of water, 365 islands, and over 1,200 miles of pristine shoreline. It was voted by National Geographic as one of the most scenic lakes in the United States, and it is located between the Superior National Forest and Voyageurs National Park and is the gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Seventy miles south of the Canadian border.
Although currently operated as a resort, the quality and size of the asset also lends well to a variety of uses going forward including, but not limited to, a private estate/family compound, hunting & fishing camp, corporate retreat, further development on all the additional acreage, etc.
Pike Bay Lodge
SVN | Northco is pleased to present Pike Bay Lodge for sale, located on one of Minnesota's most popular lakes, Lake Vermilion. This unique destination resort is open year-round, has 30 gorgeous acres with 500+ feet of shoreline, and offers a wide variety of lodging accommodations for guests to choose from. The main house was built in 1920 as a summer estate for industrialist A.B. Coates and his family, followed by the log caretaker’s cottage, butler's bungalow, chauffeur’s quarters and vintage boathouse.
The resort offers multiple amenities and activities for guests to enjoy including hunting, fishing, clean fish house, safe sand beach, on-site boat launch with ample parking, free docking for boats, power stations on docks for charging, gas, wifi, covered boathouse slips, access to snowmobile trails in the winter and much more. There are also about ±21.4 acres of development land included in the sale for additional units, tiny homes, glamping, RV sites, amenities, etc.
More Resorts for Sale
Gogebic Lodge & Marine
$2,143,000
Balsam Lake Lodge & Restaurant
$3,495,000
Minnesota Resorts
When looking for your next new beachfront resort, you may want to start searching a little further north from the equator. From gorgeous lakefronts and sandy beaches to the beauty of the Northwoods, Minnesota is an incredible destination for a romantic getaway, a friends trip, or a family vacation.
Countless beautiful properties line the North Shore along Lake Superior and all throughout Minnesota. In the land of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota is literally home to thousands of pristine lakes throughout the state. There's no shortage of stunning vistas, activities, and experiences that draw in guests from all over year after year.
Not only does the scenery rival tropical destinations, but Minnesota resorts are often more affordable than overseas locations, easier to travel to, and require far less logistics and planning. Most Minnesota resorts are only a couple hours drive from the main city centers Minneapolis and St. Paul, allowing vacationers to easily get away for a weekend trip or plan for a longer stay.
Plus, northern locations like Minnesota will likely become even more popular for out-of-state guests who want to escape the heat of summer, particularly in southwestern states where temps can reach unbearable levels. With scorching temperatures, nothing will seem quite as good as enjoying a warm, Minnesotan summer evening, relaxing next to a cool lake.
Year-Round Possibilities
Minnesota resorts offer a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, from miles of hiking and bike trails to championship golf courses and water-skiing, boating, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and more.
In the winter, at many resorts the the trails turn into cross-country ski and snowshoeing paths and the lakes offer ice fishing and snowmobiling, allowing guests to enjoy many Minnesota resorts all year round.
In summers, Minnesota lakes, the Northwoods, and lush state parks provide a welcome respite not only from the heat, but from the bustle of daily life as guests find themselves immersed in nature and surrounded by tranquil beauty. In winter, Minnesota resorts transform into cozy lodges, allowing guests to still enjoy a great vacation even in the colder months.
Family Vacations
With endless outdoor recreation and activities, resorts in Minnesota are perfect for family vacations, offering experiences that the entire family, from young children to older grandparents, can all participate in. Once families find a resort they love, they tend to stick with what they know will be a guaranteed great vacation.
Families return again and again, creating new traditions and memories for their kids who will then come back with their own kids to recreate and pass on those great experiences. Not only do you create loyal guests and thereby consistent revenue, but helping to create lifetime memories and watch families grow up can be incredibly rewarding.
Resort Varieties
Minnesota resorts are also great at accommodating a variety of different types of resorts. For instance, you’ll find many resort properties that offer a more rustic experience with a campground or number of remote cabins secluded in the woods. At the same time, you’ll see luxury properties that include every amenity imaginable, offering guests a deluxe vacation.
With Minnesota properties, many combine different unit types to provide both rustic and luxury options. Guests can choose to stay in the main lodge with every comfort, while others can choose a secluded cabin further from the main buildings, but also have access to every amenity.
With various resort possibilities, Minnesota resorts make a great investment, offering flexibility, more opportunities to expand, and attracting a wide pool of guests. Before you decide on a property, consider which resort type you’d like to pursue.
If you want a secluded, classic up-north cabin experience, you’ll want to look for a property surrounded by plenty of greenery and thick forest. Look to surrounding resorts to see which ones found success with a particular model and also which ones struggled. This can give you a good idea on which direction to take your own resort.
Where to Start?
Tourism is huge in Minnesota. As of 2020, pre-Covid, the tourism industry in Minnesota is a $16 billion business, adding over a billion dollars in sales tax revenues. Hospitality and tourism will only continue to grow.
To get started, Minnesota has a number of hospitality networks and associations to help guide you as you begin searching for your new Minnesota resort property.
Community of Minnesota Resorts
Community of Minnesota Resorts is a resort and campground association focused on “Resorters Helping Resorters”. They provide a slew of resources including a platform to ask each other questions, seminars, and a strong legislative presence that advocates for the hospitality industry and resort owners.
Hospitality Minnesota
The Minnesota Lodging Association, Minnesota Resort and Campground Association, and the Minnesota Restaurant Association merged together to form Hospitality Minnesota, an organization that offers support, connects businesses, and advocates for the health and interests of the hospitality industry.
Chambers of Commerce
Additionally, local Chambers of Commerce are great at helping you better understand the communities in the area of your resort, provide marketing opportunities, and can assist in promoting local hospitality and businesses.
With scenic beauty, great outdoor recreation, and year-round attractions, Minnesota is a fantastic resort destination with endless opportunities to grow.
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