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A strong August has seen the Grand Marais Rec Parks 2022 totals surpass the 2021 totals through the same period last year.
Park Manager Dave Tersteeg’s report to the Grand Marais Park Board on September 6 was filled with good news. August was up 16 percent over 2021 August, bringing in $40,000 more than the previous year. Revenue totals for the marina and park campground are $1.229 million, up $53,500, or 4.5 percent overall from last year’s strong showing.
Tersteeg said that boat business at the marina had been slower this year than last year, and fuel sales are down. “Fuel sales are slow, fishing is slow; this is one of the worst fishing seasons in history,” exclaimed Tersteeg.
Tersteeg told the board that September and October reservations look strong, and the park is on pace to meet and exceed budget projections for 2022.
Besides strong attendance, expenses have been under budget because the park was down from 15 fulltime employees to 12. This was due to the inability to find enough seasonal workers, so there was significant savings in labor costs.
Park board member Kay Costello asked Tersteeg if the shortage of workers was hard on the staff, and he replied, “I won’t lie, yes, it’s been hard. Everyone worked harder.” But he added that his staff had done a remarkable job, and he appreciated their efforts.
The Public Park Access Project is complete, and boaters have been using the facility. Tersteeg said there is only one roll-in dock available on the ramp, but two new ones will be in place next spring for boaters. Compliments have been coming in from boaters who are using the new ramp and parking area. “We have been given favorable reviews of the overall layout, look and feel of the facility,” he said.
Matthew Brown asked how much the new boat ramp, inner harbor and parking lot cost and Tersteeg replied. Three million. Two million for the break wall and ramps and one million for the parking lot.” Then Dave explained that the planning with the Minnesota DNR had been ongoing for at least ten years, and the cost of the break wall had doubled over that time. “With inflation and the evolution of the design, the cost went up,” he said.
Funding for the project came from state municipal bonding and the DNR boating access dollars, said Tersteeg.
WTIP’s Radio Waves takes place this weekend at Sweetheart’s Bluff recreation areas. There will be 22 musical acts playing over three days. In addition, food trucks will be outside of the venue this year.
The overlay pavement project in the park started this week. Roads on the east and west side of the park will receive two inches of overlay from KTM Contractors. Tersteeg said he hoped for minimal interruption to guests during a lull in occupancy. On Monday, September 5, 126 people checked out, and the campground was half full. However, weekends will fill up. The last day the campground will be open with full service is October 23.
Gunflint Hills Golf Course
Play has been steady, and the number of golfers is up, said Gunflint Hills Golf Course, Superintendent Paul Jones.
When asked if the golf course saw more visitors from Canada, Jones replied yes, more Canadians have been playing the course since the border restrictions have come down.
“We are waiting for the delivery of three golf carts,” Jones said. The carts were supposed to be delivered in July and August but now should be coming sometime this September, added Jones.
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