Business at the Grand Marais Recreation Park was hopping this summer as a record amount of RV campers and tent campers filled the park to almost capacity. Park workers are now in the process of winterizing the campground and plans are already being made for improvements to the park that will begin next spring.
Continuing a great summer/ fall trend, October 2016 revenues at the Grand Marais Municipal Recreation Park were up 6.3 percent over 2015, said park manager Dave Tersteeg.
Year to date revenues stand at $1,124,223; up $87,446 (8.5 percent) over 2015.
“The successful season had many attributes—great weekend events, hot summer weather, camping and RV vacations trending up nationally, and huge demand for the North Shore, especially for downtown Grand Marais,” Tersteeg said to the park board at their November 1st meeting.
The park board approved a Special Event application for the use of Harbor Park next July 21-23 for the Stone Harbor Wilderness 3rd annual Water Festival Weekend.
A request from the Skinny Winnie campers asking the park to provide a tent next to the Recreation Hall (so their group could be more comfortable) was discussed, but no action was taken.
“This will be five years in a row that they [SW] will hold a September rally in the park,” Tersteeg said. “The rally attracts roughly 120 campers and the Rec Hall only holds 50 or so people, although we do add extra picnic tables outside. The past couple of years we have suggested they rent a tent from Isak Hansen’s and or use the Community Center, but so far they haven’t done either of those things.”
Sally Berg, the board’s chair, suggested Tersteeg check into the cost of renting a tent from Isak Hansen’s and then explore the possibility of splitting the cost with the group.
“We might want to meet them halfway,” said Berg. “They [SW] are coming here during a soft time, and we wouldn’t want to lose their business.”
“They will still come,” said Tersteeg, adding he would get the cost of renting a tent from Isak Hansen’s and bring that information to the board for its next meeting.
With a minimal staff, Tersteeg said he and his assistant and one part-time employee have been busy closing the park for the winter. “We have been consolidating the docks, installing de-icers and removing the roll-in docks at the access ramps, and working to clean up fire grates and the micro-trash on the sites, as well as pressure wash all of the dumpsters and recycling bins.
“We also hope to do some intensive weeding and trimming in Harbor Park and the library rain garden,” added Tersteeg.
Gunflint Hills Golf Course Manager Mike Kunshier came before the board with a year-end golf report.
“In 2015 we took in $125,322. This year we received $125,031, a difference of $291. I would say we were flat. Our greens fees were down 6.5 percent, but we were up 16 percent in memberships. Final rounds played totaled 8,501, which was down a little bit from last year.”
Kunshier said he is the lone employee left on the course, and he has been busy roping off greens, cleaning carpets, and winterizing the building and equipment. “I should be done by Thanksgiving,” he said.
After looking at some modest rate hikes for 2017, the board unanimously passed a motion to increase most camping fees slightly.
Increases include charging $2 more per month for off-season storage; adding 1.7 percent to dock boats; adding 50 cents per day for full hookups; and increase all Lakeside RV sites to $10 more per night than the standard sites.
Monthly camping rates will rise $10 per month over 2016 rate, a jump of 1.3 percent. And the “Use it When you Wish” clause was changed to the 12-month plan to offer six months of camping and six months of storage.
Tersteeg said all of the seasonal campers that come yearly to the park would be notified of the changes by letter this winter.
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