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Today I am fixated on two places you can stay in Grand Marais that have unusual names. Consider the Mangy Moose and the Basecamp Bungalows. Most people think that mange is a downer, but that Moose stays occupied all summer. And Basecamp makes me think of climbing in the Himalayas.
Both are no frills places with great locations and get great reviews. You don’t get, or have to pay for, expensive to maintain pools and hot tubs, but there is a daily rate at the nearby YMCA. The Moose faces the Lake in downtown. Basecamp has some view of the Lake from the hill, but its view is dominated by the Courthouse across the street. Great if you want to be sure to be in court on time on one of the four days of court per month.
The moose website says, “Lake in front, wilderness in back, in middle of town” and “No more than 5 blocks to anything,” only a slight exaggeration. All rooms are nonsmoking, and pet free with private baths. All have coffee makers, mini-fridges, cable, hairdryers, soap, shampoo, conditioner, flat screen TV and high-speed internet. Four units have air conditioning. Only the Moose Hus has a kitchen. It has new siding that makes it stand out nicely.
The Moose webpage asks, “What kind of people stay at the Mangy Moose?” The rhetorical question is answered, “We look for good ones. Most of the people that stay with us are here to enjoy the little quiet town and beauty surrounding it. Hikers, birders, artists, bikers, canoeists, and the like. The Moose is a smaller property with a mellow atmosphere. Most people are early to bed- early to rise. Many evenings there’s a little fire where one can enjoy a beer or wine and socialize. But we do have a 10 PM ‘Quiet Time’ and ask people to be respectful of others. Larger groups or rowdy people could be bored here. Also, while we strive to provide clean, cozy, rooms with updated/modern amenities, we are not by any means The Waldorf. Customer service is a priority, yes. But we don’t have room service, valet parking, or mints on the pillow. Four comfy new pillows, yes. But no mints. Sorry.”
Room rates are not on website. Trip Advisor says “starting at $115/night, May to October. Webpage is www.mangymoosemotel.com.
Basecamp Bungalows website says it, “is located in beautiful Grand Marais, Minnesota with easy access to downtown, Lake Superior, North House Folk School, Grand Marais Art Colony, and the many trails and parks in the area. The Superior Suite, Snowdrift Studio and Homebase are now booking on Airbnb.
I suspect that, if asked, the owners of the Basecamp would be glad to answer the Who stays here question in a manner similar to the Moose. Basecamp’s Facebook page says that rates are “$$;” Airbnb page said $176/night. Webpage is Newly remodeled Boutique hotel (basecampbungalows.com).
Erratum and Second Thought:
In the Bedrock Rules column in the last year, I wrote that my Uncle Tom Aldrich did geophysical explosions in the Ely, Mn area in the 1970’s. A genealogy says it was 1965.
Last week’s column mentioned a criminal charge of using non-preserved minnows in a Trout Lake. Here is more background. Minnesota Administrative Rules 6264.0050 lists four RESTRICTIONS ON DESIGNATED TROUT LAKES AND STREAMS. Subpart D says, “possession or use of minnows as bait, except live leeches and processed minnows in a dried, frozen, or pickled condition, is prohibited.” Subdivision 2 lists 56 Trout Lakes in Cook County alone. Cook also has 89 named trout streams and about 75 unnamed.
Some of my favorite lake names are Bogus, Extortion, Missing Link, Wee, and Wench. The lake names may give us a year’s worth of columns. No reasons are given in the Rule. In case you don’t know if your lake is a Trout Lake, all of this can be found at www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/6264.0050/.
Caveat Lector: The minnow section properly belongs in “Outdoors with James Egan,” another column in this paper. But I got started chasing non-preserved minnows and couldn’t stop. Sorry, James.
Steve Aldrich is a retired Hennepin County lawyer, judge, and mediator, serving as judge from 1997-2010. He and his wife moved here in 2016. He likes to remember that he was a Minnesota Super Family Lawyer before being elected to the bench. Now he is among the most vulnerable to viruses. Steve really enjoys doing weddings, the one thing a retired judge can do without appointment by the Chief Justice. Bouquets and brickbats to the editor or stevealdrich41@gmail.com. Copyright Stephen C. Aldrich and News Herald, 2022
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