Most weekly rentals are for six nights, Saturday to Friday.
Check in and out at noon. If possible, we will try to accommodate other arrival and departure times.
Summer rates vary from $1,800 to $2,600 depending on the week.
Non-summer rates are
$600 for 2 nights
$700 for 3 nights
$800 for 4 nights
$850 for 5 nights
$900 for 6 nights
Please see the attached PDF for our 2012 summer rates. Thank you.
There is extra rent for holidays and MEA week.
Rates apply to groups of eight or fewer people. Please add $25 per night for each person in addition to eight. We have beds for 13 people and cushions that can be used on the floor if need be. Groups larger than 13 people will be considered on a case by case basis. Children under 3 are free.
Pontoon rental is also available for $350 a week. We will make sure that the pontoon is gassed up for you upon your arrival and we ask that you leave it gassed up for our next visitors also. If you choose not to fill the tank, then we will deduct a gas charge from your damage deposit.
$100 per dog. $150 cleaning fee.
Please remember that this is a housekeeping lodge. We will be happy to do the laundry and clean and vacuum after your stay, but we would be most grateful if you would make sure that all of the trash is placed into the garbage cans outside and that all litter including cigarette butts is removed from the yard. Although almost everyone has been wonderful in leaving the Lodge in great shape, we do reserve the right to withhold some or all of the damage deposit in case we incur an extra charge for cleaning that is over and above the norm.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Welcome!
Lady Slipper Lodge
9254 Milton Lake Drive NE
Remer, MN 56672
Welcome!
Denise and I are very happy to share the Lady Slipper Lodge and the beautiful Remer area with you. We want your stay to be happy and memorable, so if there is anything you need, please call us and we will do whatever we can to assist you.
The Property
We have 32 acres. Our property starts approximately where the chain gate crosses the driveway. Basically, we own all of the land between Upper Milton and Lower Milton Lakes, so you can walk the trails without worrying about getting lost.
Neighbors
Our nearest neighbor is Eileen, but her house is currently for sale and she lives elsewhere.
Our other neighbors own the two small cabins at the end of our mutual driveway.
Their names are Pat and Sue. They are friendly and neighborly.
We plan to build a bunk house or caretaker’s cabin on Upper Milton on the opposite side of the property from the Lady Slipper Lodge. Until then, we may place a camper at that location.
Inside the Lodge
Bedrooms
There are four large bedrooms at the Lodge. The master bedroom and the guest room are on the upper level and each has a large walk-in closet. The master bedroom faces west and has a sliding glass door to the deck along the front of the Lodge. The guest room has a very large window, perfect for stargazing.
The hunter's bedroom and the fisherman's bedroom were added to the lower level in 2007. Both of those rooms also have large closets.
Security Alarm
The Lodge and the pole barn are armed with a security system. Information about the security system will be provided to you before your visit.
If you have trouble with the alarm system, you can call me or call the local service technician, Kevin, at (218) 566-1000.
Septic
There is no garbage disposal, so please don’t allow food scraps to go down the drain. Dispose of grease by freezing it and then putting it in the garbage can at the end of your stay. Also, please don’t flush any paper products other than toilet paper. Finally, please lift the toilet handles after flushing to make sure that the toilets don’t run. We have found that a running toilet can fill up a septic tank in a few hours.
Trash
Trash will not be picked up during your stay, but adequate garbage cans will be provided. There is a separate recycling bin in the closet for those who choose to recycle. Please place the lids on the garbage cans securely to discourage animals.
Thermostat
The round thermostat is the only one that works. That thermostat also operates the central air conditioning. The rectangular one is not connected to anything.
Laundry
Please feel free to use the laundry facilities at the Lodge. Bedding and towels will be washed by our maintenance staff after your stay.
TV, VCR, and DVD
The Lady Slipper Lodge has Direct TV. To watch Direct TV, a videotape, or a DVD, press the appropriate button on the video selector switch box on the left side of the entertainment center. The television in the lower level is for video tapes only. Sorry, at this time we do not have Internet access.
Indoor Games
When you don’t feel like fishing, you will find an eight-foot slate pool table (with a ping-pong table top) on the lower level of the lodge. There are also many board games to choose from.
Fireplace
Open the flue before starting a fire in the fireplace. A label on the fireplace shows how to operate the flue. Pull the flue handle out to open the flue, and push it in to close the flue. The flue is the top lever. The bottom lever brings in outside air.
When you have a fire, please make sure that the screen in front of the fireplace is closed. When the fire is large, please close the glass doors too.
On the wall to the left of the chimney is a switch that operates the blower for additional heat from the fire. Please note that a fire in the fireplace will reduce the time that the furnace runs, causing the lower level to become cooler. There are a couple of small electric heaters for those who like to be extra warm.
To avoid leaving the Lodge with live embers in the fireplace, please do not make a fire on your last day.
You do not need to remove any ashes from the fireplace unless you’ve burned so much that they’ve become a problem. In that case, please use the metal ash bucket and dump the ashes in the fire pit.
You will find plenty of firewood stored behind the Lodge.
Dogs
We have a chocolate lab that is part of the family, so we know how important dogs are to their owners. Well-trained and well-behaved dogs are allowed in the Lodge. We also ask our guests to clean up after their dogs, and to be extra careful not to allow their dogs in the Lodge at all if they are wet or dirty. We do have a large dog house next to the cabin. Sorry, no cats.
Smoking
Smoking outside only please.
Outside the Lodge
Fire Pit
Outdoor campfires require a free burning permit, which may be picked up, if no dry-weather burning ban is in effect, at the Remer Trading Post at the intersection of Highways Six and 200 in Remer. Call the Remer Trading Post at (218) 566-2338. The burning permit will indicate the hours during which you may burn. Feel free to use the firewood provided for campfires or gather your own firewood from fallen trees on the property. Please be careful when enjoying campfires though, and have a shovel, a rake, and a couple of buckets of water handy just in case. Avoid dangerously large fires and fires on windy days. Before you leave the fire area, please push the embers towards the center of the fire ring and douse them with water.
Boats
Oars for the rowboats and paddles for the canoe are kept in the shed. Other accessories such as ropes, anchors, and life jackets are there as well. We would be grateful if you return the boats and accessories to their storage places at the end of your stay.
Pontoon
If you rented the pontoon, it will be gassed up and ready for use. The key for the pontoon is hanging in the closet on a key rack. Please fill the gas tank on shore to avoid spilling in the pontoon or in the lake. Do not mix the oil and gas. THE OIL GOES IN THE TOP OF THE MOTOR IN A SEPARATE LOCATION. Oil will be supplied. Also, please make sure that there is oil in the motor every time the gas tank is filled.
The motor starts quite easily. Often, it is not necessary to choke the motor at all. To choke the motor, push the key in for one second while starting. Much more than that could flood the motor.
The motor has power trim and tilt on the throttle. One of the only places in the lake where you may need to raise the motor due to the depth is on the far west end by the beaver dam. This is a very nice place to anchor and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, but it gets full of lily pads by summer.
If the canvas cover is on the pontoon when you are ready to use it, please remove the canvas cover and place it in the shed. Place the three poles for the canvas cover in the shed as well. It’s not necessary to replace the cover.
Make sure that the pontoon is securely tied to the dock with three ropes when not in use.
Please follow all state boating laws. Minnesota law requires a life jacket to be worn by children less than 10 years old when aboard any watercraft while underway. You will find a copy of the Minnesota Boating Guide at the Lodge. Please return the book to the shelf when you are done with it. Also see the “Boating and water recreation regulations” page on the Minnesota DNR’s web site.
Here are the age restrictions for operating motorboats and personal watercraft.
Boat Landing
There is a public boat landing on Lower Milton Lake. It is beyond the turn into our private driveway. You may also launch a boat right from the front yard of the Lady Slipper Lodge. At one time we had the beach area excavated and filled with gravel to make this possible. However, you must have a four-wheel drive to launch a boat from our yard.
Fishing
Both lakes are great for fishing. The first lake you see when you drive in is called Upper Milton Lake. The larger part of the lake that you see when you drive all the way in is called Lower Milton Lake. Both lakes offer great fishing for sunfish, crappies, largemouth bass, and northern pike. Some people fish the lake for large mouth bass as well.
Our favorite bait for sunfish is wax worms. The crappies bite on crappie minnows and wax worms. Sometimes they bite very lightly and quite often when we are fishing for sunfish, we don’t use a bobber at all. The sunfish bite just about anywhere along the shoreline, but in the summer, they are generally fished about 6 to 8 feet down in about 14 feet of water.
The Northerns seem to like the colors orange and black and will strike just about anywhere on the lake when trolling around the shore. I often put a sucker minnow on a buzz bait when I troll.
Excellent walleye lakes in the area include Graves Lake, Woman Lake, Leech Lake, and Big Winnie.
We ask that all fish cleaning be done outside on the table provided and that the fish guts be promptly buried in the woods behind the pole barn.
Swimming
Milton is a clean lake for swimming and good swimmers can swim from the floating dock to the swimming raft. The lake is about seven feet deep at the end of the dock and about 17 feet deep at the raft. There is a ladder at the end of the dock. You will find a number of inner tubes for your use inside the shed.
There are no sandy swimming beaches on Milton Lake, but there are very nice sandy swimming beaches close by. The closest is on Little Sand Lake. To reach that beach, drive back towards Remer and when you get to the stop sign at County Road 4, turn right. Little Sand Lake and the swimming beach will be on your right in about a mile and a half.
An even nicer beach is located on Mable Lake, which is part of a national campground. To get there, go west from Remer on Highway 200 about six miles until you see the turn to Mable Lake to the right. Turn and follow the signs for about one mile to the lake and beach.
Outdoor Games
Outdoor games include croquet, bocce ball, horse shoes, and beanbag toss. Play some golf with golf clubs and wiffle golf balls.
Hiking
There are 32 acres at the Lady Slipper Lodge with hiking trails throughout the property. There is also a maintained hiking trail called the North Country Trail that touches the south end of Upper Milton Lake at the public access. The public access is at the end of our driveway and then off to the left. At that point, you will see a trail that goes up a hill. That is the North Country Hiking Trail. There are some high hills and the view is great. That trail comes out to Graves Lake Road in about a mile or so. If you can find that spot, it’s a nice hike to get dropped off there and then to walk back to the Lady Slipper Lodge. There should be a map in the cupboard above the refrigerator.
There is another trail that begins at the public access that runs along the lake. That trail is used by ATV’s and snowmobiles and although it is not groomed, it is also a very nice hiking trail. For those who like to explore, there are also other trails that fork off of that one. We recommend that you bring a compass if you go exploring.
A minimum maintenance road also runs east and west just north of Lower Milton Lake. You will see it marked as a dotted line on the topographic map hanging on the wall in the Lodge. This road is always usable by cars in the summer, and it makes for a lovely drive through the forest. Many logging roads connect to this road. The road comes out to a gravel road called Long Lake Road. Turn right and that road will bring you to State Highway 6. Turn right again, and you will wind up back in Remer.
All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
One of the main reasons many people go "up north" is to enjoy riding ATVs. The Remer area offers many trails and roads where ATV riding is allowed, but due to recent restrictions put in place by the Minnesota DNR and the US Forest Service (which oversees the Chippewa National Forest), we recommend that ATV riders check with the DNR and the Forest Service to make sure your intended trails are open to ATVs.
The Minnesota DNR and the US Forest Service have been busy placing signs in the various state parks that will say whether a particular trail is open or not. For ATV information, regulations, and motor vehicle use maps, see the Chippewa National Forest ATV page. We will have a motor vehicle use map at the Lodge, and we would be happy to send you a copy of the part of the map around the Lodge if asked.
Some of the roads around the Lady Slipper Lodge are county or township roads where the Chippewa National Forest rules may not apply, so it’s a good idea to also check with the DNR to make sure you are familiar with Minnesota's rules regarding ATVs.
Links to Information about Snowmobiling
Snowmobile Trails in and around the Chippewa National Forest
Chippewa National Forest General Information
Minnesota DNR snowmobiling information page
Longville Lakes Area Snowmobile Club
Northern Minnesota and Ontario, Canada SnowmobilingMaps and Trail Information
Flowers
The Lady Slipper Lodge and the Chippewa National Forrest area are abundant with wild flowers. Our property received its name because of its abundance of the Minnesota state flower, the Showy Lady Slipper. That very rare pink and white orchid is illegal to cut or pick. We would kindly request that no wild flowers be picked on the Lady Slipper Lodge property. Red raspberries and blackberries, however, are plentiful and may be picked.
Here is a partial list of the wild flowers that you may see:
Wildlife
Being as far back in the woods as we are, it is not uncommon to see fox, deer, eagles, grouse, and ospreys. Black bears don’t like human contact, so the chance of seeing one is extremely remote. We have seen one only once so far. We also share the Chippewa National Forest with timber wolves and coyotes, which are rarely seen, but are sometimes heard howling at night. Trumpeter swans visit Milton Lake in spring and early summer, and it is not uncommon to see beavers, muskrats, and sometimes otters.
Hunting & Shooting
The Chippewa National Forrest offers some of the best ruffed grouse hunting in the country. With all of the logging that is done in the area, the deer hunting here is also exceptional. Although we do not allow gun hunting on our 32 acres, bow hunting is allowed. Also, since Milton Lake sits in the middle of thousands of acres of public land, there is no shortage of places to hunt within walking distance from the Lady Slipper Lodge.
You may also throw and shoot clay pigeons from the hill that is on the left side of the driveway as you are entering our property. Please make sure to pick up all spent shotgun shells. You do not, however, need to pick up any clay pigeon debris. Also, although our neighbor’s house is far enough away not to be hit with shotgun pellets, please do not shoot across the driveway.
The Lady Slipper Lodge also has a safe shooting lane where rifles may be shot.
Birds
Bird watching is great in the northern woods. We try to keep our birdfeeders full, and we have plenty of bird seed available if the feeders get low during your stay.
During one two-day period in May of 2008, my mother, sitting at our kitchen table, counted over 49 species of birds. Another guest in early 2008 told me that he counted 60 species of birds while walking from the Lady Slipper Lodge to the public access on Graves Lake and back.
Pests
There is no poison ivy in the yard or woods around the Lady Slipper Lodge; however, at the top of the hill where the clay pigeons are shot and in that general vicinity, there is quite a bit of poison ivy. Be careful if you pet your dog if your dog has run through that area, or if you leave the hiking trail. Stay on the mowed areas and you will be fine.
A fact of life in Minnesota is that people who enjoy the outdoors quite likely will encounter either a regular wood tick, or the smaller variety called a deer tick. There are many creative ways to dispose of a tick once you find one, but the easiest way we have found is to simply to fold it inside a piece of Scotch Tape and throw it in the wastebasket. That way it can’t escape, and unnecessary water is not put into the septic system by flushing the toilet for one wood tick.
You should try to avoid excessive contact with lake weeds in late July and August. This is because little critters known as chiggers might decide that you are a better place for them to live than on a lake weed. If you get a chigger bite, you will get a red mark like a mosquito bite that will itch. They go away after a week or so, but they itch in the meantime. One remedy that we use is to cover the chigger bite with clear nail polish.
Our raccoon neighbors may pay you a visit if food is left on the deck at night.
Around the Area
Nightlife and Restaurants
There are three bars in Remer. They are LJ's Sports Bar, The Pub, and The Municipal. On Wednesday nights, you will find Bingo at LJ's and Texas Hold 'Em at the Pub. A little farther out of town is our favorite bar and restaurant called The Anchorage. This restaurant has a nice buffet and the bar attracts excellent karaoke singers from all over. To get to The Anchorage, go south from Remer on Highway 6 about four miles to County Road 7. Then turn right to go west about nine miles to the Anchorage. Tell Pat, the KJ, that Tony sent you. Also, Northern Lights Casino is about 35 miles west of Remer on Highway 200 near Walker.
Restaurants in Remer include LJ’s, The Woodsman, and the Northwoods Steakhouse. Great pizzas and subs are available at the Clark Station. There is also a fancier restaurant at Rutger’s on Sugar Lake south of Grand Rapids. They offer a superb Sunday brunch starting at 11 a.m.
Churches
The following churches are in the area:
St. Paul Catholic Church - Remer (218) 566-2954
St. Edward’s Catholic Church - Longville (218) 363-2799
Salem Lutheran Church ELCA - Longville (218) 363-2011
Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA - Remer (218) 566-2482
Congregational Church - Remer (218) 566-1495
Northland Alliance Church - Remer (218) 566-2695
Shopping
Remer has a medium-sized grocery store that most likely will sell everything you need. Other businesses include a bank, a gift store, a craft store, a butcher shop, a hardware store, a sporting goods store, and a couple of gas stations.
For recreational shopping, most of our guests enjoy going to Walker, Minnesota. That town is about 40 miles from the cabin west of Remer on Highway 200. It’s on Leech Lake and offers various unique shops and restaurants.
The nearest large city with most of the well known national department stores is Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids is about 34 miles north of Remer. To get to Grand Rapids, drive east from Remer 17 miles to Hill city, then north 17 miles on Highway 169 to Grand Rapids.
Antiques
You may have gone through the town of Crosby on your way to Lady Slipper Lodge. Crosby is about 42 miles south of Remer on Highway 6. It is well-known for its many antique stores, and would be well worth the trip for those interested in antiquing.
Emergencies and Assistance
Emergencies
Dial 911 for emergencies. Remer has a fire department and an ambulance service. Remer is in Cass County and the Cass Country Sheriff’s Department is only a 911 call away should you need them.
There are two hospitals in the general area. The Grand Itasca Hospital is in Grand Rapids, about 29 miles away. Its address is 1601 Golf Course Road, Grand Rapids. The hospital’s telephone number is (218) 326-3401.
About 49 miles away in Crosby is the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center. The phone number there is (218) 546-7000.
Maps to both hospitals are in the "Welcome Book" at the Lodge. Other healthcare professionals can be found in the Yellow Pages.
Assistance
Please call us if you have any mechanical or technical problems during your stay at the Lady Slipper Lodge. If for any reason, you cannot get ahold of us, please call our maintenance staff Kim and Deb Isaacson in Remer. Their telephone number is (218) 566-4111 and cell phone number is (218) 966-7059.
9254 Milton Lake Drive NE
Remer, MN 56672
Welcome!
Denise and I are very happy to share the Lady Slipper Lodge and the beautiful Remer area with you. We want your stay to be happy and memorable, so if there is anything you need, please call us and we will do whatever we can to assist you.
The Property
We have 32 acres. Our property starts approximately where the chain gate crosses the driveway. Basically, we own all of the land between Upper Milton and Lower Milton Lakes, so you can walk the trails without worrying about getting lost.
Neighbors
Our nearest neighbor is Eileen, but her house is currently for sale and she lives elsewhere.
Our other neighbors own the two small cabins at the end of our mutual driveway.
Their names are Pat and Sue. They are friendly and neighborly.
We plan to build a bunk house or caretaker’s cabin on Upper Milton on the opposite side of the property from the Lady Slipper Lodge. Until then, we may place a camper at that location.
Inside the Lodge
Bedrooms
There are four large bedrooms at the Lodge. The master bedroom and the guest room are on the upper level and each has a large walk-in closet. The master bedroom faces west and has a sliding glass door to the deck along the front of the Lodge. The guest room has a very large window, perfect for stargazing.
The hunter's bedroom and the fisherman's bedroom were added to the lower level in 2007. Both of those rooms also have large closets.
Security Alarm
The Lodge and the pole barn are armed with a security system. Information about the security system will be provided to you before your visit.
If you have trouble with the alarm system, you can call me or call the local service technician, Kevin, at (218) 566-1000.
Septic
There is no garbage disposal, so please don’t allow food scraps to go down the drain. Dispose of grease by freezing it and then putting it in the garbage can at the end of your stay. Also, please don’t flush any paper products other than toilet paper. Finally, please lift the toilet handles after flushing to make sure that the toilets don’t run. We have found that a running toilet can fill up a septic tank in a few hours.
Trash
Trash will not be picked up during your stay, but adequate garbage cans will be provided. There is a separate recycling bin in the closet for those who choose to recycle. Please place the lids on the garbage cans securely to discourage animals.
Thermostat
The round thermostat is the only one that works. That thermostat also operates the central air conditioning. The rectangular one is not connected to anything.
Laundry
Please feel free to use the laundry facilities at the Lodge. Bedding and towels will be washed by our maintenance staff after your stay.
TV, VCR, and DVD
The Lady Slipper Lodge has Direct TV. To watch Direct TV, a videotape, or a DVD, press the appropriate button on the video selector switch box on the left side of the entertainment center. The television in the lower level is for video tapes only. Sorry, at this time we do not have Internet access.
Indoor Games
When you don’t feel like fishing, you will find an eight-foot slate pool table (with a ping-pong table top) on the lower level of the lodge. There are also many board games to choose from.
Fireplace
Open the flue before starting a fire in the fireplace. A label on the fireplace shows how to operate the flue. Pull the flue handle out to open the flue, and push it in to close the flue. The flue is the top lever. The bottom lever brings in outside air.
When you have a fire, please make sure that the screen in front of the fireplace is closed. When the fire is large, please close the glass doors too.
On the wall to the left of the chimney is a switch that operates the blower for additional heat from the fire. Please note that a fire in the fireplace will reduce the time that the furnace runs, causing the lower level to become cooler. There are a couple of small electric heaters for those who like to be extra warm.
To avoid leaving the Lodge with live embers in the fireplace, please do not make a fire on your last day.
You do not need to remove any ashes from the fireplace unless you’ve burned so much that they’ve become a problem. In that case, please use the metal ash bucket and dump the ashes in the fire pit.
You will find plenty of firewood stored behind the Lodge.
Dogs
We have a chocolate lab that is part of the family, so we know how important dogs are to their owners. Well-trained and well-behaved dogs are allowed in the Lodge. We also ask our guests to clean up after their dogs, and to be extra careful not to allow their dogs in the Lodge at all if they are wet or dirty. We do have a large dog house next to the cabin. Sorry, no cats.
Smoking
Smoking outside only please.
Outside the Lodge
Fire Pit
Outdoor campfires require a free burning permit, which may be picked up, if no dry-weather burning ban is in effect, at the Remer Trading Post at the intersection of Highways Six and 200 in Remer. Call the Remer Trading Post at (218) 566-2338. The burning permit will indicate the hours during which you may burn. Feel free to use the firewood provided for campfires or gather your own firewood from fallen trees on the property. Please be careful when enjoying campfires though, and have a shovel, a rake, and a couple of buckets of water handy just in case. Avoid dangerously large fires and fires on windy days. Before you leave the fire area, please push the embers towards the center of the fire ring and douse them with water.
Boats
Oars for the rowboats and paddles for the canoe are kept in the shed. Other accessories such as ropes, anchors, and life jackets are there as well. We would be grateful if you return the boats and accessories to their storage places at the end of your stay.
Pontoon
If you rented the pontoon, it will be gassed up and ready for use. The key for the pontoon is hanging in the closet on a key rack. Please fill the gas tank on shore to avoid spilling in the pontoon or in the lake. Do not mix the oil and gas. THE OIL GOES IN THE TOP OF THE MOTOR IN A SEPARATE LOCATION. Oil will be supplied. Also, please make sure that there is oil in the motor every time the gas tank is filled.
The motor starts quite easily. Often, it is not necessary to choke the motor at all. To choke the motor, push the key in for one second while starting. Much more than that could flood the motor.
The motor has power trim and tilt on the throttle. One of the only places in the lake where you may need to raise the motor due to the depth is on the far west end by the beaver dam. This is a very nice place to anchor and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, but it gets full of lily pads by summer.
If the canvas cover is on the pontoon when you are ready to use it, please remove the canvas cover and place it in the shed. Place the three poles for the canvas cover in the shed as well. It’s not necessary to replace the cover.
Make sure that the pontoon is securely tied to the dock with three ropes when not in use.
Please follow all state boating laws. Minnesota law requires a life jacket to be worn by children less than 10 years old when aboard any watercraft while underway. You will find a copy of the Minnesota Boating Guide at the Lodge. Please return the book to the shelf when you are done with it. Also see the “Boating and water recreation regulations” page on the Minnesota DNR’s web site.
Here are the age restrictions for operating motorboats and personal watercraft.
Boat Landing
There is a public boat landing on Lower Milton Lake. It is beyond the turn into our private driveway. You may also launch a boat right from the front yard of the Lady Slipper Lodge. At one time we had the beach area excavated and filled with gravel to make this possible. However, you must have a four-wheel drive to launch a boat from our yard.
Fishing
Both lakes are great for fishing. The first lake you see when you drive in is called Upper Milton Lake. The larger part of the lake that you see when you drive all the way in is called Lower Milton Lake. Both lakes offer great fishing for sunfish, crappies, largemouth bass, and northern pike. Some people fish the lake for large mouth bass as well.
Our favorite bait for sunfish is wax worms. The crappies bite on crappie minnows and wax worms. Sometimes they bite very lightly and quite often when we are fishing for sunfish, we don’t use a bobber at all. The sunfish bite just about anywhere along the shoreline, but in the summer, they are generally fished about 6 to 8 feet down in about 14 feet of water.
The Northerns seem to like the colors orange and black and will strike just about anywhere on the lake when trolling around the shore. I often put a sucker minnow on a buzz bait when I troll.
Excellent walleye lakes in the area include Graves Lake, Woman Lake, Leech Lake, and Big Winnie.
We ask that all fish cleaning be done outside on the table provided and that the fish guts be promptly buried in the woods behind the pole barn.
Swimming
Milton is a clean lake for swimming and good swimmers can swim from the floating dock to the swimming raft. The lake is about seven feet deep at the end of the dock and about 17 feet deep at the raft. There is a ladder at the end of the dock. You will find a number of inner tubes for your use inside the shed.
There are no sandy swimming beaches on Milton Lake, but there are very nice sandy swimming beaches close by. The closest is on Little Sand Lake. To reach that beach, drive back towards Remer and when you get to the stop sign at County Road 4, turn right. Little Sand Lake and the swimming beach will be on your right in about a mile and a half.
An even nicer beach is located on Mable Lake, which is part of a national campground. To get there, go west from Remer on Highway 200 about six miles until you see the turn to Mable Lake to the right. Turn and follow the signs for about one mile to the lake and beach.
Outdoor Games
Outdoor games include croquet, bocce ball, horse shoes, and beanbag toss. Play some golf with golf clubs and wiffle golf balls.
Hiking
There are 32 acres at the Lady Slipper Lodge with hiking trails throughout the property. There is also a maintained hiking trail called the North Country Trail that touches the south end of Upper Milton Lake at the public access. The public access is at the end of our driveway and then off to the left. At that point, you will see a trail that goes up a hill. That is the North Country Hiking Trail. There are some high hills and the view is great. That trail comes out to Graves Lake Road in about a mile or so. If you can find that spot, it’s a nice hike to get dropped off there and then to walk back to the Lady Slipper Lodge. There should be a map in the cupboard above the refrigerator.
There is another trail that begins at the public access that runs along the lake. That trail is used by ATV’s and snowmobiles and although it is not groomed, it is also a very nice hiking trail. For those who like to explore, there are also other trails that fork off of that one. We recommend that you bring a compass if you go exploring.
A minimum maintenance road also runs east and west just north of Lower Milton Lake. You will see it marked as a dotted line on the topographic map hanging on the wall in the Lodge. This road is always usable by cars in the summer, and it makes for a lovely drive through the forest. Many logging roads connect to this road. The road comes out to a gravel road called Long Lake Road. Turn right and that road will bring you to State Highway 6. Turn right again, and you will wind up back in Remer.
All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
One of the main reasons many people go "up north" is to enjoy riding ATVs. The Remer area offers many trails and roads where ATV riding is allowed, but due to recent restrictions put in place by the Minnesota DNR and the US Forest Service (which oversees the Chippewa National Forest), we recommend that ATV riders check with the DNR and the Forest Service to make sure your intended trails are open to ATVs.
The Minnesota DNR and the US Forest Service have been busy placing signs in the various state parks that will say whether a particular trail is open or not. For ATV information, regulations, and motor vehicle use maps, see the Chippewa National Forest ATV page. We will have a motor vehicle use map at the Lodge, and we would be happy to send you a copy of the part of the map around the Lodge if asked.
Some of the roads around the Lady Slipper Lodge are county or township roads where the Chippewa National Forest rules may not apply, so it’s a good idea to also check with the DNR to make sure you are familiar with Minnesota's rules regarding ATVs.
Links to Information about Snowmobiling
Snowmobile Trails in and around the Chippewa National Forest
Chippewa National Forest General Information
Minnesota DNR snowmobiling information page
Longville Lakes Area Snowmobile Club
Northern Minnesota and Ontario, Canada SnowmobilingMaps and Trail Information
Flowers
The Lady Slipper Lodge and the Chippewa National Forrest area are abundant with wild flowers. Our property received its name because of its abundance of the Minnesota state flower, the Showy Lady Slipper. That very rare pink and white orchid is illegal to cut or pick. We would kindly request that no wild flowers be picked on the Lady Slipper Lodge property. Red raspberries and blackberries, however, are plentiful and may be picked.
Here is a partial list of the wild flowers that you may see:
| Bird's-Foot Trefoil | Goldenrod | Showy Lady Slipper |
| Butter & Eggs | Hedge Bindweed | Swamp Milkweed |
| Canada Hawk Weed | Hepaticas | Thistle |
| Canadian Anenomie | Honeysuckle | Violets |
| Columbine | Indian Paintbrush | White Bane Berry |
| Common Tansy | Jack-in-the-Pulpit | White Campion |
| Creeping Bell Flower | Nodding Trillium | Wild Iris |
| Daisy | Pearly Everlasting | Wild Strawberry |
| Firewood | Pussy Toes | Yarrow |
| Flat Top Aster | Queen Anne’s Lace | Yellow Lady Slipper |
| Fleabane | Red Clover | Yellow Sweet Clover |
Wildlife
Being as far back in the woods as we are, it is not uncommon to see fox, deer, eagles, grouse, and ospreys. Black bears don’t like human contact, so the chance of seeing one is extremely remote. We have seen one only once so far. We also share the Chippewa National Forest with timber wolves and coyotes, which are rarely seen, but are sometimes heard howling at night. Trumpeter swans visit Milton Lake in spring and early summer, and it is not uncommon to see beavers, muskrats, and sometimes otters.
Hunting & Shooting
The Chippewa National Forrest offers some of the best ruffed grouse hunting in the country. With all of the logging that is done in the area, the deer hunting here is also exceptional. Although we do not allow gun hunting on our 32 acres, bow hunting is allowed. Also, since Milton Lake sits in the middle of thousands of acres of public land, there is no shortage of places to hunt within walking distance from the Lady Slipper Lodge.
You may also throw and shoot clay pigeons from the hill that is on the left side of the driveway as you are entering our property. Please make sure to pick up all spent shotgun shells. You do not, however, need to pick up any clay pigeon debris. Also, although our neighbor’s house is far enough away not to be hit with shotgun pellets, please do not shoot across the driveway.
The Lady Slipper Lodge also has a safe shooting lane where rifles may be shot.
Birds
Bird watching is great in the northern woods. We try to keep our birdfeeders full, and we have plenty of bird seed available if the feeders get low during your stay.
During one two-day period in May of 2008, my mother, sitting at our kitchen table, counted over 49 species of birds. Another guest in early 2008 told me that he counted 60 species of birds while walking from the Lady Slipper Lodge to the public access on Graves Lake and back.
Pests
There is no poison ivy in the yard or woods around the Lady Slipper Lodge; however, at the top of the hill where the clay pigeons are shot and in that general vicinity, there is quite a bit of poison ivy. Be careful if you pet your dog if your dog has run through that area, or if you leave the hiking trail. Stay on the mowed areas and you will be fine.
A fact of life in Minnesota is that people who enjoy the outdoors quite likely will encounter either a regular wood tick, or the smaller variety called a deer tick. There are many creative ways to dispose of a tick once you find one, but the easiest way we have found is to simply to fold it inside a piece of Scotch Tape and throw it in the wastebasket. That way it can’t escape, and unnecessary water is not put into the septic system by flushing the toilet for one wood tick.
You should try to avoid excessive contact with lake weeds in late July and August. This is because little critters known as chiggers might decide that you are a better place for them to live than on a lake weed. If you get a chigger bite, you will get a red mark like a mosquito bite that will itch. They go away after a week or so, but they itch in the meantime. One remedy that we use is to cover the chigger bite with clear nail polish.
Our raccoon neighbors may pay you a visit if food is left on the deck at night.
Around the Area
Nightlife and Restaurants
There are three bars in Remer. They are LJ's Sports Bar, The Pub, and The Municipal. On Wednesday nights, you will find Bingo at LJ's and Texas Hold 'Em at the Pub. A little farther out of town is our favorite bar and restaurant called The Anchorage. This restaurant has a nice buffet and the bar attracts excellent karaoke singers from all over. To get to The Anchorage, go south from Remer on Highway 6 about four miles to County Road 7. Then turn right to go west about nine miles to the Anchorage. Tell Pat, the KJ, that Tony sent you. Also, Northern Lights Casino is about 35 miles west of Remer on Highway 200 near Walker.
Restaurants in Remer include LJ’s, The Woodsman, and the Northwoods Steakhouse. Great pizzas and subs are available at the Clark Station. There is also a fancier restaurant at Rutger’s on Sugar Lake south of Grand Rapids. They offer a superb Sunday brunch starting at 11 a.m.
Churches
The following churches are in the area:
St. Paul Catholic Church - Remer (218) 566-2954
St. Edward’s Catholic Church - Longville (218) 363-2799
Salem Lutheran Church ELCA - Longville (218) 363-2011
Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA - Remer (218) 566-2482
Congregational Church - Remer (218) 566-1495
Northland Alliance Church - Remer (218) 566-2695
Shopping
Remer has a medium-sized grocery store that most likely will sell everything you need. Other businesses include a bank, a gift store, a craft store, a butcher shop, a hardware store, a sporting goods store, and a couple of gas stations.
For recreational shopping, most of our guests enjoy going to Walker, Minnesota. That town is about 40 miles from the cabin west of Remer on Highway 200. It’s on Leech Lake and offers various unique shops and restaurants.
The nearest large city with most of the well known national department stores is Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids is about 34 miles north of Remer. To get to Grand Rapids, drive east from Remer 17 miles to Hill city, then north 17 miles on Highway 169 to Grand Rapids.
Antiques
You may have gone through the town of Crosby on your way to Lady Slipper Lodge. Crosby is about 42 miles south of Remer on Highway 6. It is well-known for its many antique stores, and would be well worth the trip for those interested in antiquing.
Emergencies and Assistance
Emergencies
Dial 911 for emergencies. Remer has a fire department and an ambulance service. Remer is in Cass County and the Cass Country Sheriff’s Department is only a 911 call away should you need them.
There are two hospitals in the general area. The Grand Itasca Hospital is in Grand Rapids, about 29 miles away. Its address is 1601 Golf Course Road, Grand Rapids. The hospital’s telephone number is (218) 326-3401.
About 49 miles away in Crosby is the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center. The phone number there is (218) 546-7000.
Maps to both hospitals are in the "Welcome Book" at the Lodge. Other healthcare professionals can be found in the Yellow Pages.
Assistance
Please call us if you have any mechanical or technical problems during your stay at the Lady Slipper Lodge. If for any reason, you cannot get ahold of us, please call our maintenance staff Kim and Deb Isaacson in Remer. Their telephone number is (218) 566-4111 and cell phone number is (218) 966-7059.
Phone Numbers
Owners | |
Tony and Denise Elfelt – Home number | (763) 427-7101 |
Tony Elfelt – Office | (763) 427-7766 |
Tony Elfelt – Cell | (763) 257-3905 |
Denise Elfelt – Cell | (612) 709-6237 |
Burning Permits | |
Maintenance staff Kim and Deb Isaacson | (218) 566-4111 cell: (218) 966-7059 |
Kevin Tschida, Security Alarm Service Technician | (218) 566-1000 |
Remer Trading Post (Get burning permits there.) | (218) 566-2338 |
Churches | |
(218) 566-2954 | |
St. Edward’s Catholic Church – Longville | (218) 363-2799 |
(218) 363-2011 | |
(218) 566-2482 | |
Congregational Church – Remer | (218) 566-1495 |
(218) 566-2695 | |
Hospitals & Clinics | |
(218) 326-3401 | |
(218) 546-7000 | |
Remer Clinic | (218) 566-1441 |
Remer Family Dentistry | (218) 566-1481 |
(218) 326-9668 |
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