Your Lake -- Grand Portage, Minnesota Part One

Nestled in the far reaches of Minnesota wilderness is a 36-slip marina, a casino, and the most impressive basalt waterfall you’ve ever seen. It’s the perfect getaway if you’re looking to leave behind the hustle and bustle of Thunder Bay or Duluth this summer and escape to a casino that feels more like an all-inclusive resort.

Before highways and byways were main modes of transport, rivers and water systems provided quick, safe transport across long distances. The Great Lakes formed a veritable super-highway into the center of the continent, but the Canadian Shield made river passage farther inland suspect at best. By the early 1700s, the St. Louis River was ideal for such a voyage, but was soon embroiled in war and rendered unsafe. The northernmost river – the Kaministikwia – was too shallow to support predictable travel routes. Between these two, then, stood the Pigeon River which led to a nearly uninterrupted chain of lakes and waterways from Superior through to Lake Winnipeg and the greater plains.

The only obstacle standing in the way of travelers headed west was near the mouth of the river at Lake Superior. Contrary to its name, the Pigeon River is a force to be reckoned with as it rushes through basalt chasms to form foaming chains of cataracts on its way out to Superior. To bypass this treacherous stretch, the native Ojibwe cut an eight-and-a-half-mile overland path and called it Kitchi Onigaming. As the main meeting place for the tribesmen with French fur traders, the path would eventually take on the French translation Grand Portage.

Living In The Present

January 2017 saw the opening of the newly-remodeled hotel and casino at Grand Portage. The original lodge building has been standing since 1975 and was in desperate need of an update. As the largest employer in the only town on the Grand Portage reservation, the casino provides more than just gambling profit for the tribe members. Officially opening casino doors in 1990, Grand Portage saw median income spike 21 percent by the 2000 census and had funds enough to take tribal ownership of reservation lands from 75 percent to nearly 95 percent today.

Located halfway between Thunder Bay and Grand Marais, Grand Portage’s casino provides year-round entertainment. Within easy distance from the marina, the casino is especially popular in the summer for Minnesotans and Canadians alike.

The 15,000-square-foot, 24-hour casino has a bingo hall and more than 400 slot machines. The dining room and lounge serves regional, traditional specialties, giving visitors a taste of real native flavor. Other amenities include an indoor heated pool and sauna, and an adjacent trading post selling groceries, fishing supplies and clothing. Lakeside rooms feature decor inspired by the Ojibwe tribe and, of course, free Wi-Fi. If you upgrade to a suite, you’ll add a fireplace and a Jacuzzi to all this atmosphere. Secluded, lakefront cabins are also available if you’re looking for a more romantic spot this summer.

Situated on shallow, protected bay waters and within a 19-minute boat ride of Isle Royale National Park, the marina is open May through October. Services for fishing and boating, including Michigan fishing licenses – required if fishing out of Isle Royale – slip rentals, ramp launching, landing facilities, gas and tackle are available at a moderate price.

For More Information

Grand Portage

www.GrandPortage.com

National Park Service

Grand Portage State Park

www.nps.gov/parkhistory

Grand Portage Band of the Chippewa

www.mn.gov/indianaffairs