Things to do Near Melgeorge's

Family

• Voyageur Country Visitor Center
  Stop in at a beautiful tourist center, located just south of Orr, MN on Highway 53, for information on everything there is to see and do in Orr and all around Voyageur Country.
  
  
• Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary
  Home of the American Bear Association. Watch black bears in their natural habitat from the safety of an elevated viewing platform. Plenty of wildlife species to watch and photograph. Located about 14 miles west of Orr, MN. Viewing/visitor time is only in evening.
  www.americanbear.org
  
  
• Cold Springs Deer Farm
  Located 26 miles north of your cabin on Highway 53.
  
  
• Visit and Ride the Giant Walleye
  Go north on Highway 53 to 122.
  
  
• Take the Echo Trail to Ely
  Elephant Lake to Ely is about 65 miles.
  • International Wolf Center
    www.wolf.org
  • North American Bear Center
    (opening soon, www.bear.org)
  • Dorothy Molter Museum
  • Outdoor Supplies and Outfitters
    
    
• Take the Echo Trail to Ely and Loop Around the Southern Side of Vermilion Lake
  The complete loop is about 140 miles.
  
  • Fortune Bay Resort Casino
    At Fortune Bay Resort Casino you can choose from a wide selection of the hottest new slot machines, plus blackjack, high-stakes bingo, electronic bingo, video keno and live poker tables.
    www.fortunebay.com
    
  • Soudan Underground Mine State Park
    Located in Soudan, MN. A tour leads visitors through the world of underground mining. Visitors don hard hats and enter a "cage" for the descent into the mine. The 1 1/2-hour mine tour will take you half a mile down into the earth.
    www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/soudan_underground_mine/index.html
    
• Take Highway 53 to International Falls
  Elephant Lake to International Falls is about 60 miles.
  • Grand Mound Center
  • Koochiching County Historical Museum & Bronko Nagurski Museum
  • Smokey Bear Park
  • Boise Cascade Papermill Tours
  • Fort Frances, Canada
    
    
• Ranier, MN
  Quaint lakeside village, east of International Falls.
  
  
• Voyageurs National Park
  www.nps.gov/voya/, 218-283-9821
  Elephant Lake to Voyageurs National Park (Voyagers NP) is about 20 miles. Voyageurs NP consists of thousands of acres of pristine lakes and northwoods beauty. In summer, the call of the Loon echoes over the water and across the many campsites. In winter, the park boasts some of the best and finely groomed trails in the country for snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing. Some tourist attractions include:
  • 3 Visitor Centers: Ash River, Kabetogama Lake, Rainy Lake (open all year, 218-286-5258)
  • Historic Kettle Falls Hotel,
    www.kettlefallshotel.com
  • Boat Tours (check with Visitor Centers)
  • Ellsworth Rock Gardens
    
    
• Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW)
  Elephant Lake to BWCAW is about 22 miles.
  www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/superior/bwcaw/
  
  
• Horseback Riding
  Elm Creek Farms, 4258 Schweiger Road, Orr, MN, 218-757-3342
  
  
• Four Wheeling on the Many Area Trails
  
  
• Berry Picking
  Pick wild blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries.
  
  
• Minnesota Museum of Mining, Chisholm, MN
  www.fnbchisholm.com/mining
  
  
• Hull Rust Mahoning Mine, Hibbing, MN
  
  
• U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Eveleth, MN (pending permanent closure)
  www.ushockeyhall.com

Shopping

• Lodge Gift Shop
  Located just a few feet down the trail from your cabin.
  
  
• Orr General Store & Mercantile, Orr, MN
  Historic general store constructed to serve pioneer logging camps. Now offers unique northwoods gifts, coffee shop, ice cream parlor, art gallery, antiques, and homemade fudge.
  www.orrgeneralstore.com
  
  
• Pine Ridge Gift Shop
  Go north on Highway 53 and turn right on 122 at the giant walleye. Look for on left side of road.
  
  
• Cold Springs, Inc.
  Located 22 miles north of Orr, MN on Highway 53, 218-757-3191
  
  
• Anderson Sports Port, Orr, MN
  (tackle, bait, ice cream, etc.)
  
  
• Pelican Bay IGA, Orr, MN
  (groceries)
  
  
• Orr Muni, Orr, MN
  (on & off sale liquor)
  
  
• Ryan's Rustic Railings & Furniture
  Log furniture and other furnishings, located just south of Orr, MN,
  218-757-3329. www.rusticrailings.com
  
  
• Voyageur Log Homes
  Located 10 miles from your cabin at intersection of Highway 53 and County Road 180.
  www.voyageurloghomes.com
  
  
• The Pumpkin Shell
  Near Buyck, MN (chainsaw carvings)
  
  
• Natv Beadz & Thingz/Bois Forte Native Arts & Crafts, Orr, MN
  (bead work, birch bark baskets & assorted gifts) 218-757-3430
  
  
• Zup's, Cook, MN
  (famous homemade sausage, freshest produce and meats)
  
  
• Lake Vermilion Trading Company, Inc. & Big Dipper Bait, Cook, MN
  (fish, hunt, sport, gifts)
  
  
• The Historic Comet Theatre Mercantile Exchange, Cook, MN
  (antiques, fine gifts & jewelry, movies, live theatre and music)
  
  
• Frank's Pharmacy, Cook, MN
  218-666-5325
  
  
• Much more in International Falls and Fort Frances, Canada
  (right across border)
  • The Arrowhead Store
    (Canadian and American souvenirs & gifts, knives, candy shop,
    wild rice, Minnetonka moccasins, etc.)
  • Border Bob’s
    (gifts and souvenirs from borderland)
  • Ronning’s
    (sportswear, moccasins, souvenirs, Hudson Bay blankets, etc.)
    www.ronnings.com
  • etc.

Restaurants

• Lodge Restaurant
  Enjoy a meal at a great restaurant just a few feet down the trail from your cabin.
  
  
• The Dam Supper Club, Orr, MN
  

• T. Pattenn Cafe, Orr, MN
  Daily homemade soups, lunch and dinner specials. Home of the Big Doughnut.
  
  
• Ernie's Famous Pizza and Pub, Orr, MN
  
  
• A&W, Orr, MN
  
  
• Bait & Bite Restaurant
  (on the way to Echo Bay Trail)

Golf

• Vermilion River Greens, Buyck, MN
  
  
• Wolfridge Golf Course
  Wolfridge Golf Course is located halfway between Cook and Virginia, off Highway 53 in a secluded area on a dead-end road. 218-666-5455, Toll Free: 877-666-0218 www.wolfridgegolf.com

• Giants Ridge Golf Resort
  Giants Ridge Golf Resort is a quick 10-mile detour off Highway 53, just south of Virginia, MN. There are two courses: The Legend and The Quarry. The Legend has been named Minnesota's #1 Public Golf Course. www.giantsridge.com/courses/

• Falls Country Club
  International Falls, located along the Rainy River.
  www.fallscc.com
  

• The Wilderness at Fortune Bay
  www.thewildernessgolf.com/
  
  
• Vermilion Fairways, Cook, MN
  
  
• Ely Golf Club, Ely, MN
  www.elygolfclub.com

back to top>

Gas and great restaurant located at Lodge!

• Voyageurs National Park and Surrounding Area
  “The Undiscovered Yellowstone”
  
  • Trail Conditions:
    www.snowmobilevacation.com
    Voyageurs National Park (218) 283-9821
    Voyageurs National Park & Orr Area Information Center,
    1-877-254-4691
    
    
• Iron Trail
  800-422-0806

back to top>

• Giants Ridge Ski Resort
  Giants Ridge Ski Resort is a quick 10-mile detour off Highway 53, just south of Virginia, MN. Downhill and Cross-Country Skiing.
  www.giantsridge.com
  
  
• Orr-Pelican Lake Ski Trails
  Cross-Country Skiing.
  
  
• Ash River Falls Ski Trail
  Cross-Country Skiing.
  
  
• Echo Bay Trail and More in Voyageurs NP
  Cross-Country Skiing. Echo Bay Trail is located about 39 miles from your cabin. Go north on Highway 53 and turn right on 122 at the giant walleye. Turn left on Gamma/122 at the Pine Ridge Gift Shop. Turn right on Northern Lights Road/332.
  
  
• Kab-Ash Trail
  Cross-Country Skiing. Located on the way and close to Echo Bay Trail.
  
  
• The Laurentian Divide Recreation Area and Trailhead
  Cross-Country Skiing. Located four miles north of Virginia, MN along the northbound lane of Highway 53/169.

back to top>

• Vermilion River
  Elephant Lake to Vermilion River is about 5 miles.
  
  
• Pelican River
  Elephant Lake to Pelican River is about 2 miles.
  
  
• Voyageurs National Park (Voyagers NP)
  Elephant Lake to Voyagers NP is about 20 miles.
  www.nps.gov/voya/
  
  
• Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW)
  Elephant Lake to BWCAW is about 22 miles.
  www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/superior/bwcaw/

back to top>

• Arrowhead Trail and Many Adjoining Trails
  
  
• Orr Bog Walk
  The Orr Bog Walk is one of the region's nicest interpretive trails. It is located directly behind the Voyageur Country Visitor Center, on Highway 53, in Orr, MN.
  
  
• Vermilion Falls
  A 10-minute hike on a well-maintained interpretive trail puts the visitor at Vermilion Falls, a cascading torrent of water forced through a 10 foot wide opening in the granite.
  
  
• Vermilion Gorge
  At a leisurely pace, this 3-mile round-trip trail can be easily hiked in 2 hours. The trail passes over rugged landscape of sheer granite cliffs and rock outcrops while paralleling the Vermilion Gorge. Interpretive signs along the trail describe the history of this area.
  
  
• Bug Creek Walking Trails
  Located 4 miles from your cabin on FR 203.
  
  
• Herriman Lake Trail
  Trailhead is located about 20 miles NE of your cabin on Nelson Road in the community of Crane Lake, MN.
  
  
• Gheen Hiking & Biking Trail
  Located south of Orr, MN on Highway 53.
  
  
• Rainy Lake Bike Trail
  Located near International Falls. Call 1-877-RAINY-LK for bike rentals.
  
  
• The Laurentian Divide Recreation Area and Trailhead
  Located four miles north of Virginia, MN along the northbound lane of Highway 53/169.
  
  
• Echo Bay Trail and More in Voyageurs NP
  Echo Bay Trail is located about 39 miles from your cabin. Go north on Highway 53 and turn right on 122 at the giant walleye. Turn left on Gamma/122 at the Pine Ridge Gift Shop. Turn right on Northern Lights Road/332.
  
  
• Kab-Ash Trail
  Located on the way and close to Echo Bay Trail (see these directions).

back to top>

• Elephant Lake Private “Kiddie” Sand Beach and Docks
  Sand beach is located less than 100 ft. from your cabin.
  
  
• AmericInn Indoor Pool and Waterslide
  Waterpark is 14 miles from your cabin in Orr, MN. 115’ waterslide, indoor pool, hot tub spa, sauna, kiddie pool and slide. Call for information on days and times available to the public.
  www.americinn-orr.com/
  
  
• Orr City Park Beach

back to top>