fbpx
Friday, December 13, 2024
HomeBusinessStarting Third-Year as White Pine Lodge Owners, the Shorts are “Lovin’ it”

Starting Third-Year as White Pine Lodge Owners, the Shorts are “Lovin’ it”

Three years ago, Twin Cities-based contractor Chris Short and his schoolteach­er wife, Allison, had no thoughts of enter­ing the hospitality in­dustry. They’d spent school breaks and summers visiting the Gunflint Trail and fall­ing in love with the community.

In 2021, the Shorts decided to move to Cook County. Chris planned to continue construction work, and Allison hoped to find a teaching position in ISD 166. Then, fate stepped in.

In 2022, Chris Goo­gled the business for sale listings one day and saw that Big Bear Lodge on Poplar Lake was for sale. They in­spected the resort and shortly reached a pur­chase agreement with Big Bear owners Andy and Ida DeLisi.

Although the Shorts had no experience in the hospitality indus­try, they have proved well-suited to oper­ating a resort. Just into their second year running the proper­ty, White Pine Lodge ranked in the top 10% on Trip Advi­sor’s global ranking of vacation proper­ties, earning a covet­ed Traveler’s Choice Award.

White Pine Lodge is one of the oldest resorts on the Gun­flint Trail. It opened in 1936 as Northwoods Lodge and eventually became Old North­woods Lodge. By the time the DeLisi’s ac­quired the property in 2011, it had fallen into disrepair, and it took the couple three years to completely remodel the lodge and cabins.

“The Delisis did awesome getting stuff done here,” Chris said. “But we’re always finding more things to do.”

Only three of the six cabins were winter­ized when the Shorts bought the resort. To­day, all six are ready to go year-round. They also added to and re­built the five docks on the property.

New this year, four campsites with elec­tricity on-site that can accommodate up to 27’ RVs.

The main build­ing has three Lodge Rooms upstairs. Chris installed air condi­tioning in each room, making the main lodge fully air-conditioned.

The main lodge, built in the 1990s, fea­tures two large Rums­ford fireplaces, one of which is thought to be among the larg­est stone fireplaces in Cook County.

The hard-working couple added a restau­rant and pub to the lodge. The White Pine Pub, open to guests and the general pub­lic, offers craft beers and an assortment of wines. Chris built the bar top out of three-inch white oak, which blends well with the pine log lodge.

The Shorts are hav­ing plenty of fun. “Two years in, we’re loving it,” Chris said. “It still feels like we’re in the first six months.”

Clarence for President – Barking up the Right Tree. (Submitted photo)

On Saturday, No­vember 16, they are hosting The Pick-A-Pizza Party, where they’ll feature five new specialty pizzas and get customers’ opinions on which ones to add to their winter menu. The event is $20 per person and includes a Caesar salad bar and all-you-can-eat pizza. The bar will be open for drinks to purchase. Reserva­tions are required, and seating is limited.

The White Pine Lodge Olympics, hon­oring the Paris Olym­pics, was held this summer. It featured fun daily events like paddling races, an opening watercraft pa­rade, and a pizza-eat­ing contest. Medals were earned.

For the second pres­idential election of his young life, resort dog Clarence promoted his presidential candidacy. Clarence For President signs appeared along the Gunflint Trail. A resort guest took some signs along on a road trip, posting photos of the sign everywhere from Fort Snelling State Park to Mount Rushmore. Since this was his second run for office, we asked Clar­ence how it was out there this year. “Ruff,” he said.

Up until this sum­mer, Chris and Alli­son worked the resort alone. Chris’s cousin Jake became their first employee this sum­mer, working from June through Septem­ber. He’s rumored to be returning next year.

Chris, who also op­erates a contracting business, White Pine Construction, is work­ing hard and having a good time. He said he gets asked a lot about the biggest surprise since becoming a re­sort owner. His answer was, “It’s what hap­pens every day. Things never go as planned.”

White Pine Lodge is located at 7969 Northwoods Loop in the mid-trail area of the Gunflint. Its phone number is (218) 388- 0172. The resort is active on social me­dia, and its website is whitepinelodgemn.com.

Previous article
Next article
Steve Fernlund
Steve Fernlund
Typically these “about me” pages include a list of academic achievements (I have none) and positions held (I have had many, but who really cares about those?) So, in the words of the late Admiral James Stockwell, “Who am I? Why am I here?” I’m well into my seventh decade on this blue planet we call home. I’m a pretty successful husband, father, and grandfather, at least in my humble opinion. My progeny may disagree. We have four children and five grandchildren. I spent most of my professional life in the freight business. At the tender age of 40, early retirement beckoned and we moved to Grand Marais. A year after we got here, we bought and operated the Cook County News Herald, a weekly newspaper in Grand Marais. A sharp learning curve for a dumb freight broker to become a newspaper editor and publisher. By 1999 the News Herald was an acquisition target for a rapidly consolidating media market. We sold our businesses and “retired” again, buying a winter retreat in Nevada. In the fall of 2016, we returned to Grand Marais and bought a house from old friends of ours on the ridge overlooking Lake Superior. They were able to move closer to family and their Mexico winter home. And we came home to what we say is our last house. I’m a strong believer in the value of local newspapers--both online and those you can wrap a fish in. I write a weekly column and a couple of feature stories for the Northshore Journal. I’m most interested in writing about the everyday lives of local people and reporting on issues of importance to them.
RELATED ARTICLES
- Advertisment -

Most Popular