LAKE VERMILION— Visitors to Lake Vermilion Soudan Mine State Park will soon have a new option for overnight lodging. A total of eight “camper cabins” currently nearing completion on a ridge between Armstrong and Cable bays are expected to be open by fall, and possibly sooner, according to park manager Jim Essig.
But you may want to start planning for your visit well before then. “They’re very popular,” said Jen Westlund, manager at Bear Head Lake State Park just down the road. Bear Head has had four of the small cabins for several years and getting a reservation can be like winning the lottery.
The cabins, which run between 300-400 square feet, may be rustic, but they’re a huge step up from tent camping, which makes them popular with a wide range of park users, according to Westlund. “People just wish we had more of them,” she said. The Bear Head units currently rent for $75 a night.
The eight new cabins at Lake Vermilion are likely to be equally popular. They’re nicely-designed, with plenty of glass, large decks, and even an outdoor food preparation area. They’re also scattered along a ridge, guaranteeing lake breezes and scenic views for users. The cabins are located just to the west of the Armstrong Bay day use area.
While the cabins are likely to be tough to reserve in summer, they will also be available for rent in other seasons, including winter. The cabins are constructed from structural insulated panels, with electric baseboard heating, giving them a high energy efficiency that should keep them cozy even in the coldest weather.
The cabins are currently about 80 percent complete, said Essig, with final completion expected by late spring. That will allow for some systems testing and finishing touches over the summer. “Certainly they’ll be rentable sometime this fall, maybe sooner,” said Essig.