Interesting Things To See On Vermilion

[SkunkedAgain]

Let's start a new topic of discussion. What interesting things are there to see around the lake by boat?

 

- I know that years ago I stumbled across a huge statue of (I think) a native american riding a horse. I only remember it being on the north shore, maybe along the way to Wolf Bay. Fuzzy memory

- There are the fishing gnomes near CigarMan's cabin on the Partridge River heading into Black Bay

- Is there a totem pole somewhere in Oak Narrows?

 

I think that it would be great to pull together a list of things to see if one wanted to take a long boat ride around the lake. A bucket list of things to see. They can be neat land features, rock formations, man-made structures, enormous compounds (Daytons, etc.).... What have you all seen and where are they roughly located?

[FishinCT]

There's a cool cabin (lighthouse?) at the entrance to Canfield bay. Really cool when the leaves are in fall colors

[CigarGuy]

He has.carvings of bears and a big walleye too. I helped him mount them to cement bases. He carved a big walleye for Ludlow's. You should see the carvings in his yard and house. 

[fishingdad]

All the old boat houses in Stuntz Bay

[delcecchi]

The slowly decaying mystery house on the bluff in Norwegian Bay.  I have watched that house for a long time and I have always wondered what the story is.    

 

The giant multi million dollar castle further up norwegian bay.  Only 4 million, for those who got a big tax refund this y ear

https://bicrealty.com/index.php/listings/137821/3154-woolverton-rd-orr-mn

 

Sort of hard to see from the water... but worth a look.  

[mbeyer]

I saw the fresh water white pelicans on an island in the Narrows area last spring. I thought that was a unique sighting....

[Quincy]

Where is the Dayton compound?

How bout the frog across from Hinsdale Island.

[delcecchi]

1 hour ago, Quincy said:

Where is the Dayton compound?

How bout the frog across from Hinsdale Island.

I think the Dayton place is on the north side of wakemup narrows, near the Niles Bay end.   Not as spectacular as you might think it would be.    They do own a big chunk of land and put a conservation easement on it a few years back.   Preserve the environment and save on taxes.... (cynic that I am)

[Quincy]

Ok, wasnt sure where that was.  I was wondering if it was that impressive  compound on Alepo Island or the one on the point east of Polley's.   

That covered water aircraft hanger is huge.  How do you get around the very restrictive  rules on  building boathouse structures on the water?

Anyone know the story on the Alepo Island compound?  I think that is one of the coolest ones on the lake.

[delcecchi]

My wife actually met the folks that own the place with the hanger.  I think it was garden club.   You build a hanger like that by doing it long ago before there were any rules...    

 

The Dayton place is sort of across the narrows from there on a little bay.   Not grand looking from the water at all.

 

Now I have to go look up where Alepo Island is....(further east than I usually go, but might be worth the trip. 

 

OK, looked it up  

 

If you want more details about owners etc of places on the lake check out the st louis county web site.   All sorts of interesting stuff on there.   

https://www.stlouiscountymn.gov/departments-a-z/assessor/property-information

 

Alepo Island is owned by a Mortenson of the Mortenson Construction Company in Minneapolis...

 

The island and buildings are assessed at 819k and property taxes are $7800 for 2019.    

[Quincy]

The place on Alepo island is pretty old and one of the coolest lake houses/estates on the lake in my opinion.  Very tasteful.   Def my favorite.  It's not  far west of Moccasin point.   Worth a trip.  You can see where it is on Google maps sat view.  South west side of the island.

 

The water aircraft hanger looks brand new.  I first noticed it about 12 years ago...the first time I boated that way, so I don't know how old it really is but it had to be built after the rules were put on the books.    I heard the owner was from Cook, founded an HMO.   But not sure how accurate that info is.  I assumed he was connected and was able to get around those rules.  

 

 

[Quincy]

I have a friend who has a place on Burntside lake.   He has a neighbor that built a sauna right on his dock or next to the water.   Definitely against the rules.   He said he just paid the fine and that's it.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm not in favor of those rules .   Just trying to figure out why they seem to apply to most people but not all.  

[delcecchi]

1 hour ago, Quincy said:

The place on Alepo island is pretty old and one of the coolest lake houses/estates on the lake in my opinion.  Very tasteful.   Def my favorite.  It's not  far west of Moccasin point.   Worth a trip.  You can see where it is on Google maps sat view.  South west side of the island.

 

The water aircraft hanger looks brand new.  I first noticed it about 12 years ago...the first time I boated that way, so I don't know how old it really is but it had to be built after the rules were put on the books.    I heard the owner was from Cook, founded an HMO.   But not sure how accurate that info is.  I assumed he was connected and was able to get around those rules.  

 

 

The previous owner had a hanger there.  It was already there when I first came up in the 70;s .   The new(er) owner was allowed to rebuild it.   He or his wife is from da range and he went to California and made a bundle.  Then they came back.  He founded the Vermilion Fire Brigade to provide emergency services to the many folks without road access.  There is another hanger on the west side of taylor's island.   

 

Being connected and getting around the rules?  Based on what?   so far as I have seen the hanger is the same footprint as the original one.   Maybe you should go drive around the lake and look for boathouses that are being used as patios or workshops instead of storage of boats and boating materials.   If you would like I could send some GPS coordinates...

[Quincy]

Sorry...didn't know the history.  Just curious.  Looks brand new....less than 20 years I should say.  

[delcecchi]

1 hour ago, Quincy said:

Sorry...didn't know the history.  Just curious.  Looks brand new....less than 20 years I should say.  

No need to be sorry.  I am sure that the new stuff is just classified as "repairs"  

[chucker1101]

On 9/6/2019 at 11:50 AM, FishinCT said:

There's a cool cabin (lighthouse?) at the entrance to Canfield bay. Really cool when the leaves are in fall colors

It's a gazebo now, in the shape of a lighthouse.

 

As I understand the story from my cousins (who've lived on the lake since WW2), there once was a lighthouse  on the spot, and when it was taken down the gazebo replaced it.

[SkunkedAgain]

I finally found the picture that I have of the statue, referred to in my initial post. The next picture I had was from the dam so it's possible this is on the way to the dam.

 

 

[SkunkedAgain]

I'll definitely need to head over to Alepo Island to see what all the hubbub is about. 

 

Frog?? Hinsdale Island?!? Looks like I have some exploring to do.

 

Mystery houses in Norwegian Bay! I have some sightseeing to do.

 

What else is out there?

[PRO-V]

On 9/7/2019 at 2:19 PM, Quincy said:

I have a friend who has a place on Burntside lake.   He has a neighbor that built a sauna right on his dock or next to the water.   Definitely against the rules.   He said he just paid the fine and that's it.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm not in favor of those rules .   Just trying to figure out why they seem to apply to most people but not all.  

It wouldn't be a sauna constructed of rock would it with an elevator on the hillside and a huge cabin and garage on top of the hill?

[bassbouncer]

1 hour ago, SkunkedAgain said:

I finally found the picture that I have of the statue, referred to in my initial post. The next picture I had was from the dam so it's possible this is on the way to the dam.

 

 

Hatfield’s place. I wired the whole place years ago. Quite the piece of real estate. 

[delcecchi]

1 hour ago, SkunkedAgain said:

I'll definitely need to head over to Alepo Island to see what all the hubbub is about. 

 

Frog?? Hinsdale Island?!? Looks like I have some exploring to do.

 

Mystery houses in Norwegian Bay! I have some sightseeing to do.

 

What else is out there?

When you track down the story about the house in Norwegian bay, let me know.  I have been wondering about that for a long time

[BrianF]

I would add to the list...

 

*the crazy metal and rock structures on the NE shore of Dago Bay

 

*the old prospector on his donkey at the mouth of the cove just to the west of the Indian/horse sculpture in Niles Bay

 

*watch folks jumping off ’party rock’ at the western mouth of Wake Em Up Narrows on a hot summer day

 

*the sand beaches on the N side of Pine Island or W side of Frazier, also on hot summer days

 

 

[CLOTAGAMES]

On 9/9/2019 at 5:59 PM, delcecchi said:

When you track down the story about the house in Norwegian bay, let me know.  I have been wondering about that for a long time

 

Been going to Life of Riley for 50 years. The mystery cabin on the hill by twin islands in Norwegian has been there I would say since the middle/late 80's. Was told it was built to close to the Lake and never was allowed to be used. Was told the owner thought the setback was ok because cabin is far enough from the water if you count going up the hill. Looking pretty tough these days.

[Sculpin]

If you want a nice guided tour of the lake, you can ride along with Larry the Mailman as he makes his daily deliveries all over the lake. He will let 4 people join him, and its $20.  A fun ride, and you see allot. He departs daily from Aronson's on the east end.  You make reservations thru them. Larry is a retired CO, from LOTWS area.  

[chucker1101]

Don't think it's been mentioned yet. The tin boathouses on Stuntz Bay are just stunning, visually. I believe they're now on the National Historic Register as well.

[JerkinLips]

Some consider the Stuntz Bay boathouses hideous.  I've owned one for 40 years and love that area.  I've seen many people cruising the bay looking at them.  There is a lot of history to them and are very interesting to look at.  And they only take up 1/2% of Vermilion's lakeshore for those that don't like them.  My wife took the first photo and I took the second.

[mbeyer]

Very nice photos...I won't post my less impressive Stuntz Bay Photos...

[mbeyer]

[JerkinLips]

mbeyer, can't be from this year, can it?

[mbeyer]

No, previous fall trip.  Fish on that point, too.