Northern Lights Lodge & Resort Near Ely

 
After years of work in demanding professions that often involved long hours, travel, and the stress of working nights, weekends, and on-call, Marie and Gary Vogt began to explore their business options.   The Vogts began looking into entrepreneurship, and in analyzing their own skills and interests, they concluded that the resort business would be an ideal venture for them. 

“The combination of our past professional experiences is what made resorting the ideal choice for our entrepreneurial endeavors,” says Marie Vogt.  “We both take a very hands-on approach to our work and the resort business is the perfect fit.”

In May of 1998 the Vogts launched an extensive search across Minnesota and Wisconsin for potential properties.  Three years and over 200 resorts later, Marie and Gary decided to move north and buy Northern Lights Lodge near Ely, MN.

Northern Lights Lodge was already established and successful, having been a long-standing resort on Bear Island Lake for over 50 years at the time of the Vogts’ purchase.  One of the Vogts’ priorities early on was to eventually expand the resort by adding cabins.  They also knew that they would be in need of an upgraded septic system.  The Vogts began looking into obtaining financing for these projects and were referred to the Northeast Entrepreneur Fund. 

“The Entrepreneur Fund made it possible for us to build a new, two-bedroom cabin,” said Marie Vogt.  “In addition, we put in a second well and an expanded septic system to support the new cabin and four existing seasonal cabins – an investment in the future of the resort.”

Northern Lights Lodge continues to grow and prosper.  Gary and Marie Vogt, with the help of their son, Gary, Jr., operate the resort seven days a week a week all year long.  The Vogts’ business venture has allowed them to spend the last few years working for themselves, enjoying the changing seasons in the northwoods of Minnesota, and providing a beautiful vacation spot for guests from all over the world. 

“Resort life is nearly everything we expected,” says Marie, “and we truly appreciate the opportunity to raise our son here in the beautiful northwoods of the Superior National Forest.”