Skanee Lodgings

AURORA BOREALIS RESORT
(906) 524-5700
Retired Milwaukee physician Harold Ripple and his wife, Arlene, loved their vacations here so much that they eventually bought this old resort, built their retirement home on the Huron Bay lake frontage, and totally transformed the four simple cabins. One cabin has classic log construction. All have distant lake views. Today they have become distinctive, wonderfully comfortable housekeeping cottages with beautiful kitchenettes, chunky log beds with quilts, and cheery wood-burning stoves. As of 2005 the place is for sale. The Ripples now want to spend more time with their six adult children. The cottages are just $65 for two to $85 a night for up to four ($5/extra person). 2004 rates. Two cottages sleep up to three in a single room with separate sitting and eat-in kitchen areas. A third has two bedrooms. The largest cottage sleeps four or more on two levels. There's a sandy beach, L-shaped dock, and woodland garden by a creek, with carved wood animals kids love. Guests have the use of the a beautiful outdoor sitting area and swing underneath a big pine by the perennial and herb garden. No smoking. Closed January thru March.

GABE'S SUMMER SUITES
(906) 524-6619
In a beautiful, wooded shoreline area of cottages, Joe and Betty Gabe's handsome home and cottages enjoy a natural setting right on the water. They are artistic and versatile in an unusually rooted way. Together they developed this pretty resort. Like her Finnish-American parents, Betty likes to sketch, photograph, and paint. Her drawings and paintings of area scenes have been reproduced on T shirts and notecards for local causes, and her trim signage creates a pretty, natural image for the place.
    The resort has 200 feet of Huron Bay lakeshore, a gradually sloping sandy beach with a bonfire circle, a fish-cleaning station, outdoor games, and a creek running through a small woods. Here are three newish cottages with water views and pleasantly country-rustic decor. The one-bedroom cabin sleeps four and rents for $78 for two, with $6 per extra person. The two-bedroom cottages ($87/night) sleep five to six. All cottages have a living-room sofa bed, fully equipped kitchen with fridge, stove, microwave and small appliances, satellite TV, and a deck, chairs, picnic table, grill. There's a dock for boats up to 16' long, and a boat for rent.

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