Tucked into a copse of mature firs just inside the border of the Mississagi Provincial Park, Laurentian Lodge sits nestled in a patch of pristine wilderness, its natural beauty and private location annually attracting visitors from around the globe.
Located 25 minutes north of Elliot Lake, off Highway 639, the lodge has for years enticed fishing and hunting enthusiasts, nature lovers, wedding parties, hikers and swimmers, snowmobilers and now, in its eighth decade of operation, the conference and convention set.
Proprietor Melanie Seal, who with her husband Doug has owned the lodge since the 1960s, said its evolution has come of necessity. Originally built as a hunting and fishing lodge in 1929, the facility's offerings have changed as trends amongst travellers have shifted.
“You just have to be continually expanding,” Seal said. “You can't always remain a hunting lodge or a fishing lodge, because they don't exist anymore. We're just trying to cater to any group we can. All are welcome.”
Comprised of a series of buildings dotted over 14 acres, the lodge boasts a number of amenities that would make any vacationer swoon: a choice between apartments, motel rooms, or private cabins; a tennis court; docks with access to prime fishing holes; picturesque grounds with verandas and gazebos ideal for afternoon snoozing; and a series of waterfalls that empty into Mikel Lake, often carrying eager youngsters riding inflatable tubes.
Unique to the lodge is a pair of water turbines that, combined, generate 150 KW of power, more than enough to meet the facility's needs. Doug built the first turbine shortly after acquiring the lodge — before then diesel was used to power the facility, and only at night — and followed up with an expanded version a few years later.
“Dad worked in water power before he had Laurentian Lodge so he knew how to do it,” said the Seals' daughter, Marnie. “I think that's why he wanted to move here in the first place, so that he could build a turbine. That's what he told me once.”
The Seals are now toying with the idea of going solar to expand their capacity while remaining off the grid.
What the lodge doesn't have can be perceived as a plus or a drawback, depending on a guest's perspective. There are no TVs or phones in sight and cell service is non-existent. The exception is one radio phone and Internet access is available.
Though some consider it a detraction, a lack of cell service means conference facilitators have the full attention of attendees and more interaction between participants.
“If they're in Sault Ste. Marie or Sudbury, they would go out to the casino, or Sudbury Downs, or go shopping. Here they're stuck with each other and they have to socialize,” Melanie laughed.
“It helps people focus more,” Marnie added.
An expansive dining room, with floor-to-ceiling windows peering out onto the lake, offer meals catered on-site, and is directly connected to the banquet hall, which can comfortably host between 200 and 300 people.
A walk down the long hallway joining the two rooms reveals the history of the lodge, told through black and white photographs and newspaper articles, detailing perhaps the most famous event in the lodge's storied past.
In 1946, Royal Canadian Air Force Lt. William “Hugh” Mackenzie crash-landed in Helenbar Lake (east of the lodge) when his Gloster Meteor ran out of fuel. He survived the crash, the first jet plane accident in Canada, and was discovered living in the bush 26 days later by a fishing party who was staying at Laurentian Lodge.
Constructed of cedar logs, with high ceilings and tall windows to let in natural light, the banquet hall is easily the most striking building on site. A wedding party was so eager to book the hall before construction was finished in 2003, the Seals had to scramble to make it event-ready.
“We threw some clear plastic over the windows and put down some green lawn turf and nobody noticed there was no floor,” Marnie laughed.
Construction has long since been finished, and to date, Laurentian has primarily catered to the education and government sectors. But Melanie is eager to expand further into business meetings and conventions. With privacy and ample space, Laurentian can hold large events, and its small but dedicated staff is happy to accommodate special requests.
Fully open from May to Thanksgiving weekend, July, August and September tend to be the Seals' busiest months when the lodge is booked by vacationers, wedding parties and family reunions.
But with the capacity, interest and ideal location, the Seals believe the shoulder seasons are ideal for getting out of the city, putting down those BlackBerrys and reconnecting with colleagues.
Or, as Melanie put it, “It's a nice place to come if you want to get away from everything and just escape.”
