ELY
Lodge weathers storm with help from guests
Shortly after a powerful storm blew through the historic Burntside Lodge — dropping trees, cutting power and knocking one of the lodge's cabins off its foundation — guests at the Ely-area resort put vacations on hold to help clean up.
"Each and every cabin turned out to help," said lodge owner Lonnie LaMontagne. "New guests, young and old guests. It was heartwarming."
The storm was the worst the lodge had ever seen, according to LaMontagne, who operates the century-old resort with her husband, Lou. It destroyed two Burntside boathouses. The National Weather Service said straight line winds were to blame.
No one was seriously injured, though one set of guests was shaken after a tree fell on their cabin.
After a day of removing and cutting up fallen trees, the guests that evening held a potluck dinner. The next day they were out on the lake.
"They all booked to come back next year," LaMontagne said.
Matt McKinney
Eau Claire, Wis.
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