Burlington Station is a tourist destination gift shop that sells home décor, kitchen and gardening supplies, children’s toys and clothing. Most of the items are made in Minnesota. Five thousand feet of model railroad track with running model trains and train memorabilia is under development. Portions of the track are operating, and the system will be procedurally added to over time. When completed it will be the nation’s largest indoor/outdoor G-scale railroad.

Inside the station are murals by Duluth artist Brian Olson that depict North Shore and Duluth landmarks such as a train, a storefront scene and a candy version of ships loading at Two Harbors’ Burlington Bay. A fourth mural replicates a postcard that shows what the exterior of Burlington Station will look like once the front buildout is complete. 

Also located inside is Callie’s Sweets which includes fudge, caramels, truffles, caramel apples, gourmet popcorn and a variety of other candies. Visitors are able to watch the treats being made in the candy kitchen. An outside patio features a fire pit and yard games.

Swanson is a 21-year-old Two Harbors native. She opened her new business Memorial Day weekend. The operation created 17 part-time and three full-time jobs.

“My goal was to create a must-stop destination along the North Shore where people can make special memories,” said Swanson. “People of all ages can enjoy the model trains, try some homemade candy and watch it being made, and enjoy the breeze from Lake Superior and the warmth of the firepit at our outside area.”

According to Swanson, the BER and DBR grants made the development financially possible. She said, “The operation created jobs and is part of the North Shore retail and tourism economy.”

Burlington Station was nominated as the Best Gift Shop in the Northland as well as Callie's Sweets as the Best Desserts in Duluth News Tribune’s "Best of the Best" competition. People may vote for Burlington Station or vote for Callie’s Sweets through Aug. 23. Burlington Station and Callie’s Sweets are open Sunday through Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Learn more about Burlington Station.

Learn more about Callie’s Sweets.

Since BER’s inception in 2013, over 450 grants have been awarded to help small businesses with energy efficiency upgrades that can result in reduced utility bills, improved building aesthetics and increased building life. BER and DBR are funded by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and administered through a partnership with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA). To learn more email Vince Meyer at AEOA or call him at 218-735-6828.

Aultman Development renovated the former Century-Mercury building and developed it into a 21,000-square-foot multi-tenant commercial and industrial space. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with an $48,756 Commercial Redevelopment grant to the city of Virginia which helped pay for interior and exterior demolition and prepare the facility for occupancy. Total project investment was $416,000.

Aultman Development purchased the 60-year-old vacant warehouse in 2017. The newly remodeled building is now home to the following three businesses:

Husky Spring relocated from Plaza 53 in Virginia and has three other locations in Minnesota. The new location tripled its space for sales of vehicle spring and suspension parts.

Unclaimed Freight relocated from a building across the street and is owned by Lee Aultman. It sells name brand furniture, mattresses and home décor at a discount.

UPS leases about 4,500 square feet in the new space for package processing overflow from their primary operation located across the street.

Aultman also utilized Business Energy Retrofit (BER) and Downtown Building Rehabilitation (DBR) grants toward renovation costs. The BER grants assisted with energy efficiency improvements to the roof, storefront, insulation, interior and exterior LED lighting, HVAC systems, windows and doors. The DBR grants helped install a fire sprinkler system and handicap-accessible bathrooms, ramp and sidewalks.

“The redevelopment project provided new commercial space within the city limits and has the potential to broaden the tax base,” said City Administrator Britt See-Benes. “The renovated building greatly elevated the aesthetics in a highly visible and key commercial area of Virginia.”

Husky Spring and Unclaimed Freight combined employ about seven full-time and two part-time employees. UPS has approximately 70 employees between its two Virginia locations.

“The grants made it financially viable for me to invest in the much-needed internal and external renovations in order to create desirable commercial rental spaces,” said Aultman. “The building is now a modern commercial and industrial space well suited for the expansions needed by the tenants.”

Learn more about Husky Spring.

Learn more about Unclaimed Freight.

For more information about Commercial Redevelopment grants email Chris Ismil or call him at 218-735-3010.

BER and DBR are funded by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and administered through a partnership with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA). Local businesses may apply for one BER and one DBR grant per fiscal year. To learn more email Vince Meyer at AEOA or call him at 218-735-6828.

A new and handicap-accessible playground at Cloverdale Park in Nashwauk Township recently opened. The playground is designed to serve children ages 2 to 12. It will replace outdated and aging equipment and enhance the community center built at Cloverdale Park in 2015. Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $20,000 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $82,500.

The playground is the first of a two-phase project. The second phase includes the addition of a picnic pavilion and outdoor seating and is expected to be completed within three to five years. The new amenities are part of the community center which provides a modern space for events, meetings and recreation at adjacent athletic fields. 

“The community center buildout supports the quality of life in Nashwauk Township and strengthens the area as a place where people and families choose to live,” said Beth Ann Mackey, Cloverdale Park Committee volunteer. “The project has provided an opportunity for local volunteers to collaborate and work toward a shared goal in their community.”

Nashwauk Township includes three distinct areas: the city of Nashwauk, Little Sweden and Cloverdale.

Project partners include Cloverdale Park Committee, Nashwauk Township, Itasca County, Nashwauk Community Foundation, Greenway Area Community Foundation, Minnesota Power, Lake Country Power, Schwartz Excavating, and private donations of money and volunteer time.

Learn more about Nashwauk Township & Cloverdale Park Playground.

Email Danae Beaudette for Culture & Tourism grant information or call her at 218-735-3022.

This summer marked the 25^th year of the Giants Ridge golf operations. The Legend opened in 1997 and The Quarry in 2003. They have since been a major part of the golf landscape in Minnesota and the Midwest and recently received national accolades.

• Golf Digest’s Editors’ Choice Award : #68 “Best Golf Resorts in the Midwest.”
• The Quarry: #1 “Best Courses You Can Play in Minnesota” by Golfweek.
• The Legend: #8 “Best Courses You Can Play in Minnesota” by Golfweek.
• The Quarry: “Top 100 Courses You Can Play” by GOLF Magazine.

“The courses have set monthly revenue records this summer,” said John Kendall, director of golf. ”One of the byproducts of the past 18 months and the pandemic has been the public’s deeper appreciation for outdoor activities, and golf has benefited from that.”

Kendall explained that an ongoing goal of the courses since they opened has been to offer a very high-quality product at affordable rates. Giants Ridge continues to be one of the best values in the Midwest for upscale public golf. The staff and facility have not waivered on its commitment to exceptional customer service and exceptional playing surfaces.

Joe Marafiot and Jeff Simondet are the golf course superintendents and oversee the staff that prepare the golf courses each day for hundreds of local and out-of-town golfers.

“It is a privilege to work at this amazing property,” said Jeff Simondet, Quarry superintendent. “I’ve been in the golf industry for 17 years and was born and raised in Minnesota. When people talk golf in Minnesota and the Midwest, Giants Ridge is at the top of their list. It’s such an honor to see the facility recognized as a leader in the industry.”

Golfers playing The Quarry will traverse through a former sand quarry and iron ore mine, dramatically raised tees and hazards forged from reclaimed and repurposed mine land, and vast Iron Range vistas. The Legend is carved out of the Superior National Forest and plays through towering pines and alongside Sabin Lake.

“I am very proud to work at Giants Ridge. I grew up on the Iron Range and know what the facility means for local businesses and the jobs that it creates for people,” said Joe Marafiot, Legend superintendent. “I manage about 26 employees who all work extremely hard to put out a great product every day. Before the sun rises and before the first golfer tees off, the staff are out there preparing the golf course.”

Dubbed “Minnesota’s Greatest Value in Golf,” the 37-Hole Special runs through Aug. 29. It includes golf on both courses with lunch for $160 Monday through Thursday and $175 Friday through Sunday. The fall daily rate of $79 is available Sept. 28 through the end of the golf season. Juniors may play for $35 any day. Throughout the 2021 golf season, full-time Iron Range residents may play either course for $50 Sunday through Thursday after 12 p.m. Tee times are required. Call the Golf Shop at 218-865-8030 with questions about rates and tee time availability.

“Over the years it has been very rewarding to see how popular the facility has become,” said Kendall. “Jeff, Joe and the entire staff are extremely dedicated to their roles here at Giants Ridge. They have a keen understanding that what we achieve together as a staff has an impact on the economy of the Iron Range. Giants Ridge has grown into a real destination spot in both summer and winter.”

Giants Ridge is owned by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and managed by Guest Services, a hospitality management company in the United States since 1917. The recreation area offers lift-served mountain bike trails, hiking, a climbing wall and lake access during the summer. The winter months bring alpine and cross-country skiing, snow tubing, snowshoeing and access to over 2,000 miles of snowmobile trails.

Book a tee time and plan your fall golf trip to Giants Ridge.