Mazinaw Lakeside Resort

May 17, 2012

Photo: Maureen Marlin and Lori Ellerbeck, the two proud owners of the new Mazinaw Lakeside Resort near Cloyne that opened on May 5.

Nestled on the shores of the Upper Mazinaw Lake on Hwy 41 just north of Cloyne sits a cluster of small buildings on a six-acre parcel of land. This is the new home of a dream business that two women have been hoping to see come to fruition for years. Maureen Marlin and Lori Ellerbeck are the two very proud owners of the Mazinaw Lakeside Resort, a brand new business that offers everything that visitors to the area may be looking for.

With a view of Mazinaw Lake and ample wooded areas, the two hosts are hoping to attract visitors seeking to enjoy the charm that the area has to offer. The resort opened officially on May 5 and includes a 26-seat eatery that offers up a wide selection of fresh breakfast and lunch entrées plus a regular hot daily special. The eatery is open 7 days a week from 8am - 3pm.

Maureen said that their aim is to provide good, simple fare using fresh ingredients in a casual and friendly setting. Lori said their other aim was to price all items on the menu under $6. Though the kitchen closes at 3pm, the owners keep a self-service counter open until 8pm every night except Sundays (until 6pm) so that visitors can always have something available to them.

The accommodations at the resort include two winterized cabins with kitchenettes, one tent trailer and a Road Trek camper van, each of which can house numerous campers. There are also 15 rustic and more private un-serviced campsites available on the property. The owners are also awaiting the arrival of two Clean Air Yurts, specially designed for campsites on the property, which should be set up by the end of the month. Made from sustainable ash and natural fabric the yurts will boast a panoramic window and skylight. For campers’ convenience there is a grocery store on site that stocks basic grocery/health and toiletry items, camping gear, worms, and ice. And for the kids there is a gaming room that houses video and board games, a Wii, play station, a lending library, slot machine and darts.

For outdoor activities, there is a pedal boat and row boat available to rent, and swimmers can cross the highway and descend a steep slope to a dock for swimming. For boaters, the public boat launch lies just 4 km away. Mazinaw Lake offers great fishing: lake trout, bass, pike, pickerel and perch; plus beautiful sunrises, sunsets and access to Bon Echo Park just a few kilometers away. For wilderness enthusiasts the Buckshot Trail passes right through the property, offering ATVers, snowmobilers, cross country skiers and hikers ample bush to explore.

The two hosts are looking forward to a busy first summer season. Close to 200 visitors attended their grand opening on May 5 where they offered a free BBQ, live music and wilderness education by Lori's son Matt Ellerbeck, a well-known conservationist who entertained visitors with his wide selection of live turtles.

The new business brings about a career change for both owners. Lori, who worked for 10 years at the Desert Lake Resort near Verona, has ample experience in wilderness hospitality, while Maureen spent years working with the school board. Both are thrilled with their new enterprise and its particular location. “We've been talking about doing something like this for years,” Lori said, “and now that our kids are grown we are able to take it on.” Maureen added, “When this property came up for sale we immediately fell in love with it and knew it was the right place. It has a rustic charm about it, offers all of the amazing characteristics of the geography up here, the lake of course, the Canadian shield, and forests of white and red pine, silver birch. We absolutely love this spot and immediately recognized its growth potential.”

This Sat. May 19 Matt will be back offering visitors another look at his turtles and Barbie G will be hosting an open mike session and will also be performing an acoustic set on site. The hosts invite those interested to check their website for other upcoming special events. Visit www.mazinawlakesideresort.com; email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 613-336-1760.